KFC Global has selected experienced leader Maria Cacciapuoti as its new Chief Operations Officer. Discover how her extensive expertise will help shape KFC’s global operations and franchise partnerships.
Jul 23, 2026
Ziggi’s Coffee welcomes Stacey Pool as Chief Growth Officer to spearhead national expansion and enhance franchise profitability as the brand celebrates a decade of franchising success.
Jul 23, 2026
Portillo’s welcomes industry veteran Christopher Hansen as Executive Chef and Senior Director of Culinary Innovation to steer menu strategy and fuel national growth.
Jul 23, 2026
Cinnabon grows 30% in U.S. units, adding 308 net stores as flexible formats expand into travel centers and convenience; 95 more openings forecast and 359 in pipeline.
Jul 22, 2026
QDOBA targets 2,000 restaurants in 10 years, powered by franchising and recent securitizations, aiming for $5B sales, $2.7M AUV, and 28% margins.
Jul 22, 2026
Digital marketing helps restaurants connect with customers through search, social, content, email, advertising, reviews, and performance tracking for growth online.
Jul 22, 2026
Bojangles is celebrating robust growth as it approaches its 900th restaurant, driven by strategic expansion into new U.S. markets and a renewed focus on franchise partnerships.
Jul 22, 2026
Discover practical ways to control labor costs through accurate forecasting, efficient scheduling, employee productivity, overtime management, and performance tracking consistently.
Jul 22, 2026
Learn when to sell franchise locations by evaluating financial performance, operations, market conditions, lease terms, and long-term business goals carefully.
Jul 20, 2026
Jersey Mike’s announces its upcoming IPO, highlighting the sandwich chain’s aggressive international growth strategy and signaling major trends for restaurant owners and franchisors.
Jul 21, 2026
Direct orders tighten control over guest relationships, while loyalty programs shift to experiential growth. A new era for pizza delivery unfolds.
Photo by Lukas Bee.
Direct orders are taking center stage as pizza operators balance two core pressures: rising third-party commissions and the erosion of first-party data. Aggregators offer breadth and convenience, but brands worry about losing control of the guest relationship and the long-term value of repeat visits. In this new reality, loyalty and direct-order initiatives are no longer optional; they are strategic must-haves that define the path to sustainable growth. The industry sees the battlefield shift from breadth to the quality of the owned channel experience. The short-term uplift from marketplace networks is acknowledged, but the real prize is a frictionless journey that keeps guests on owned platforms. The time to act is now: Stage is set for a direct-to-consumer pivot:
Direct orders are taking center stage as pizza operators balance two core pressures: rising third-party commissions and the erosion of first-party data. Aggregators offer breadth and convenience, but brands worry about losing control of the guest relationship and the long-term value of repeat visits. In this new reality, loyalty and direct-order initiatives are no longer optional; they are strategic must-haves that define the path to sustainable growth. The industry sees the battlefield shift from breadth to the quality of the owned channel experience. The short-term uplift from marketplace networks is acknowledged, but the real prize is a frictionless journey that keeps guests on owned platforms. The time to act is now: Stage is set for a direct-to-consumer pivot:
Zach Goldstein, founder and CEO of Thanx, puts the market reality bluntly: “It’s been proven that the answer is yes, you have to play with third-party. It’s part of how diners expect to get food from restaurants.” Yet he cautions there’s a data gap. “It’s a battle for the lifetime value of the customer. It’s very difficult to drive repeat purchasing from customers on third-party when you don’t really have a way to influence them.” The takeaway is plain: efficiency and frictionless digital experiences on owned channels are the new battleground for repeat visits, even as brands acknowledge the short-term uplift from third-party networks. Success hinges on aligning orders, loyalty, and data access in one seamless flow. The market is testing this alignment now, with early pilots and measured metrics guiding the way:
