Industry Analysis
El Pollo Loco plans New York entry with three franchise partners
The company says its first regional lease is signed in Queens, with an opening targeted for mid-2027.
SEP 30, 2026 · 3 MIN READ
Archive
September 2026
55 articles published in September 2026
Industry Analysis: 7Marketing & Growth: 13Technology & Innovation: 7People & Culture: 7Operations & Management: 9Finance & Economics: 12
Marketing & Growth
Dunkin brings cold foam to Zero for Halloween
The seasonal drinks build on earlier beverage launches, with an October afternoon bonus for Boosted members.
SEP 30, 2026 · 2 MIN READ
Technology & Innovation
Menufy survey: Diners would check menus after AI recommendations
Respondents would check menus and websites after AI recommendations. Google’s documentation explains discovery eligibility and menu publishing.
SEP 30, 2026 · 2 MIN READ
Technology & Innovation
Square links Apple Maps place cards to restaurant ordering
Square’s September 24 update connects its Dashboard to Apple Business, adding tools to manage restaurant listings and ordering links.
SEP 28, 2026 · 3 MIN READ
People & Culture
CAVA’s training plan at 500 restaurants
Opening specialists and manager development support the expansion.
SEP 28, 2026 · 3 MIN READ
Operations & Management
Five Guys says its 2,000th restaurant has 150-language kiosks
Five Guys says its CityWalk kiosks offer ordering in 150 languages. Universal’s venue preview advertised breakfast sandwiches and indoor and outdoor seating.
SEP 27, 2026 · 1 MIN READ
People & Culture
Restaurant Workers in Survey See Several Paths to Advance
Surveyed workers see career opportunities with current and other employers.
SEP 27, 2026 · 1 MIN READ
Finance & Economics
SBA's October 1 acquisition rules: earnings, equity and the $3 million test
The updated SBA manual separates initial acquisitions from qualifying expansions, ties earnings reviews to the business purchase price and sets conditions for equity contributions.
SEP 27, 2026 · 3 MIN READ
Marketing & Growth
Taco Bell adds daily games and Friday prize entries
Rewards members can turn virtual paddles into entries for weekly prize drawings.
SEP 25, 2026 · 1 MIN READ
Finance & Economics
Restaurant outlook forecasts modest purchasing-power growth
The Association forecasts 0.5% growth in real disposable income for 2026. Its separately released survey describes restaurant use and spending choices.
SEP 25, 2026 · 2 MIN READ
Operations & Management
Scooter’s Coffee connects app and marketplace ordering through Olo
June’s marketplace setup and September’s app migration show how Scooter’s connects digital ordering with store systems.
SEP 25, 2026 · 2 MIN READ
Finance & Economics
Wendy’s operator Meritage plans closures, Fast Company reports
Fast Company reports planned closures as Meritage’s bankruptcy proceedings continue.
SEP 25, 2026 · 2 MIN READ
Finance & Economics
Pizza Inn signs a 10-buffet development agreement
The first five openings are anticipated in fiscal 2027.
SEP 25, 2026 · 2 MIN READ
Finance & Economics
Starbucks plans 250 North American closures
Starbucks estimates $300 million in restructuring charges and lowers its global net-opening forecast to about 440.
SEP 25, 2026 · 3 MIN READ
Operations & Management
KPOT picks Deliverect for marketplace orders and menus
KPOT plans a network deployment. Deliverect’s general tools connect shared menus with local exceptions, editing permissions and channel publishing.
SEP 25, 2026 · 3 MIN READ
Marketing & Growth
Wendy’s made an emo album for its parking lot
Six tracks, real musicians and a Frosty funeral.
SEP 25, 2026 · 1 MIN READ
Technology & Innovation
Decision Logic launches Vitals and ShiftFlow
Decision Logic says Vitals tracks performance and ShiftFlow organizes mobile tasks.
SEP 24, 2026 · 2 MIN READ
People & Culture
How restaurant workers can ask Giving Kitchen for crisis support
Ahead of September 25, Giving Kitchen is pointing food-service workers toward existing crisis assistance and community resources.
SEP 24, 2026 · 3 MIN READ
Operations & Management
KFC Canada's Kwench rollout pairs equipment and site work
Elevate outlines a program to equip and prepare more than 200 Canadian KFC restaurants.
