Trending Articles

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Value Is the New Battleground for Loyalty

Modern Restaurant Management

A third of diners said their favorite restaurant changed in the past 12 months, with “better food” (46 percent) and “better value” (40 percent) cited as the leading reasons, according to Tillster’s 2025 Phygital Index Report. The report found that loyalty is eroding as brands worked hard to offer new limited time offers, value meals, upgraded loyalty programs, and digital innovations.

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The Communal Dining Table Gamble

EATER

Diners gather at one of chef Kendall DaCostas supper clubs. | Daron English Communal dining is all the rage. What if youre seated next to someone who sucks? At a recent dinner, I faced the worst fate that can befall a diner: There was an annoying guy at the restaurant. He spoke too loudly about boring things, shared unsolicited expertise on subjects it was clear he knew little about, and wore an ugly jacket.

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EVERY PLATE TELLS A STORY

Culinary Cues

The benchmark song on what was arguably Rod Stewarts most artistic album proclaimed that Every Picture Tells a Story lamenting that there are memories attached to our experiences, mementos, or a work that we invest our time in. It is those memories that gives everything meaning and some level of importance in our lives and to others who surround us.

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Restaurant Tablet Best Practices: Smart Strategies For Success

ChowNow

Tablets are everywhere in restaurants these days, and with good reason. Their sleek design and intuitive user interface make them a natural fit for a modern restaurants day-to-day operations. From managing reservations at the host stand or firing orders straight to the kitchen from table side, tablets are changing the way restaurants run. But heres the thing: just handing your employees a tablet and hoping for the best doesnt work.

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How to Set Better OKRs and Drive Results

Before you can achieve success, you have to define it. Objectives and Key Results (OKRs) give you the framework to do just that. Paycor’s free guide includes a step-by-step process leaders can use to work toward – and achieve – their loftiest business goals.

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Taking the Risk Out of Restaurant Technology

Restaurant Business

Most restaurant operators consider technology a necessity for running their restaurants today. They rely on technology to help with day-to-day tasks like managing revenue and inventory, and to fill in labor shortage gaps. While the promise of restaurant technology is enormous, sometimes it doesn't live up to the hype, leading to frustration and trepidation about trying new technology.

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‘Great Partners Build Great Brands’

Modern Restaurant Management

For more than two decades Sam Ballas, Founder of East Coast Wings + Grill, has focused on brand building in a smart and sustainable manner. Most recently, he co-founded Sammy's Sliders with chef Sammy Gianopoulos. After successfully opening a second location in Kernersville, NC, and planning for a third one, the fast-casual gourmet slider brand has started franchising and plans to grow strategically in the Southeast region.

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A STORY TO TELL

Culinary Cues

Oh, how our careers evolve. With a commitment to constantly learn, a willingness to step in different directions, and an open mind where we start may not have much similarity to where we end up. That makes life interesting and fun. I often reflect back on that first job at 15 years old as a dishwasher in a Buffalo, New York diner and shake my head when I contemplate the opportunities that came my way, the people I have met and with whom I have worked, the places I have been, all that I continue

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The Impact Of Online Reviews On Restaurants: Why They Matter More Than Ever

ChowNow

The last time you tried a new restaurant, what steps did you take before you walked through their doors? Did you scroll through the online reviews first? Check the star rating? Maybe skim a few photos? Your guests are doing the same thingEvery. Single. Day. Online reviews have become one of the most influential factors in how consumers choose where to eat, especially for independent restaurants.

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How Restaurants Can Utilize a Small Business Loan to Fuel Growth

The Rail

By Tracie Johnson, Contributor Running a restaurant requires more than just a good idea, a great menu, and determination. Whether for operations expansion, equipment upgrades, staff recruiting, or more marketing activity, growth calls for resources. Even the most exciting companies find it difficult to realize their full potential without the appropriate financial support.

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Balancing Dining Experiences with Cost-Conscious Strategies

Modern Restaurant Management

Despite economic concerns, diners consistently demonstrate a commitment to supporting restaurants, according to TouchBistro's 2025 American Diner Trends Report. “This enduring customer loyalty drives the restaurant industry forward, creating clear opportunities for restaurants to enhance the dining experience through strategic limited time offers, efficient delivery and exceptional in-person service," said Samir Zabaneh, CEO of TouchBistro.

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How to Set Better OKRs and Drive Results

Before you can achieve success, you have to define it. Objectives and Key Results (OKRs) give you the framework to do just that. Paycor’s free guide includes a step-by-step process leaders can use to work toward – and achieve – their loftiest business goals.

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American Chips Are Getting Really, Really Beefy 

EATER

With the arrival of the Doritos Late Night Cheeseburger flavor and other new additions to the savory chip category, consumers favorite crispy potato snack is getting a meaty makeover On its face, its an absurd premise: a Doritos tortilla chip that could really taste like a cheeseburger. Theres just no way that a sprinkling of flavor powder could actually replicate the savory beefiness of a burger patty.

