As the industry looks to bipartisan lobbying, organized labor hopes its electoral ground game will result in a labor-friendly Democratic administration. Restaurants may employ 12.4 million workers and account for $1 trillion in sales, but in the official platforms of America’s major political parties they barely register. The Republican Party Platform mentions restaurants precisely once:… read more

The struggling casual-dining chain has now closed about 100 locations this year amid a host of challenges. TGI Fridays has closed another large swath of restaurants across the country, continuing the casual-dining chain’s decline toward a potential bankruptcy filing. According to TGI Fridays’ website, the chain now has 164 U.S. locations, 51 fewer than it… read more

Colorado regulators said that fresh and frozen beef tested did not include the pathogen, giving McDonald’s confidence to restart sales of the burger. The company also apologized to customers and promised to “make this right.” McDonald’s said on Sunday that it will resume sales of Quarter Pounders in 12 states this week after Colorado regulators… read more

The convenience-store giant’s new locations will feature more prepared food, including in-store restaurants like Laredo Taco Co. Convenience-store giant 7-Eleven plans to open 500 food-and-beverage-focused locations in the U.S. from 2025 to 2027, according to an investor presentation from parent company 7 & i Holdings on Thursday. The stores will feature a new format called… read more

Panera Bread has reached a settlement with the family of Sarah Katz, who died in 2022 after drinking one of the brand’s now-discontinued caffeinated lemonades Panera Bread has settled the first of four separate lawsuits filed against the company related to health problems and deaths allegedly caused by Panera’s now-discontinued Charged Lemonade drinks. Sarah Katz… read more

The beverage company will be run by its chairman on an interim basis as it searches for another executive to take over the top post. Dive Brief: Jones Soda said CEO David Knight has left the company after 16 months at the helm, the company said in a statement. Knight is being replaced on an… read more

In the wake of McDonald’s E. coli outbreak, onions were removed from ‘select’ KFC, Taco Bell, and Pizza Hut locations, and 5% of Burger Kings The fallout continues from this week’s E. coli outbreak, which led to 49 reported illnesses and one fatality and caused McDonald’s to remove its signature Quarter Pounder in a dozen… read more

The fast-food giant has sued Cargill, JBS, Tyson and others, claiming they conspired to limit production and drive up the cost of beef. McDonald’s is suing a group of beef suppliers, accusing them of using a variety of methods to drive up the price of beef over several years. The Chicago-based fast-food giant, the world’s… read more

With order counts growing and more value offers on the way, competitors will have a tough time competing with the pizza giant. Domino’s CEO Russell Weiner believes his company is in the midst of a pizza war right now—one the chain is clearly winning. However, the executive was kind enough to offer advice on how… read more

The bankruptcy filing is the latest twist in a legal battle involving unpaid loans, alleged breaches of franchise agreements, and efforts by a creditor and the franchisor to reclaim control of the restaurants. A 14-unit Applebee’s franchisee filed bankruptcy after complex legal turmoil with its primary lender and the franchisor. The restaurants, operated by Louisiana… read more