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RB Daily

Your quick morning dose of the restaurant news you need, every weekday, from the editors of Restaurant Business.

Burger King, BurgerFi, UberEats 
Wed, 31 May 2023 11:08:17 GMT
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Burger King is testing a new breakfast sandwich.Carl Bachmann will take over as CEO of  BurgerFi in July. And, soon, you may spot more UberEats delivery robots wandering the sidewalk. 


More cooks, restaurant show debrief, Steve Ells’ next act
Fri, 26 May 2023 11:04:51 GMT
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Restaurants are adding more cooks to their kitchens. The founder of Chipotle is working on a new robotic restaurant concept. And what we liked and didn’t like at this year’s National Restaurant Association Show.


IPO’s, Chick-fil-A, burgers 
Thu, 25 May 2023 11:07:11 GMT
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Get ready for a lot more Restaurant IPO’s. We’ll take a look at how many chicken sandwiches Chick-fil-A sold last year. And In the burger business, higher-end fast-food chains are winning the day.


Panera, Bonchon, Corner Bakery
Wed, 24 May 2023 11:06:49 GMT
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Panera and Bonchon have new CEOs. Corner Bakery could have a buyer. And a look at the hottest tech trend at this year’s National Restaurant Association Show.


Panda Express, LeBron James, hot tech
Tue, 23 May 2023 11:09:28 GMT
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Panda Express enters the chicken sandwich wars. Lebron James joins the fight over Taco Tuesday. And a look at some of the tech that caught our eye at the National Restauant Association Show.


Recession, Cava, National Restaurant Association
Mon, 22 May 2023 11:07:51 GMT
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Are we heading into a recession? Cava’s parent company filed publicly for an IPO. And One Fair Wage has accused the National Restaurant Association of lobbying for looser child-labor laws.


Informa, Shake Shack, Grubhub
Fri, 19 May 2023 11:01:39 GMT
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Winsight, Restaurant Business’ parent company, has been sold to Informa. We’ll discuss Shake Shack’s Veggie Shack Burger. And Grubhub is  sharing more data with restaurants.


Wendy’s, Hardee’s, Jack in the Box 
Thu, 18 May 2023 11:05:04 GMT
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Wendy’s orders may soon be traveling underground. Some bankrupt Hardee’s restaurants have a potential buyer. And according to Jack in the Box staying open longer hours helps generate sales.


Shake Shack, Wetzel’s, Taco Tuesday tilt
Wed, 17 May 2023 11:02:12 GMT
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Shake Shack makes a deal with an activist investor. Taco Bell and Taco John’s go to war over Taco Tuesday. And the CEO of Wetzel’s Pretzels is stepping down.


GM of the Year, summer food, Sweetgreen 
Tue, 16 May 2023 11:06:02 GMT
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Restaurant Business has named its GM of the Year winners. Restaurants are adding summer food and drinks to the menu. And robots and humans coexist at Sweetgreen’s new automated restaurant.


Daddy’s Chicken Shack, Chick-fil-A, casual dining
Mon, 15 May 2023 11:06:11 GMT
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A fast-growing chicken sandwich concept has a new owner. Casual-dining is back. Sort of. And Chick-fil-A’s salad dressing is coming to grocery stores.

Burger King, Boka, Krispy Kreme
Fri, 12 May 2023 10:04:24 GMT
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Burger King might be back. Wendy’s has its eyes on late night. And a big Chicago restaurant group splits with a famous chef.


Inflation, Sweetgreen, Wendy’s
Thu, 11 May 2023 11:04:20 GMT
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Menu price inflation isn’t slowing down. Sweetgreen opens its first robotic restaurant. And sales and profits are up at Wendy’s.


Wendy’s, Ian Baines, 7-Eleven 
Wed, 10 May 2023 11:07:57 GMT
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Wendy’s is the latest fast-food chain to test out AI in its drive-thrus. BurgerFI CEO Ian Baines plans to retire in June. And we’ll discuss whether 7-Eleven would  be better off on its own.


Big chains, Whole Foods, bacon
Tue, 09 May 2023 11:03:34 GMT
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Restaurant sales are increasingly coming from the biggest chains. The co-founder of Whole Foods opened a restaurant. And people still love bacon.


Summit Restaurant Holdings, operations, McDonald’s 
Mon, 08 May 2023 11:03:38 GMT
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Summit Restaurant Holdings filed for bankruptcy. Many fast-food chains are focusing on operations right now.  And in the past few years, McDonald’s has made massive changes to its relationship with its franchisees


Papa Johns, Chick-fil-A, Ruth’s Chris
Fri, 05 May 2023 11:05:10 GMT
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Papa Johns is helping franchisees open more stores. Chick-fil-A adds geofences. And why Darden bought another fine-dining brand.