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SpotOn Powers Restaurants with Insights, Innovation, and Industry Growth in 2025

SpotOn

SpotOn grows in popularity amongst restaurants committed to delivering unique, community-driven hospitality experiences. New financial insights help operators prepare for the future while improving profitability. Recent product innovations enhance operational efficiency and guest engagement for restaurant operators. San Francisco , April 14, 2025 — SpotOn , a leading software and payments partner for restaurants and small businesses, enters 2025 with strong momentum driven by new client w

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How To Integrate Your POS System With Uber Eats, DoorDash, And Grubhub

ChowNow

If your restaurant uses delivery apps like Uber Eats, DoorDash, or Grubhub, you already know how overwhelming order volume can get when the rush hitsespecially when youre bouncing between tablets, updating menus in three places, and relying on staff to manually punch in each delivery order. That kind of setup isnt just inefficientit opens the door to expensive mistakes and slows down your team at the worst possible times.

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The Rise of Transparent Dining and What It Means for Restaurants

The Rail

By Indiana Lee, Contributor Guests want to know where their food comes from, how it was raised, and whether it aligns with their values. This shift is driven by growing environmental awareness, social media scrutiny, and increased access to digital information. Consumers, particularly younger generations , are more eco-conscious than ever. According to a study from Delierect , 43% of restaurant diners say they are willing to pay more for sustainable dishes, and 68% believe restaurants should tak

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What Your Financial Statements Are Telling You—And How to Listen!

Speaker: David Worrell, CFO, Author & Speaker

Your financial statements hold powerful insights—but are you truly paying attention? Many finance professionals focus on the income statement while overlooking key signals hidden in the balance sheet and cash flow statement. Understanding these numbers can unlock smarter decision-making, uncover risks, and drive long-term success. Join David Worrell, accomplished CFO, finance expert, and author, for an engaging, nontraditional take on reading financial statements.

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How AI Is Revolutionizing Restaurant Compliance

Modern Restaurant Management

Restaurants must navigate an intricate web of federal and local compliance parameters, from food and workplace safety regulations, to labor laws, to environmental concerns – and when the consequences for violations are so severe, remaining compliant can feel like walking through a minefield. Non-compliance burdens restaurants with hefty fines, lawsuits, and reputational damage, and as diners become increasingly selective about where they eat, restaurants simply can’t afford the risk.

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Meet the New Candidate for the Absolute Worst Restaurant Chair 

EATER

Lille Allen | Eater From Parisian cafes to KFCs, this leaning stool is wreaking havoc on derrieres everywhere A new insult to chairs just landed. I was scrolling through my TikTok FYP when I found this viral video of a woman at a restaurant in Paris, France, struggling to understand how to sit Lean on? Hunch over? one of its counter chairs. In the words of someone in the comments, Why they got you sitting on a tootsie roll?

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Influencer Marketing for Restaurants: A Comprehensive Guide to Boosting Your Brand

The Restaurant Group

Hello, restaurant owner! Ready to turn your eatery into the talk of the town? Let’s dive into the world of restaurant influencer marketing a game-changer that’s as juicy as your signature burger. This guide will walk you through the ins and outs, making the process as easy as pie. What Is Restaurant Influencer Marketing? Imagine having a local foodie with a loyal following rave about your dishes on social media.

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Restaurant KPIs Every Operator Should Track (With Easy-to-Use Formulas)

ChowNow

Running a restaurant without tracking your key metrics is like flying blind. Sure, instincts matter, but lets be honest, following your intuition is really just a guessing game, and eventually, a strong hunch will turn out to be a bad judgment. With razor-thin margins and hundreds of moving parts, guessing your way through important decisions wont cut it long termthats where you can leverage KPIs (Key Performance Indicators).

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State of AI in Sales & Marketing 2025

AI adoption is reshaping sales and marketing. But is it delivering real results? We surveyed 1,000+ GTM professionals to find out. The data is clear: AI users report 47% higher productivity and an average of 12 hours saved per week. But leaders say mainstream AI tools still fall short on accuracy and business impact. Download the full report today to see how AI is being used — and where go-to-market professionals think there are gaps and opportunities.

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Applebee's is switching to Toast for its POS

Restaurant Business

The casual-dining chain will upgrade its point-of-sale and back-of-house systems across all 1,500 U.S. locations as it looks to streamline operations and improve the customer experience.

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Daily, Weekly, Biweekly? What’s the Best Pay Schedule for My Restaurant?

Modern Restaurant Management

After a rough few years due to the pandemic, restaurant workers now have a reason to celebrate: Their average hourly earnings have grown 66% from 2017 to April of 2024, according to data from the Square Payroll Index , compared to 40% growth for retail workers. This is a positive development for the restaurant industry, which has been battling higher rates of turnover compared to other industries.

