Smashburger Named Official Smashburger of the Colorado Rockies for 2026 MLB Season
Smashburger announced it will serve as the Official Smashburger of the Colorado Rockies for the 2026 MLB season. The partnership includes a home‑run promotion that gives fans a free Single All‑American Smashburger or Americana Big Dog at participating Colorado locations whenever the Rockies hit a homer at Coors Field. The offer runs from April 3 through September 25, 2026, and is redeemable with proof of attendance. Smashburger also operates a stand inside Coors Field, extending its brand visibility on game days.
Amy’s Drive Thru Shutters Final Location
Amy’s Drive Thru, the nation’s first organic vegetarian quick‑service chain, closed its final location at San Francisco International Airport on March 25, 2026, ending a seven‑year airport presence. The SFO site will be replaced by The Melt, a local fast‑casual concept. Amy’s...
Zaxbys Appoints GoTo Foods Veteran to CFO Role
Zaxbys announced Michael Dixon as its new chief financial officer, effective immediately. Dixon, a veteran with more than 30 years of finance leadership, most recently served as CFO of GoTo Foods, where he helped double the company’s portfolio. He will...
IHOP Unveils 'Stuffed ‘N Stacked Omelettes' To Highlight Unique Offerings
IHOP has rebranded its signature omelette line as “Stuffed ’N Stacked Omelettes,” launching a limited‑time Bold BBQ Pulled Pork version. The chain also expanded its $6 Everyday Value Menu with a BLT to capture lunch and dinner traffic, and introduced...
Jack in the Box Introduces Sliders
Jack in the Box is rolling out Smashed Jack Sliders on April 6 to mark its 75th anniversary, offering a 3‑piece slider for $9.49, a Munchie Meal for $14, and a Party Pack for $24. The Munchie Meal includes a surprise...
Taco Bell Puts Two Global Flavors up for a Fan Vote
Taco Bell has launched its inaugural “Global Taco Vote,” inviting Rewards members to decide which international flavor will join the U.S. menu later this year. Voters can choose between Thailand’s Kickin’ Chicken Taco and India’s Butter Chicken Taco by voting...
Western Addition Restaurant Group to Open Its First Venue Outside of Texas
Dallas‑based Western Addition Restaurant Group is launching its first restaurant outside Texas with il Bracco in Scottsdale, Arizona on March 30. The 5,000‑square‑foot, ground‑up build sits on a 1.6‑acre corner site and seats 165 guests, including a patio. The concept blends Italian...
Noodles & Company Considers Ramen Menu
Noodles & Company posted a 6.6% same‑store sales increase in Q4 2025, driven by a popular Chili Garlic Ramen limited‑time offer and a 1.4% rise in traffic. The chain closed 33 underperforming locations, boosting restaurant‑level margins to 14.1% from 11.2% a...
How CEO Mike Tattersfield Is Reshaping Salad and Go’s Growth Strategy
CEO Mike Tattersfield has reshaped Salad and Go by shuttering 72 underperforming Texas and Oklahoma locations, narrowing the footprint to Arizona and Nevada. The chain, which relies on a centralized‑kitchen, drive‑thru‑only model, reported $1.74 million average unit volumes and a 7.4%...
Rocco DiSpirito’s Italian-American Brasserie, Bar Rocco, Is Now Open in New York City
Bar Rocco, a 108‑seat Italian‑American brasserie helmed by celebrity chef Rocco DiSpirito, opened this month in the Kimpton Era Midtown hotel adjacent to Rockefeller Center. The venue offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner, featuring steaks, pastas, seafood, and inventive cocktails. It...
GEN Korean BBQ Expands Its Grocery Division
GEN Korean BBQ is rapidly scaling its consumer‑packaged goods division, adding a full suite of Korean meals, sauces, drinks, soju and snacks to retail shelves. The brand moved from 30 launch locations to more than 800 U.S. supermarkets within six...
Chris Padoan Appointed Chief Operating Officer of Popeyes
Chris Padoan has been appointed chief operating officer of Popeyes U.S. and Canada, bringing nearly 15 years of field leadership experience from Burger King. He will focus on strengthening restaurant execution, enhancing the guest experience, and supporting franchisees. The hire...
