Chicago’s Tip Credit Elimination Plan Is Back, for Now
Chicago city council failed to muster the two‑thirds majority needed to override Mayor Brandon Johnson's veto of a bill that would have frozen the city's tip‑credit elimination. The mayor argued that unpredictable tips and inflation pressure workers, while citing growth in food‑service licenses. As a result, the stepwise phase‑out of the tip credit, approved in 2023, will continue as scheduled. However, council members have introduced an amendment that could delay the wage increase, keeping the debate alive.
Dairy Queen Expands Drive-Thru Voice AI Test
Dairy Queen and Presto Phoenix are scaling their drive‑thru voice‑AI from company‑owned test sites to franchise locations. After a successful pilot, the rollout will initially cover at least 25 franchisees across 25 U.S. states and Canadian provinces, with a long‑term plan...
Cava Adds Glazed Salmon to Menu
Cava announced it will add a pomegranate‑glazed salmon to its menu on April 20, marking the fast‑casual chain’s first seafood offering. The salmon can be added to custom bowls or enjoyed in two seasonal Chef Curations – the Salmon + Strawberry Sesame Bowl...
GoTo Foods Appoints Chief Digital and Development Officers
GoTo Foods appointed Biplav Misra as its first chief digital officer and Tatiana Lambert as chief development officer, expanding a leadership overhaul that began with CEO Omer Gajial earlier this year. The hires are designed to accelerate disciplined growth, improve...
Field to Fry: What Sustainability Actually Looks Like in the Potato Supply Chain
Lamb Weston, a leading North American frozen‑potato processor, is preparing its next sustainability report amid growing consumer demand for eco‑friendly food. The company reports cutting 800 million gallons of water, reducing 1,800 tons of waste and avoiding 12,000 metric tons of CO₂ through...
Church’s Texas Chicken Plots 600-Unit Expansion in China
Church’s Texas Chicken has signed a deal with Deke Shengtang to roll out at least 600 restaurants across China, with the first outlet slated for Shanghai this summer. The agreement marks the chain’s largest international development effort and makes China its...
Popmenu: 35% of Diners Are Cutting Back on Restaurant Tips
A Popmenu survey of 1,000 U.S. consumers shows 35% have cut back on restaurant tipping in 2026, driven by inflation‑induced price sensitivity and tip fatigue. The proportion of diners leaving 20% or larger tips slipped from 45% in September 2025...
Starbucks Hires Chipotle’s Chief Development Officer
Starbucks announced the appointment of Stephen Piacentini, former chief development officer at Chipotle, as executive vice president and chief coffeehouse design and development officer. Piacentini will steer the company’s "Back to Starbucks" initiative, which aims to refurbish thousands of stores...
Carl’s Jr Franchisee Says California’s $20 Minimum Wage Led to Bankruptcy
Friendly Franchisees Corp., a major Carl’s Jr. franchisee in California, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, citing the state’s $20 minimum wage as a key factor. The wage hike, effective in 2024, increased operating costs while sales fell and marketing effectiveness declined. The...
Firebirds Wood Fired Grill Appoints Kura Sushi Exec as CFO
Firebirds Wood Fired Grill announced Jeff Uttz will become its chief financial officer on May 18, 2026. Uttz previously served as CFO of Kura Sushi, where he helped expand the chain from 39 to 88 locations across 22 states. He...
Burger King Tests Sliders in Oregon and Ohio
Burger King will pilot its new King Size Sliders in Columbus, Ohio, and Portland, Oregon from April 14 to May 4. The sliders are sold in two‑ or six‑piece boxes and come in three flavors, though pricing has not been...
Why Points-Based Loyalty Programs Aren’t Cutting It Anymore
The 2026 Paytronix Loyalty Report finds that traditional points‑only programs are becoming obsolete for restaurant chains, as brands shift toward experience‑driven models. AI analytics, gamified tiers and exclusive rewards now underpin the most effective loyalty strategies, turning one‑time diners into...
KFC’s Saucy Adds Premium Pepsi Drips Products
KFC’s tender‑focused spinoff, Saucy, is rolling out four premium Pepsi Drips beverages at its ten existing locations, with five more stores slated to open later this year. The Drips line blends classic sodas and lemonade with upscale add‑ins like caramel cold...
Popeyes Dodges Lawsuit over Fingerprint Scans, but Court Leaves Door Open for Redo
A U.S. District Court in Illinois dismissed Popeyes’ liability in a biometric privacy lawsuit, finding the fast‑food chain did not control the franchisee’s fingerprint‑scanning policy. The employee alleged violations of the Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA) after her thumbprint was...
Starbucks Launches Highly-Caffeinated Refreshers
Starbucks introduced Energy Refreshers, a new line of its popular cold drinks with caffeine levels ranging from 100 mg to 175 mg, alongside a year‑round mango‑strawberry flavor. The higher‑caffeine variants sit between the brand’s low‑strength Refreshers and its traditional brewed coffee, aiming...