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Top Tips for Ships: How Cruise Lines Use Recipes to Manage Costs and Operations

Crunchtime

From bottomless buffet spreads to endless deckside drinks, cruise ships are like floating cities that never sleepand feeding thousands of guests daily is no small feat. With limited storage space, unpredictable demand, and no room for supply errors mid-voyage, cruise lines need meticulous inventory management to stay profitable. Thats where recipes come to the rescue, helping cruise operators track usage, control costs, and sail smoothly through every meal service.

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Beyond the Shelf: What Inventory Turnover Really Tells You

ChefMod

Beyond the Shelf: What Inventory Turnover Really Tells You In the restaurant world, high inventory turnover is often treated like a badge of honor. It signals fast-moving product, fresh food, and smart orderingright? Not always. If youve ever run out of a key ingredient mid-shift or placed a last-minute order that blew up your food cost, you know that too much turnover can be just as bad as too little.

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Navigating Payroll Compliance: Future-Proofing Payroll in an Evolving Regulatory Landscape

Speaker: Jennifer Hill

Payroll compliance is a cornerstone of business success, yet for small and midsize businesses, it’s becoming increasingly challenging to navigate the ever-evolving landscape of federal, state, and local regulations. Mistakes can lead to costly penalties and operational disruptions, making it essential to adopt advanced solutions that ensure accuracy and efficiency.

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How To Cut Restaurant Operating Costs Without Compromising Quality

ChowNow

Running a restaurant is equal parts passion and precisionespecially when it comes to running the numbers. One of operators most difficult challenges is balancing restaurant operating costs without compromising the food, service, and customer experience that makes your restaurant unique. Fortunately, though, cutting costs doesnt have to mean cutting corners, sacrificing the qualities of your restaurant that keep customers coming back again and again.

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Still looking for a permanent CEO, Subway makes some executive changes

Restaurant Business

Doug Fry stepped down as head of the sandwich chains North American operations while Greg Lyons was named chief marketing officer.

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GLP-1 Users Turn to QSRs

Modern Restaurant Management

While nearly one in ten respondents to a survey of more than 2,000 US diners conducted by Revenue Management Solutions (RMS) have used or are using GLP-1, it hasn't slowed their restaurant-going behavior. One quarter of those currently taking a GLP-1 medication increased their QSR visits in the past month with 43 percent of past users reporting more visits.

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Torchy’s Tacos on Operationalizing Guest Feedback—and Why It All Starts with Caring

Black Box Intelligence

Key Takeaways What You Need To Know: Authenticity Isnt a Vibe Its an Operating Principle Every Guest Deserves a Response Small Fixes = Big Wins Feedback That Fuels Brand Loyalty Operationalizing Guest Feedbackand Why It All Starts with Caring Insights from Torchy’s Tacos In the latest episode of Lessons from the Field , we sat down with Brandon Rathert, Director of Brand Marketing at Torchys Tacos.

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The Funding Recipe for Your Restaurant – A Guide To Growing Your Business

Fuel your restaurant’s success with our comprehensive 2025 funding guide! Running a restaurant comes with unique financial challenges, from managing seasonal fluctuations to covering unexpected expenses like equipment repairs or ingredient shortages. This guide dives into fast, flexible financing options for restaurant owners. Discover how to bridge cash flow gaps, fund expansions, or navigate slow seasons without compromising service quality.

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Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) for Restaurants: Moving Beyond Rebates Toward Real Cost Control

ChefMod

For many restaurant owners and operators, managing food costs can feel like a losing battle. Ingredient prices change daily, deliveries arrive incomplete, supplier terms shift without warning, and chefs are left to make rapid-fire purchasing decisions with minimal data. In this chaotic environment, its no surprise that rebate programs often seem like a lifeline.

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Managing Online Reviews: How to Turn Feedback into Positive Outcomes

Restaurant Engine

With a careful strategy, you can leverage online reviews to your benefit. You may know that online reviews are important for your restaurant. But they are actually vital to your continued success. In fact, today, online reviews are crucial, especially when just one review can influence numerous potential diners. Your positive and negative reviews can greatly impact a persons decision to eat at your restaurant or find another place to dine.

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Grocer Hy-Vee to shutter most in-store bars, eliminate full-service dining

Restaurant Business

The Midwestern supermarket chain, which got rid of all of its in-store Wahlburgers locations a few months ago, said the latest moves are designed to standardize its Market Grille dining operations.

Dine-in 262
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‘Being Adaptable and Responsive to Changes in the Industry Landscape Is Key’

Modern Restaurant Management

Joe Gale has more than 30 years of sales, operations and account management experience, including 20 years with Coca-Cola North America Foodservice where he worked closely with numerous QSR and fast casual brands. Most recently, he managed the western region franchisee relations for Coca Cola with Dairy Queen, working with franchise owners across 22 states to improve and grow their businesses.

Franchise 221
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Future-Proof Your Talent Pipeline

Get ready for the future of business. As HR navigates an ongoing labor shortage, leaders need stronger, more adaptable recruiting strategies. Do you have the tools you need to build a talent pipeline that drives sustainable business growth?