Dine Brands, Pizza Hut, Starbucks
Thu, 04 May 2023 11:02:28 GMT
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Customer spending is steady at Dine Brands, despite inflationary pressures. Pizza Hut’s same-store sales rose 8% last quarter. And Starbucks’ new CEO Laxman Narasimhan is looking at ways to make the company more efficient.


Burger King, First Watch, Shake Shack
Wed, 03 May 2023 11:03:55 GMT
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Burger King says sales are on the upswing. Fewer customers are ordering delivery at First Watch. And Shake Shack adds more plants to the menu.


Fat Brands, Subway, menu introductions
Mon, 01 May 2023 11:02:30 GMT
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Fat Brands named two people to replace Andy Wiederhorn as CEO. Subway slowed its closures last year. And Outback, Portillos, and other chains are ramping up menu introductions this week.


Wall Street <3 Chipotle, NYC wages, recession
Mon, 01 May 2023 11:01:00 GMT
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Chipotle is back in Wall Street’s good graces. New York City could raise its minimum wage. And is there going to be a recession or not?


Papa Johns’, Krystal, Domino’s 
Thu, 27 Apr 2023 11:04:31 GMT
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Papa Johns’ is collaborating with Frito-Lays to launch its newest LTO. Krystal is merging with the owner of Logan’s Roadhouse. And Domino’s same-store sales improved in the first quarter.


Chipotle, tip credit and Chick-fil-A’s cauliflower sandwich 
Thu, 27 Apr 2023 11:03:32 GMT
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Chipotle sees strength in lower-income guests. Chick-fil-A may have a hit with its cauliflower sandwich. And why hundreds of D.C. restaurants are adding surcharges.


McDonald’s, Tracy Kim, Starbird Chicken 
Wed, 26 Apr 2023 11:01:22 GMT
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The McCrispy helped drive sales in the first quarter at McDonald’s. Tracy Kim has been named CEO of Dig. And we’ll discuss Starbird Chicken’s latest LTO--orange chicken.


Sweetgreen, McDonald’s, California Pizza Kitchen
Tue, 25 Apr 2023 11:04:38 GMT
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Sweetgreen launches a loyalty program. McDonald’s franchisees want a meeting with leadership. And California Pizza Kitchen is making a big push into franchising.


McDonald’s, Potbelly, MOD Pizza
Mon, 24 Apr 2023 14:29:51 GMT
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McDonald’s is accused of acting like a joint employer, Potbelly ramps up franchising and MOD Pizza is launching a coalition to find jobs for those who face barriers to employment.


Tao Group Hospitality, Odeko, Starbucks
Wed, 19 Apr 2023 11:06:17 GMT
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Tao Group Hospitality may have a new owner. Tech company Odeko has raised $53 million. And Starbucks is expanding its Greener Store program.


McDonald’s new burgers, NCR cyberattack, Restaurant Leader of the Year
Tue, 18 Apr 2023 11:07:07 GMT
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McDonald’s is changing its burger recipe. A cyberattack on POS supplier NCR is causing headaches for restaurants. And find out who won Restaurant Business’ Restaurant Leader of the Year Award.


Frozen pizza, Bobby Flay, Chipotle 
Mon, 17 Apr 2023 11:02:33 GMT
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More consumers are eating frozen pizza because of inflation. Bobby Flay’s quick-service burger concept is coming to Chicago. And Chipotle is seeing success in smaller towns.


Carrols, Subway sale, Post Malone
Fri, 14 Apr 2023 11:05:46 GMT
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Carrols Restaurant Group has a new CEO. Subway’s For Sale sign could be slowing restaurant M&A. And a Post Malone-inspired Raising Cane’s opens in Utah.


PPP fraud, Wetzel’s Pretzels, Claudia San Pedro 
Thu, 13 Apr 2023 11:01:12 GMT
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A NYC restauranter gets nearly five years in prison for PPP fraud. Wetzel’s Pretzels is bringing its pretzels out of the malls with its new streetside concept. And Claudia San Pedro is stepping down at Sonic.


BK closures, Nacho fries, Chipotle goes electric
Wed, 12 Apr 2023 11:02:41 GMT
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A bankrupt Burger King franchisee will close some of its restaurants. Chipotle goes electric with its new store prototype. And Taco Bell brings back a popular side.


Domino’s, Carvel, dining out
Tue, 11 Apr 2023 11:07:27 GMT
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You can now order a Domino’s pizza from your car. Carvel is opening a new cobranded location in Houston. And women are more likely than men to dine out because they don’t have the energy to cook.


