News

Chains

Fazoli’s Loyalty Play Is Built on Data and Breadsticks

5 years ago

It's not just about discounts for diners. A well-executed loyalty program can open up a window into customer behavior and feedback that hasn't previously existed for most restaurants.

Chains

Applebee’s and IHOP Prove Marketing Gimmicks Can Boost Sales

5 years ago

We're not saying there is anything wrong with Dollar Jollys or Grinch Pancakes, we're only claiming we don't understand why you can't focus on selling menu items based on taste or quality.

Chains

Chipotle’s ‘For Real’ Marketing Campaign Needs to Grab Attention

5 years ago

Chipotle has to ensure that its "For Real" marketing campaign hits hard, and edible holiday windows are one way to get there.

Chains

Starbucks’ Primary China Competitor Luckin Coffee Is Growing Fast

5 years ago

You have to almost feel sorry for Starbucks here: Can they really match a Chinese company for digital and delivery smarts? Few foreign brands can.

Food

Fast Food Prices Rise to Better Reflect True Costs

5 years ago

Yes, the price of menu items has gone up over the last decade, but so too have the costs associated with buying food and paying workers. Those are the breaks.

Chains

Restaurant and Technology Partnerships for November 2018

5 years ago

If there is one dominant trend this month, it's that chicken joints know that delivery matters now.

People

Interview: Waitr CEO on Failure, Persistence and Delivery

5 years ago

It's been a wild ride for Christopher Meaux, the founder of Waitr, a three-year-old delivery service that started trading publicly in November. Waitr focused on launching outside of major urban centers, and the service does two things differently in this space: fully-employed drivers and low restaurant fees.

Independents

Why Surge Pricing and Blockchain Tracking at Restaurants Aren’t Far Off

5 years ago

As far as trends go, we'd much rather talk about innovations like variable pricing (the new happy hour?) and blockchain sourcing than silly things like robot kitchens.

Food

Romaine’s Woes Are Great News for Other Kinds of Greens

5 years ago

Romaine will bounce back – who doesn't love a Caesar – but there are more greens out there for restaurants than just one.

Chains

What Chicken McNuggets and iPhones Have in Common

5 years ago

Slightly fewer customers paying more to cover the true cost of food and labor doesn't seem like the worst thing to us, but we have different values than a Wall Street analyst.

Tech

Tock, Sweetgreen and More: November Restaurant Industry Funding

5 years ago

Several fast casual restaurant chains paired up with private equity firms this month in order to scale, and Tock is fueling up for a big year ahead.

Marketing

Bay Area Makes Three-Star Additions to New Michelin Guide

5 years ago

Good for wine country and the nearby San Francisco restaurants, too. But if you want to talk about California's best restaurants, you need to head south to Los Angeles.