Restaurant Industry News, Trends & Operations

Starbucks brings back its viral Bearista cup with new World Cup 2026 designs, plus free captain's armband sleeves at stores. Here's how to get yours.

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EEOC Targets Franchises; Applebee’s Operator Pays $270K

EEOC ramps up franchise enforcement, securing settlements and reforms; Applebee’s operator pays $270K amid broader actions across brands.

news

Jun 12, 2026

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QSR Opens 2026 Best Franchise Deals Submissions

Entries due June 22 at 11:59 pm. Winners in September 2026. Criteria include investment, sales, support, and franchisee feedback.

franchising

Jun 12, 2026

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Pizza Hut Red Roof Revival Lifts Nostalgia and Sales

Daland Corp. revives classic Pizza Hut dine-in in small towns, fueling emotional pull and sales as Yum weighs a sale and closures reshape the brand.

news

Jun 12, 2026

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Panera Taps Jake Shane for $4.99 Salad Stuffer Bundle

Creator Jake Shane fronts Panera’s $4.99 Salad Stuffer bundle, linking Mix & Match value to RISE strategy and testing social-led demand.

marketing ideas

Jun 12, 2026

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Franchisee-First Strategy Ignites Krystal’s Next Chapter

Krystal elevates Amanda Hyde to COO, advancing a franchisee-first plan with digital menus, remodels, and SPB’s Playbook to drive growth and trust in 2026.

franchising

Jun 12, 2026

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When Guests Lead, Menus Follow

How guest behavior, data, and POS analytics turn table-side discoveries into profitable, scalable menu strategy for restaurants in 2026.

menu development

Jun 12, 2026

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Ellis Group to Open Six Firehouse Subs in San Antonio

William and Maryjane Ellis ink a six-unit Firehouse Subs deal for San Antonio, backed by incentives, training, and RBI growth plans. First opening in summer 2026.

franchising

Jun 12, 2026

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Grubhub Embeds Ordering in Eater, Beli, Alexa+, Bilt

Grubhub launches embedded ordering across Eater, Beli, Alexa+, and Bilt to capture high-intent moments and drive demand via trusted channels.

news

Jun 12, 2026

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Crisp & Green Debuts Protein-Packed Sandwich Lineup

52-unit chain launches six sandwiches around $10.95 with up to 39g protein as sandwich market growth outpaces fast casual.

menu development

Jun 12, 2026

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RealClean Scales to 600 Airports After Deliberate Pause

After a strategic slowdown, RealClean expanded from 15 airports in 2 states to 600 across 31 by May 2026, backed by strong unit economics and market demand.

franchising

Jun 12, 2026