latest posts

Texas Roadhouse Quietly Tests First-Party Delivery

By Bernadette Heier | July 22, 2026

According to a Wednesday, July 15 report from Deutsche Bank, the steakhouse chain has started piloting the service at select restaurants using white-label fulfillment through DoorDash.

C-Store, Travel Center Openings Power Major Expansion at Cinnabon

By Andy Tellijohn | July 21, 2026

Cinnabon opened 348 new domestic franchise locations in 2025, up from 91 in 2024. Long a favorite in malls, much of its growth now is centered in convenience stores, particularly in the Western United States.

Agentic Discovery Inspires Review Generator from Marqii, Thanx

By Hans Lammeman | July 21, 2026

Marqii partners with Thanx on a new tool that automatically invites guests to leave restaurant reviews on popular sites, which heavily influence AI chatbots responding to foodservice-related prompts.

Wonder Raises $650M to Expand Footprint and Technology

By Bernadette Heier | July 21, 2026

The capital will support physical expansion, marketplace growth and continued development of technology, robotics and artificial intelligence. Wonder said its footprint has grown from 46 to 140 locations since its previous funding announcement in May 2025.

Restaurant Operators Turn to Training and Tech to Meet Cost Challenges

By Matthew Liedke | July 20, 2026

Restaurant365 surveyed more than 400 food and beverage operators on their biggest challenges and strategies in the first half of 2026. Labor shortages and rising costs topped the list.

Off-Prem Alcohol Picks Up Steam as Consumer Drinking Slows

By Hans Lammeman | July 15, 2026

This year is proving pivotal for off-prem alcohol regulation across the U.S. as states make temporary pandemic-era exceptions permanent. The trend comes amid shrinking alcohol consumption.

Catering Outpaces Restaurant Industry Growth

By Bernadette Heier | July 15, 2026

As consumers become more price-conscious, new data from Monkey Catering Platform points to repeat customers as a key source of catering growth.

Meal Costs Continue to Rise as Consumer Prices Drop

By Hans Lammeman | July 15, 2026

Although June saw the largest decrease in the Consumer Price Index since 2020, the cost of eating out tells a different story in both full-service and quick-service operations.

Autonomous Delivery: Counting Down to Critical Mass

By Peter Backman | July 15, 2026

New data from China, Europe and the U.S. suggests autonomous delivery is entering a new phase of commercial growth.

New Report Reveals Cuisine with Most Effective Loyalty Programs

By Hans Lammeman | July 15, 2026

New research from Incentivio analyzing 4,000-plus restaurants reveals how loyalty effectiveness varies by cuisine type. Indian restaurants led the way for activation, while Coffee concepts drove the most engagement.