Restaurant Daily

Del Taco has been sold. DoorDash is partnering with Waymo for driverless delivery. And this chain’s new ad campaign was created entirely with AI.

The Lemonade fast-casual brand is closing locations. Bravo and Brio are under new management. And what Cava can teach us about M&A.

Domino’s isn’t bullish, despite its strong sales. Taco Bell is bringing back its Crispy Chicken lineup with a new sauce. And Josh Kern has been named CEO of a brunch concept.

Deal fatigue appears to be hitting fast food. 7 Brew has opened its milestone 500th stand. And Wendy’s is accelerating its expansion in Mexico.

Popeyes is ramping up its presence in Mexico. Teenagers are cutting back significantly on dining out. And Cotton Patch Cafe is making a big comeback.

Wendy’s is looking to the former CEO of Taco Bell for turnaround help. McDonald’s Snack Wrap drove a lot of traffic. And here’s how to get your restaurant to show up on AI search.

After nearly 30 years in business, Iron Hill has filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy liquidation. Domino’s has unveiled its first brand refresh in 13 years. And Chipotle founder Steve Ells wants to reinvent the fast casual segment again - This time, with sandwiches.

ChatGPT is adding food delivery options. Long John Silver’s is trying to lure younger diners. And the grocery store is becoming a growing restaurant competitor.

Round Table Pizza franchisees are taking issue with their parent company’s ad spending. Long John Silver’s wants to be known as more than a seafood chain. And does political affiliation impact restaurant spending?

Cracker Barrel has ended its relationship with the consultancy that oversaw its brand refresh initiatives. Bruegger’s Bagels locations in Cincinnati are being rebranded. And Taco Bell is launching its biggest Taco Tuesday promotion.

Restaurant hiring is slowing. A chain that just filed for bankruptcy is blaming discounting by its competitors for some of its woes. And 93-year-old Krystal is finally introducing a loyalty program.

The Starbucks union has won negotiations for baristas affected by last week’s closures. Big Chicken is working out some post-acquisition challenges. And Habit Burger is extending its meal deal.

DoorDash wants to do more for restaurants than just deliver. There’s a new chicken tender player in town. And Yum Brands CEO David Gibbs retires this week.

Bots played a big role in the Cracker Barrel logo backlash. A Chinese restaurant tech giant is looking to make inroads in the U.S. And Burger King is really leaning into Halloween.

We tried some of McDonald’s new CosMc’s-inspired beverages. Five restaurants are among the most magnetic brands in America. And Starbucks’ traffic remains a challenge.

Starbucks is planning dozens of store closures and hundreds of layoffs as it looks to reverse sliding sales. A brewery chain has suddenly closed all of its locations. And Popeyes is accusing a former franchisee of trademark violations.

It remains to be seen if Portillo’s will continue to expand outside Chicago. Dine Brands uses one simple criterion to prioritize tech investments. And Panera is welcoming fall with two Gilmore Girls stars.

Portillo’s has ousted its CEO. Subway franchisees are fighting back against store remodels. And Bojangles’ largest franchisee has been acquired by private equity.

Yum Brands has acquired 13 PDQ restaurant leases in a quest for expansion. Starbucks is bringing back apple crisp after all. And Chick-fil-A has opened a delivery-only kitchen in Boston.

Cracker Barrel foresees a long road to recovery from its logo debacle. Chain restaurant sales are expected to cool even more than previously anticipated. And BJ’s is facing a union push in California.

Olive Garden is seeing whether diners enjoy smaller portions. Uber is testing drone delivery. And Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant is shrinking.

A potential merger would form the nation's largest broadline food distributor. A drive-thru chain is closing more than 40 locations. And a value item at Pizza Hut has evolved into a platform for innovation.

There’s activist investor interest in Denny’s. McDonald’s is adding more muscle to its global impact team. And here are some of the big takeaways from the FSTEC technology conference.

McDonald’s is investing in regenerative agriculture. Popeyes is turning up the heat with a new partnership. And IHOP is doubling down on value.

There’s a new publicly traded restaurant chain for the first time in three years. Can Portillo’s get its groove back? And speed wins, when it comes to delivery.