James Trees Brings the Independent Restaurant Spirit to Hotel Dining
James Trees, a celebrated independent restaurateur, launched High Steaks atop the Rio Las Vegas Hotel’s Masquerade Tower, marking his first major hotel partnership. Backed by Rio CEO Patrick Miller, Trees secured autonomy over suppliers and staffing, allowing him to iterate...
Restaurant AI Must Deliver More than Fancy Dashboards
Restaurant operators are increasingly demanding AI that tackles scheduling and labor optimization, not just analytics dashboards. A Harri survey of 600 U.S. and U.K. hospitality professionals found 38% rank scheduling as the top AI use case, while dashboards lag at...
Little Caesars Jumps on the Shareable Trend
Little Caesars launched Four‑N‑One Stix, a pizza‑sized shareable snack featuring 16 breadsticks in four flavors for $7.99, available nationwide as a Hot‑N‑Ready item from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. The product is positioned at the intersection of pizza, appetizers, and snacks, aiming...
Zaxbys Recruits Cameron and Cayden Boozer for Loyalty Promotion
Zaxbys launched a limited‑time loyalty drive called the “Transfer Portal,” offering the first 100,000 new Zax Rewards members a free dry‑rub menu item with any drink purchase. The app feature lets shoppers migrate existing restaurant loyalty points to Zaxbys and claim...
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From Roaster to Register: Coffee Shop Systems that Shape the Guest Experience
Dunn Brothers Coffee emphasizes that a memorable café experience stems from tightly integrated front‑of‑house and back‑of‑house systems. The company highlights personal greetings, knowledgeable staff, and consistent workflows as drivers of guest loyalty. In‑store roasting is presented as a tangible way...
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Chick-Fil-A Is Opening a Distribution Center in Texas
Chick‑fil‑A will break ground on a $50 million distribution and warehouse facility in Lubbock, Texas, slated for May. The site, positioned near Lubbock Preston Smith International Airport, will store and ship food and related products to the chain’s restaurants across the region....
FAT Brands CEO, Darden Performance, MCL Closures
FAT Brands founder‑CEO Andy Wiederhorn is taking a leave of absence under a lender‑driven bankruptcy deal, receiving a $5 million payout and a ban on returning until the company is sold. Darden Restaurants posted a 4.2% same‑store sales increase, driven by...
Doherty Enterprises Opens the First Dual-Branded Applebee’s/IHOP Restaurant East of the Mississippi in Hawthorne, N.Y.
Doherty Enterprises opened the first Applebee’s/IHOP dual‑branded restaurant east of the Mississippi in Hawthorne, New York. The location was converted from an existing Applebee’s in a 10‑day remodel, adding IHOP’s breakfast menu and branding. The move follows Dine Brands’ rollout of...
Pizza Hut Sparks Nostalgia with Space Jam Collaboration
Pizza Hut has teamed with Warner Bros. Discovery to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Space Jam, launching a limited‑time Space Jam × Triple Treat Box priced at $21.99. The promotion coincides with the NCAA March Madness tournament, where the chain updates its...
Chipotle Introduces Cilantro Lime Sauce
Chipotle Mexican Grill is rolling out a limited‑time Cilantro Lime Sauce nationwide, debuting Thursday after a successful pilot in Los Angeles that generated two‑to‑three times the order rate of previous sauces. The fresh‑daily sauce blends cilantro, Mexican spices, sour cream,...
Johnny Carino’s Is Debuting a New Restaurant Prototype, Brand Refresh
Johnny Carino’s is launching a next‑generation restaurant prototype in Laredo, Texas on March 25, marking the first location with a completely revamped look. The 6,000‑square‑foot space features an open interior, larger bar, open kitchen, private dining, and an outdoor patio...
Handel’s Ice Cream Appoints Yum Brands Veteran to CFO Role
Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream has appointed Naveen Dasa as its new chief financial officer, effective immediately. Dasa arrives with more than a decade of finance and strategy experience at Yum Brands, Shake Shack, and investment banks, most recently overseeing Pizza...
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20 Popeyes Restaurants Close Following Franchisee’s Bankruptcy
Sailormen Inc., one of Popeyes' largest franchisees, filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy in January, citing roughly $130 million in debt and mounting cost pressures. Since the filing, the company has shuttered 20 Popeyes restaurants across Florida and Georgia, reducing its portfolio to 116...