SEP 24, 2026 · 2 MIN READ
Marketing & Growth
Arby’s promotes Loaded Rewards
Points connect restaurant purchases and digital orders.
SEP 24, 2026 · 2 MIN READ
Industry Analysis
Bad Ass Coffee moves headquarters to Lexington
A new distribution center supports East Coast and destination stores.
SEP 23, 2026 · 3 MIN READ
Technology & Innovation
Chipotle pilots food-safety platform with Palantir
The company’s September statement outlined a pilot to consolidate restaurant risk information and guide follow-up.
SEP 23, 2026 · 2 MIN READ
Industry Analysis
Slutty Vegan adds Cincinnati to Soul Republic’s Ohio plans
Soul Republic’s third announced Ohio market follows its plans for Columbus and Cleveland.
SEP 23, 2026 · 1 MIN READ
Operations & Management
DonorLink connects Toast food donations to volunteer pickups
Food Rescue US links Toast donation records to local pickups, following a 2023 grant initiative.
SEP 23, 2026 · 2 MIN READ
Finance & Economics
McDonald’s plans $8.5 billion in franchise support
Rent relief and capital backing would help fund restaurant upgrades.
SEP 23, 2026 · 3 MIN READ
People & Culture
Aspire’s first food-service trainees serve a practice lunch
Aspire’s first food-service cohort handled a three-course lunch, from taking orders to resetting tables, as part of its preparation for restaurant jobs.
SEP 22, 2026 · 3 MIN READ
Marketing & Growth
KFC UK Made Cereal. It Wants You to Add Gravy.
Chicken-flavored cereal meets a gravy boat.
SEP 22, 2026 · 1 MIN READ
Operations & Management
Presto connects drive-thru voice orders to Toast
How menu management, voice generation and POS connections bring spoken orders into restaurant operations.
SEP 22, 2026 · 3 MIN READ
Marketing & Growth
Dunkin’s coffee gets an L.L.Bean sweater. Humans are next.
The coffee gets dressed first.
SEP 22, 2026 · 1 MIN READ
Marketing & Growth
Carl’s Jr. wants proof you threw away your crown
Carl’s Jr. limited burger offers to the first 100 eligible entries.
SEP 22, 2026 · 1 MIN READ
Finance & Economics
7 Brew outbids Dutch Bros for 72 Salad and Go drive-thrus
7 Brew won the August 31 auction for 72 closed Salad and Go leases. Dutch Bros declined to raise its bid. The court has not approved the sale.
SEP 21, 2026 · 4 MIN READ
People & Culture
Thrive put a Goodwill coach in nine restaurants
More than 80 of about 300 Wichita employees used the coach in year one.
SEP 21, 2026 · 2 MIN READ
Finance & Economics
Meritage files for Chapter 11, plans to keep restaurants operating
The Wendy’s operator is seeking financing and court approval for employee payments.
SEP 18, 2026 · 1 MIN READ
Marketing & Growth
Tropical Smoothie plans cafe and digital refresh
Cafe branding changes begin in coming weeks; a redesigned web and app experience follows over several months.
SEP 18, 2026 · 1 MIN READ
Finance & Economics
Brinker targets 30 annual restaurant openings by fiscal 2029
Brinker’s development plans pair new restaurants with remodel investment. It forecast fiscal 2027 capital spending of $265 million to $285 million.
SEP 18, 2026 · 1 MIN READ
Operations & Management
Hunt Brothers, GoMart and Così outline three partner formats
Pizza inside stores, restaurant endcaps and licensed catering bring different operating arrangements.
SEP 17, 2026 · 3 MIN READ
Finance & Economics
Qvinci launches RoyaltyHub for franchise billing
The platform connects royalty invoices and payments.
SEP 17, 2026 · 1 MIN READ
Operations & Management
Crunchtime brings prep and waste logging to kitchen screens
The September launch connects tasks, inventory and reporting.
SEP 17, 2026 · 1 MIN READ
Technology & Innovation
&pizza removes kiosks and AI ordering
The chain cites lost interaction with guests.
