Legacy of former CEO, chairman lives on at daytime breakfast restaurant brand Ken Pendery, the co-founder and longtime leader of First Watch Restaurants Inc., died March 4 of Multiple System Atrophy, a rare neurological disorder, the company said. He was 70. Pendery retired from the company’s board in 2022 after 38 years with the Bradenton,… read more

Restaurant design changes include a point of sales system that’s accessible for the visually impaired, power-operated doors, and wider pedestrian paths. Starbucks announced Friday the rollout of a new inclusive café layout, designed with accessibility in mind. The new Inclusive Spaces Framework, which creates more accessible spaces for both employees and customers with visual and… read more

CEO Aman Narang said the company grew too quickly as it raced to meet demand. The cuts are intended to lower its operating costs. Restaurant tech supplier Toast on Thursday laid off 550 workers, or about 10% of its staff, in a restructuring intended to lower operating costs. In a call with analysts, CEO Aman… read more

The owner of Outback Steakhouse is pruning older, struggling stores in favor of new ones that generate better returns. The parent of Outback Steakhouse and other casual brands is closing 41 underperforming restaurants but plans to offset those closures by opening as many as 45 more this year. All but two of the closures will… read more

The struggling seafood chain lost more than $22 million last year, said Thai Union Group, which is looking to offload the brand. The owner of Red Lobster is still looking for a buyer for the struggling seafood chain, and it’s keeping its expectations low. “We’re not expecting to get anything much from the sale,” Thai… read more

Kirk Tanner announced $100 million worth of investments in breakfast marketing and digital upgrades in a bid to kick-start the fast-food chain’s growth. Kirk Tanner is apparently not easing into his new job. The former PepsiCo executive, who was somewhat surprisingly tapped to become Wendy’s CEO last month, announced $100 million worth of investments in… read more

Virtual Dining Concepts, LLC (VDC), the industry leader in the virtual dining space, announces the expansion of its CREATORS’ KITCHEN AS SEEN ON TIKTOK brand in hundreds of new markets. VDC has partnered with top food content creators on TikTok for Creators’ Kitchen As Seen On TikTok. The menu is inspired by the hottest viral… read more

The coffee shop chain sells a lot of gift cards, has plans for late-night delivery and new product introductions. And young people like their beverages cold. Starbucks reported earnings this week, a report that included weakness in the U.S.and in China but stronger profit margins. But company executives also revealed a few interesting tidbits and… read more

Here are the latest executive moves in the restaurant industry: The parent of the Perkins Restaurant & Bakery family-dining chain has appointed Toni Ronayne president of the brand and named Steven Roach chief technology officer of the whole company. Ascent Hospitality Management is also the parent of the Huddle House family-focused chain, which named Blain… read more