Wendy’s Launches a Dunks Menu for March Madness
Wendy’s has teamed up with the NCAA as the Official Dunks partner for the 2026 March Madness tournament, launching a limited‑time Dunks Menu featuring Frosty‑Fries combos. The promotion runs from March 16 to April 6, with every app purchase entering customers into...
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CAVA Opens Its First Restaurant in Ohio as Part of Midwest Push
CAVA launched its first Ohio restaurant, a 3,200‑sq‑ft venue in Cincinnati’s Oakley Station, offering dine‑in, digital pickup and delivery. The opening extends the chain’s Midwest push that began with Chicago and continued into Indiana and Michigan. In 2025 CAVA added...
Dave’s Hot Chicken’s Growth Is ‘Full Speed Ahead’ Under New CEO Jim Bitticks
Dave’s Hot Chicken posted a 58% increase in store count last year and was acquired by Roark Capital, the private‑equity firm behind Subway. In January, COO Jim Bitticks was promoted to CEO, pledging to sustain the brand’s rapid growth. Under...
IHOP Is Bolstering Its Catering Channel
IHOP is intensifying promotion of its catering business as off‑premise sales climb, now representing 21% of total revenue. The chain has introduced proprietary packaging and local‑store marketing kits aimed at hotels, schools and conferences, while also targeting late‑night breakfast demand....
Nation's Restaurant News March 2026
Nation's Restaurant News’ March 2026 issue spotlights the casual‑dining segment, probing why it is resonating strongly with today’s consumers. Editors highlight trends such as menu flexibility, experiential service, and accelerated technology adoption that are fueling the category’s growth. The cover features...
Casual Dining Redefines Value in an Inflationary Environment
The casual‑dining segment outperformed quick‑service peers in 2025, driven primarily by Chili’s and other company‑owned chains. Overall traffic stayed flat, but a core group of brands stabilized earnings through value‑centric promotions like Chili’s 3‑for‑Me and aggressive tiered pricing. Ownership of...
Chef Gabriel Kreuther Is Embracing Wood-Fired Cooking at Saverne, His New NYC Brasserie
Chef Gabriel Kreuther launched Saverne, a 5,000‑square‑foot brasserie in Hudson Yards, on March 2. The restaurant features an open kitchen centered on wood‑fired grills using oak, cherry and apple wood. While retaining the precise technique and sourcing of his two‑Michelin‑starred eponymous...
Dave & Buster's Launches What The Fun Campaign with $1-a-Day Unlimited Arcade Gaming Pass Offer
Dave & Buster’s unveiled its "What The Fun" platform, anchored by a 60‑day Unlimited Play Pass priced at just $1 a day for loyalty members. The pass grants unrestricted access to over 150 arcade games and food‑and‑beverage discounts, with three tiered...
Chicago Chef Charlie McKenna Has Opened Fatback, a Hybrid Sandwich Shop, Butcher, and Market
Award‑winning chef Charlie McKenna has opened Fatback, a hybrid sandwich shop, in‑house butcher and market in Chicago’s West Loop. The concept applies fine‑dining technique and premium ingredients to everyday sandwiches, featuring items like a spicy Italian meatball with vodka sauce and...
Cleveland’s Rosy Is a New Neighborhood Restaurant Serving Cuisine Inspired by the Istrian Peninsula
Rosy, a new 53‑seat restaurant in Cleveland’s Hingetown, opened on Feb. 26 under the partnership of Andrew Watts and chef Vinnie Cimino, known for Cordelia. The eatery serves "ancestral European" dishes inspired by the Istrian Peninsula, featuring a 12‑item rotating board...
Why Darden Restaurants Prioritizes an Inclusive Workplace
Darden Restaurants’ chief people officer Sarah King is championing an inclusive workplace that now boasts roughly 60% women and people of color in its executive ranks. Four of the company’s brands—LongHorn Steakhouse, The Capital Grille, Eddie V’s Prime Seafood and Seasons 52—are...
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California Pizza Kitchen Extending Retail Lineup Beyond Frozen Pizza
California Pizza Kitchen (CPK) announced its first expansion beyond frozen pizza since 1999, adding new appetizers and entrée items to its consumer‑packaged goods lineup. The company will roll out these products in U.S. grocery stores in early 2027 and is...
