Red Robin CEO GJ Hart started his tenure in September, but he’s followed the brand long before then and done his homework on its history. To learn how the 511-unit company has trended, Hart spoke with executives of the past, all the way up to the first president 44 years ago. Back in the 90s… read more

Consumers’ efforts to balance health and wellness with their desire to seek comfort and enjoyment from foods and beverages will drive many of the trends showing up in restaurants and on grocery shelves in 2023, according to experts’ predictions about the coming year. Here are five of the top food and beverage trends to watch… read more

Red Robin added Donatos’ Pizza to its Menus at a Few Dozen restaurants in 2018, generating incremental sales while also ensuring the brand operated autonomously on third-party marketplaces. Donatos essentially functioned as a virtual restaurant out of Red Robin locations well before the pandemic put such concepts on the map. The partnership was such a… read more

Portillo’s recently did a soft open for one location in The Colony, Tex., a suburb of Dallas. The company did not say a word about the opening, not even on social media, and it still had a line of customers waiting when the doors were unlocked. “We did $20,000 the first four hours,” CEO Michael… read more

Modern Restaurant Concepts — the parent company of Qdoba, Modern Market Eatery, and Lemonade brands — announced Thursday the appointment of John Cywinski as the restaurant group’s newest CEO, effective immediately. Cywinski was most recently at Applebee’s, where he served as president for six years until the casual-dining chain announced his departure a week ago…. read more

Lawrence “Larry” Oberkfell has joined C.H. Guenther & Son LLC as a senior adviser. In his new role, Mr. Oberkfell will advise C.H. Guenther & Son’s management team on identifying growth opportunities and strategic initiatives. An experienced foodservice and industry leader, Mr. Oberkfell has held executive roles in the foodservice and manufacturing industries for the… read more

If ever a restaurant dining room embodied the overall brand spirit, it would be Eggs Up Grill. The cheery interior, with its robin egg blues, yolk yellows, gingham tiles, and blonde hardwoods, is at once inviting and homey. In so many ways, the design speaks to what makes the restaurant different from others in the… read more

New leadership and doubling down on the four Ds of delivery, digital, drive-thru, and development are part of McDonald’s Corp.’s As part of the strategy kick-off, the company has created four new leadership roles. As of Feb. 1, Morgan Flatley will be promoted to executive vice president, global chief marketing officer; Skye Anderson will be… read more

Michelin Star Chef Donald Young launched Duck Sel in 2021. Just as athletes hope to one day receive the MVP award in their respective sport, so do chefs who aspire to be awarded a coveted Michelin Star. After all, receiving a star is an honor of the highest degree within the culinary world and signifies… read more