SEP 17, 2026 · 1 MIN READ
Industry Analysis
Higher-income households account for most restaurant spending
New Census income figures and the restaurant association's analysis show how higher-income households contribute to spending on meals away from home.
SEP 16, 2026 · 3 MIN READ
technology
Technology & Innovation
7shifts Brings Employee Training Into Its Restaurant HR Platform
Course completion still leaves managers responsible for assessing practical skills.
SEP 15, 2026 · 3 MIN READ
People & Culture
Chipotle Targets Full Apprentice Coverage by the End of 2027
Chipotle aims to extend Apprentice coverage from roughly three-quarters of restaurants to every company-owned location by end-2027.
SEP 15, 2026 · 3 MIN READ
marketing
Marketing & Growth
Taco Bell Foundation's 2026 Grants Reach 700 Nonprofits
Applications require an invitation from the foundation.
SEP 15, 2026 · 3 MIN READ
marketing
Marketing & Growth
Dunkin’s Tennis Campaign Connects Drinks, Merchandise and Rewards
An upcoming app points offer follows restaurant tennis collectibles, an announced HEAD collection and a public Grand Central pop-up.
SEP 11, 2026 · 3 MIN READ
finance
Finance & Economics
WOWorks’ Franchise Incentives Reward Scale, but Cash Timing Matters
WOWorks ties franchise fee reductions, refunds and royalty relief to development commitments. Operators need to put the incentives on the same calendar as their openings.
SEP 10, 2026 · 4 MIN READ
finance
Finance & Economics
Jersey Mike’s Q2 shows sales growth and a complicated earnings comparison
Comparable sales rose 2.3% as Jersey Mike’s expanded, while advertising timing and corporate costs complicate the second-quarter profit comparison.
SEP 9, 2026 · 3 MIN READ
marketing
Marketing & Growth
Dunkin’s Fall Campaign Moves From Breakfast to Afternoon Lattes
A creator meal, capped espresso codes and a four-hour latte offer give customers three ways to participate in Dunkin’s fall campaign.
SEP 8, 2026 · 3 MIN READ
industry
Industry Analysis
Food-Service Payrolls Rebound in the First August Jobs Estimate
The September 4 release estimated 59,000 additional food-service jobs. Original release tables also show how July’s decline changed in revision.
SEP 4, 2026 · 3 MIN READ
people
People & Culture
Massachusetts cites Dunkin operator and staffing firms over worker pay
The $1.46 million assessment covers restitution for 100 employees and state penalties, with findings involving classification, pay and assignment notices.
SEP 3, 2026 · 3 MIN READ
technology
Technology & Innovation
Pilot completes Wendy’s kiosk rollout at 78 travel-center restaurants
Pilot’s completed Wendy’s deployment connects travel-center restaurants to brand ordering options within its wider food and digital program.
SEP 3, 2026 · 3 MIN READ
marketing
Marketing & Growth
Wendy’s Halloween offer pairs coupon books with meal collectibles
Boo! Books, scheduled Frosty Frights toys and a planned app-exclusive toy use different participation rules within Wendy’s seasonal program.
SEP 3, 2026 · 3 MIN READ
operations
Operations & Management
Pesce reopens Lexington Dunkin with Jimmy John’s under one roof
The Marrett Road reopening restores a historic Dunkin and adds Jimmy John’s, with the operator describing training work and planned delivery.
SEP 2, 2026 · 3 MIN READ
marketing
Marketing & Growth
Dunkin and Febreze launch Walmart-exclusive coffee and bakery scents
Dunkin’s Walmart-exclusive Febreze range follows earlier Native and Flipz launches, with scent-specific formats and separate retail channels.
SEP 1, 2026 · 3 MIN READ
industry
Industry Analysis
July Food-Service and Lodging Hires Nearly Matched Departures
July accommodation and food-service hires nearly matched separations. The September JOLTS release shows why stable headcount can still require substantial recruiting.
SEP 1, 2026 · 3 MIN READ
industry
Industry Analysis
Riko’s buys two franchise restaurants without adding system locations
Riko’s completed its purchase of Merrick and Levittown restaurants August 31. The transfer changes ownership within a 13-location system as another Long Island site remains planned.
SEP 1, 2026 · 3 MIN READ