Applebee’s March Madness Promotion Focuses on the To-Go Business
Applebee’s is running a March Madness promotion that offers boneless wings for just 50 cents each when ordered to‑go through its website or mobile app from March 17‑22 and April 4‑6. The deal targets the chain’s off‑premises segment, which saw a 6.5% year‑over‑year sales...
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Restaurants and Bars Lost Nearly 30K Jobs in February
The February 2026 jobs report showed U.S. employers shed 92,000 positions, pushing unemployment to 4.4%. Within hospitality, restaurants and bars shed nearly 30,000 jobs, marking the first monthly decline after eight straight gains. The loss is largely attributed to Winter...
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With Prices up, Restaurant Consumers Turn to Snacking
Restaurant traffic remains depressed as consumers grapple with rising costs, yet a growing share are turning to snack‑size items instead of full meals. The National Restaurant Association reports 60% view dining as essential, while Technomic notes a 7% rise in...
Catch Hospitality Group Has Opened Or’esh, a Live-Fire Mediterranean Restaurant in New York City
Catch Hospitality Group (CHG) launched Or’esh, a live‑fire Mediterranean restaurant in SoHo, New York City, on February 10. The concept, led by chef Nadav Greenberg, emphasizes Levantine flavors cooked over a custom charcoal grill. The 80‑seat Rockwell Group‑designed space features...
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Subway Seeks to Serve 1M Meatballs on National Meatball Day with Free Footlong Upgrades
Subway is offering a free foot‑long upgrade on March 9 for customers who purchase a six‑inch Meatball Sub as part of its Sub of the Day or Meal of the Day. The promotion, timed with National Meatball Day, aims to sell...
Olo Launches First Consumer-Facing Digital Ordering App
Restaurant technology platform Olo unveiled its first consumer‑facing digital ordering app as part of the new Olo Network. The app functions like a marketplace but charges restaurants zero commission and lets them retain full guest‑data ownership. Built on the password‑free...
Scooters Coffee Reaches 900 Stores Nationwide with 83 New Locations Added in 2025 Across 32 States
Scooter’s Coffee announced it has reached 900 stores nationwide, adding 83 new locations in 2025 across 32 states. The expansion represents a 10% increase over the prior year, following a 16% growth spurt in 2024. The company attributes the growth...
How a K-Shaped Economy Is Rewriting the Rules for Restaurants
Independent restaurants are feeling a K‑shaped economy where high‑spending guests continue to splurge while price‑sensitive diners cut back, creating a mismatch between busy dining rooms and shrinking profit margins. Rising labor and food costs, combined with lower check averages and...
El Pollo Loco Launches a Protein Menu
El Pollo Loco unveiled a "Protein Packed Menu" featuring 24 items priced under $15, each delivering 23 to 74 grams of protein. The lineup includes burritos, bowls, salads and a chicken side, all built around the chain’s citrus‑marinated, fire‑grilled chicken....
Maru San Is Washington, D.C.’s First Nikkei-Style Handroll Concept
Maru San, opened Feb. 20 in Washington, D.C.’s Eastern Market, is the city’s first Nikkei‑style handroll concept. Chef Carlos Delgado, known for his work at Causa/Amazonia and under José Andrés, leads the 25‑seat counter‑service spot offering traditional and premium handrolls plus a...
Applebee’s Strategy: Fewer Promotions, More Manager Visibility
Applebee’s parent Dine Brands trimmed its promotional calendar to four or five events a year, shifting focus to the core menu and the 2 for $25 value platform. The change helped reverse a slump, delivering positive same‑store sales in Q2 2025 and attracting...
Papa Johns Announces 300 Store Closures and 7% Corporate Layoffs
Papa John’s announced a sweeping cost‑savings program that includes closing 300 under‑performing restaurants—200 of them this year—and laying off 7% of its corporate workforce. The plan aims to generate at least $25 million in savings through 2027, with $13 million expected in...
National Restaurant Association Show Names 20 Kitchen Innovations Award Recipients for 2026
The National Restaurant Association Show announced the 2026 Kitchen Innovations Awards, honoring 20 food‑service equipment and technology solutions that improve automation, sustainability, and operational resilience. The winners were chosen for their ability to help kitchens cope with labor shortages, tighter...