Wingstop’s Expansion Runs Hot as Comps Cool
Wingstop adds 382 U.S. units to 3,056 total as comps dip; 2026 outlook hinges on loyalty, Smart Kitchen, and category tailwinds.
Jul 20, 2026
Wingstop adds 382 U.S. units to 3,056 total as comps dip; 2026 outlook hinges on loyalty, Smart Kitchen, and category tailwinds.
Jul 20, 2026
Topgolf Media Networks turns 100+ venues into an ad platform with 42M visits and 28,000 screens, tapping retail media tactics for measurable brand activations.
Jul 20, 2026
Domino’s leverages rising order volumes to boost revenue and market share despite industry challenges in Q2 2026, offering key lessons for restaurant owners.
Jul 20, 2026
Discover how Fresh off the Boat in Santa Ana has built a thriving, health-focused Mexican-Mediterranean fusion restaurant. Explore operational insights, business strategies, and the customer experience that set this unique concept apart.
Jul 20, 2026
If your restaurant is busy but profits feel thin, food cost is usually the first place to look. Not because it is always the problem, but because it is the most controllable variable in your P&L.
Jul 20, 2026
Burger King launches its “Your Way Champion” managerial role, focusing on guest experience, order customization, and staff engagement. Restaurant operators can glean insights for elevating hospitality in their own venues.
Jul 20, 2026
Thomas Keller Restaurant Group will pay $2M to settle an EEOC harassment and retaliation case tied to Bouchon Las Vegas, closing a long-running action from 2018.
Jul 19, 2026
Fresh Kitchen names Bill Knopf and Matt Livingston to lead operations and development as the clean-label bowl brand targets growth beyond 100 locations.
Jul 18, 2026
Hardee’s franchisee Superior Star filed Chapter 11 after a 2023 deal revealed unpaid taxes, costly repairs, and lease burdens; plans to reject leases and refocus.
Jul 18, 2026
Cinnabon posted a net gain of 308 U.S. units in 2025 and launched Seattle’s Best Coffee in 2026 to boost beverage mix, margins, and franchise-driven expansion.
Jul 18, 2026
Explore how automated pizza making technologies are transforming the restaurant industry, with insights from industry leaders and examples of pioneering initiatives.
Photo by Vita Marija Murenaite
The collaboration between Appetronix and Donatos to introduce a pizza vending machine partnership signifies a significant milestone in the restaurant industry. By automating the pizza making process, these technologies offer unparalleled speed and convenience to customers, revolutionizing the quick-service restaurant (QSR) space. Nipun Sharma, co-founder and CEO of Appetronix, describes this advancement as a transformative leap that goes beyond mere innovation.
According to Kevin King, President, and CEO of Donatos, airport locations provide an optimal setting for automated pizza makers due to the high demand for quick and accessible food options in such spaces. The fast-paced nature of airports makes automated pizza vending machines a convenient solution for travelers seeking efficient dining experiences while on the go.
Photo by Vita Marija Murenaite
While the fully automated location in Columbus, Ohio, marks a significant innovation, it is not the first instance of automation in pizza making. Capriotti’s and Piestro's partnership in 2022 to install a pizza kiosk at Capriotti’s flagship store in Las Vegas, as well as 800 Degrees Pizza implementing automated pizza cabinets in 2021, demonstrate a growing trend towards integrating automation in food service operations.