FAST-CASUAL CUSTOMERS ARE STARTING TO EXPECT A DRIVE-THRU

As the lines between fast casual and fast food blur, diners are increasingly expecting quick-service convenience at more-polished limited-service chains, according to a new Technomic consumer report......Read More

OUTBACK STEAKHOUSE PLOTS RETURN TO UNIT GROWTH BEHIND SMALLER RESTAURANTS

After a decade of shrinking unit counts, Outback Steakhouse is charting a return to growth behind a new, scaled-down restaurant design. The smaller prototype will allow the brand to both enter new markets and fill in existing ones, with the upshot being 3% gross annual unit growth in the near-term, executives said during an earnings call Friday.....Read More

NOODLES & COMPANY GOT HIT BY A COVID ONE-TWO PUNCH

The combined impacts of the delta and omicron surges cost the fast casual $8 million in estimated revenue from temporary closures and reduced hours during the fourth quarter. Noodles & Company got hit by a one-two punch of the delta and omicron COVID surges, dealing a major blow to the fast casual’s revenues.....Read More

MCDONALD’S WILL INVEST $250M TO DIVERSIFY ITS FRANCHISEE BASE

McDonald’s said Wednesday that it plans to invest $250 million over the next five years to help new franchisees in the U.S. finance restaurants as part of a global effort to increase the diversity of the company’s base of owner-operators. .....Read More

IN-N-OUT IS NOT MOVING TO FLORIDA

The company acknowledged that its president, Lynsi Snyder-Ellingson, spoke with the state’s governor. But it says it is not expanding into the state. The venerable burger chain, which has been making noise about vaccine requirements in some communities in its home state of California, said that it has no plans to either expand in Florida or move its corporate headquarters to the state......Read More

Majority of restaurant operators say business conditions are worse now than three months ago, survey finds

The trade group surveyed 4,000 operators between Sept. 7 and Sept. 15 and is using the results to lobby against President Joe Biden’s plan to raise the corporate tax rate and proposed changes to the National Labor Relations Act that would allow fines of $50,000 to $100,000 for labor violations. .......Read More

Domino’s stock climbs 11% on earnings beat, strong pizza demand in the U.S.

Domino’s reported 3.5% same-store sales growth in the United States for its second quarter, even as it faced tough comparisons to last year’s skyrocketing pizza demand.On a two-year basis, U.S. same-store sales climbed 19.6% during the quarter.CEO Ritch Allison said that the company will hike wages for workers at company-owned restaurants in certain markets and positions......Read More

McDonald’s sets targets to diversify its leadership, seeks gender parity by 2030

McDonald’s said Thursday it is taking steps to increase the number of women and people from historically underrepresented groups in its senior leadership ranks. By 2025, the company aims to have at least 35% of its senior-director and higher leadership roles be held by people from minorities. That would be a 6% increase from 2020, McDonald’s said....Read More

Where Restaurants Have Reopened Across the U.S.

After weeks — and in some cases, nearly two months — of shutdowns, states across the country are beginning to allow non-essential businesses to reopen in multi-phase plans. In Texas, restaurants can reopen their dining rooms at 25 percent capacity, while diners in Alaska and New Hampshire must make reservations in advance.....Read More

CONSUMERS LIKELY TO CUT BACK ON RESTAURANTS IN A CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC

Consumers are likely to leave the house less and cut back on restaurant visits amid mounting fears of a coronavirus pandemic.....Read More

SUBWAY DOWNSIZES CORPORATE TEAM

Len Van Popering is leaving this month as global brand and innovation officer, and sandwich brand will eliminate position. Subway is downsizing its corporate executive team, confirming Thursday that it was getting rid of its chief brand and innovation officer position.......Read More

FROM CRACKER BARREL TO CHEESECAKE FACTORY, SEE 2019’S RESTAURANT MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS

This year saw 34 mergers and acquisitions from large to small. Cheesecake factory acquired Fox Restaurant Concepts in one of the largest deals of the year but big brands like Jimmy John's and Del Frisco's were also acquired......Read More

CALIFORNIA WILL BAN LATEX GLOVES IN RESTAURANTS STARTING JAN. 1

California on Jan. 1 will be banning latex gloves in restaurants and other foodservice locations, joining a growing number of states that are barring the products because of allergies......Read More

HOW TO HANDLE MENU PRICE HIKES AS LABOR COSTS SOAR

With unemployment near record lows and minimum wage hikes going into effect in many jurisdictions, operators are under pressure to raise menu prices in order to remain profitable.....Read More

DINE BRANDS SEES TOUGHER TIMES AHEAD FOR APPLEBEE’S

Coming off a second consecutive quarter of same-store sales declines for Applebee’s, parent Dine Brands Global has lowered its expectations for the chain’s top line performance during the remainder of 2019 and raised its forecast of how many units will close by year’s end....Read More

KFC’S PLANT-BASED TEST WAS A HUGE WIN

KFC’s test of plant-based chicken was at just a single restaurant in August, and it only lasted about five hours, but the impact for the company was far bigger......Read More

DOMINO’S SAME-STORE SALES SLOW FURTHER

Domino’s Pizza recorded its lowest U.S. same-store sales figure in seven years in the third quarter as the Ann Arbor, Mich.-based pizza chain continues to feel the heat from growing third-party.....Read More