Dutch Bros is now the third-largest coffee chain in the U.S., trailing only Starbucks and Dunkin’. In 2018, Dutch Bros—a little more than 300 shops at the time—threw out a massive goal. The coffee chain is expected to reach 800 shops nationwide by 2023. The moment of truth is just around the corner. And from… read more

LEADING BRANDS ARE RETHINKING HOW THEY RECRUIT, RETAIN, AND VALUE THEIR BEST EMPLOYEES . . . . Navigating the Restaurant Labor Shortage Requires a NextGen Approach   According to Bureau Labor of Statistics numbers released in early October, food services and drinking establishments added 60,000 jobs in September. The hospitality sector now employs 11.8 million… read more

New Menu Items from Applebee’s, Krispy Kreme, and Burger King Spooky season is coming to menus across the United States as foodservice locations usher in the Halloween season. Applebee’s brought back two Halloween-themed cocktails, which are available for a suggested retail price of $6. “Getting in on the Halloween fun is just another reason for… read more

Murry’s Acquires Foodservice Baked Foods Provider Founded in 1989 and headquartered in McDonald, Tenn., Bake Crafters manufactures and distributes breakfast and other baked food products, primarily to the K-12 foodservice channel. The company’s products include pancake and waffle breakfast sandwiches, low-sodium bread, break bars, and french toast bites. According to the company, more than 420… read more

Loyalty Programs Reach Record Levels in 2021 A growing number of casual-dining players recognize the importance of loyalty, no matter the size of their footprint. IHOP, one of the largest full-service chains in the world, debuted the International Bank of Pancakes in March, allowing customers to redeem digital coins for exclusive rewards. Dine Brands, the… read more

When Sahil Rahman and Rahul Vinod, co-owners of Indian fast-casual concept RASA, were growing up, their fathers owned restaurants to create better opportunities for their children. It was not expected that one day, their children would go into the very same business to bring fast-casual Indian cuisine into the American public consciousness. “Owning a restaurant… read more

Popeyes wants to give customers cheap chicken for its birthday. The Miami-based chicken chain will sell two pieces of the chain’s bone-in chicken for 59 cents next week starting Sunday. The catch: Customers have to first buy $5 worth of food on the chain’s digital channels. The price is the same one the company offered… read more

Menu prices rose at an accelerating rate in May, with customers typically paying 7.4% more for an item than they did a year ago, according to new government figures. The year-over-year increase was the sharpest upswing in restaurant prices since 1981, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) noted in updating the Consumer Price Index… read more