Jobs, 7-Eleven, Raising Cane’s
Mon, 10 Apr 2023 11:07:44 GMT
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Friday’s jobs report had good news for restaurants. 7-Eleven could be put up for sale. And how Raising Cane’s plans to become one of the 10 biggest restaurant chains.


Burrito bowls, McDonald’s, Chick-fil-A 
Fri, 07 Apr 2023 11:04:24 GMT
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Sweetgreen has renamed its new burrito bowl to settle a dispute with Chipotle. McDonald’s is closing its US field offices. And Chick-fil-A’s U.S. sales rose 13% last year.


Chipotle vs. Sweetgreen, Duck Donuts, virtual layoffs 
Thu, 06 Apr 2023 11:04:02 GMT
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Chipotle is suing Sweetgreen over its new burrito bowl. Duck Donuts has a new prototype. And McDonald’s sparks a debate over virtual layoffs


Tot takeover, McDonald’s, El Pollo Loco 
Wed, 05 Apr 2023 11:04:28 GMT
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Tots are inching up on menus. McDonald’s layoffs are expected to be in the thousands. And El Pollo Loco is revamping its loyalty program.


McDonald’s layoffs, Noodles rewards, cookie craze
Tue, 04 Apr 2023 11:04:50 GMT
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McDonald’s is preparing for corporate layoffs. Noodles & Co. picks up the pace of rewards giveaways. And cookies are the menu item of the moment.


Firehouse Subs, Sweet Tomatoes, Subway
Mon, 03 Apr 2023 11:04:17 GMT
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Firehouse Subs is getting a new CEO, the Sweet Tomatoes buffet chain is making a comeback, and Subway leans into the pickleball craze.


Subway, Burger King, Yum Brands
Fri, 31 Mar 2023 11:05:48 GMT
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Subway has some interested buyers. A bankrupt Burger King operator is nearing a sale. And Yum Brands has a deal to help underrepresented franchisees.


IHOP, Sweetgreen, Burger King 
Thu, 30 Mar 2023 11:01:44 GMT
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IHOP dropped a new menu. Sweetgreen is offering a Chipotle Chicken Burrito Bowl as an LTO. And another Burger King operator is in trouble.


Arby’s, Presto, Firebirds Wood Fired Grill 
Tue, 28 Mar 2023 11:05:40 GMT
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Arby’s has launched its new King’s Hawaiian Sweet Heat Sandwiches. Presto CEO Rajat Suri is stepping down. And Firebirds Wood Fired Grill has a new owner.


Franchise forecast, McAlister’s Deli, Chipotle settlement
Tue, 28 Mar 2023 11:01:43 GMT
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Fast-food franchises have a rosy outlook. McAlister’s Deli approaches a milestone. And Chipotle settles a union lawsuit.


Starbucks, Burger King, Reef 
Mon, 27 Mar 2023 11:05:33 GMT
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The Starbucks union airs its demands, while the chain’s CEO says he’ll work as a barista once a month. Burger King makes an electric vehicle pledge, and Reef closes more ghost kitchens.


KFC, McDonald’s, Olive Garden 
Fri, 24 Mar 2023 11:05:46 GMT
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Kentucky Fried Chicken Nuggets are launching nationwide Monday. McDonald’s is adding new geofencing technology to its mobile app. And lower prices have helped grow sales at Olive Garden.


Papa Johns, Chipotle, Illinois restaurant aid
Thu, 23 Mar 2023 11:04:48 GMT
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Papa Johns’ CFO is leaving the company. Chipotle’s venture fund makes some more investments. And Illinois gives restaurants another round of pandemic aid.


Dunkin’, DoorDash, Panera
Wed, 22 Mar 2023 11:05:38 GMT
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Dunkin’ is launching breakfast tacos. DoorDash now takes cash for some orders. And soon you may be able to pay with the palm of your hand at Panera Bread.


McDonald’s bankruptcy, Starbucks CEO, Teriyaki Madness
Tue, 21 Mar 2023 11:28:29 GMT
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A McDonald’s franchisee files for bankruptcy. Starbucks’ new CEO starts two weeks early. And Teriyaki Madness gives franchisees a deal.


Paid time off, service fees, McDonald’s
Mon, 20 Mar 2023 10:40:56 GMT
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 Restaurants in Illinois will soon need to provide paid time off. Restaurants in D.C. will have to disclose service fees. And a tweet got in the way of Grubhub’s delivery relationship with McDonald’s.

Denny’s, openings and closings, Popeyes
Fri, 17 Mar 2023 11:28:26 GMT
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Denny’s is introducing a new baked menu line. We’ll discuss this month’s notable restaurant openings and closings. And a Popeyes franchisee has declared bankruptcy.