Sweetgreen launches ‘Build Your Own’ catering bar The brand is the latest fast casual to see large-format catering as a lifeline, but operational problems could undercut the bid to secure big ticket orders.

#Sweetgreen launches ‘Build Your Own’ #catering bar | #restaurantdive zurl.co/OA9BL

January reset: Turning the post-holiday slowdown into strategic growth Savvy operators can stop revenue bleed and convert downtime into training time, writes Toast’s Julie Powell.

January reset: Turning the post-holiday slowdown into strategic restaurant growth | #RestaurantDive zurl.co/wHt4X

#Presto raises $10M in funding | #RestaurantDive zurl.co/k9ycF

#Starbucks hires #technology chief from #Amazon | #RestaurantDive zurl.co/COSwF

#Sweetgreen cofounder exits beleaguered brand | #RestaurantDive zurl.co/p4Auq

#DoorDash tests #AI #restaurant discovery app | #RestaurantDive zurl.co/doiRT

GoTo Foods CEO steps down Jim Holthouser, who will exit the role on Tuesday, led the multi-brand platform through a series of changes that aimed to position it as a franchisor of choice within the restaurant industry.  

#GoToFoods #CEO steps down | #RestaurantDive zurl.co/GBIoQ

Starbucks’ holiday launch marks biggest sales day ever in North America Traffic spiked nearly 38% on Nov. 6, the chain’s holiday rollout, which included the highly popular release of the Bearista cup, according to Placer.ai data. 

#Starbucks’ holiday launch marks biggest #sales day ever in North America | #RestaurantDive zurl.co/IIfXB

Why Panera’s CEO prioritizes hospitality over tech Paul Carbone said the chain is improving order accuracy and store layouts, rather than deploying “technology that’s looking for a problem to solve.”

Why #Panera’s #CEO prioritizes hospitality over #tech | #restaurantdive zurl.co/0ZJsA

Dutch Bros to take breakfast nationwide in 2026 The drive-thru coffee chain is putting pressure on legacy competitors with its goal to be a one-stop shop in the morning daypart.

#DutchBros to take breakfast nationwide in 2026 | #RestaurantDive zurl.co/KZFzA

4 brands growing in Cava’s shadow As the Mediterranean fast casual segment grows, franchised chains like Taim and Taziki’s are competing to see who will emerge as Cava’s main challenger.

4 brands growing in #Cava’s shadow | #RestaurantDive zurl.co/7YiKK

Square debuts voice ordering, boosts AI assistant As tech firms compete to build up an all-in-one restaurant management platform, features like back-office AI and phone ordering could become important points of competition. 

#Square debuts voice #ordering, boosts #AI assistant | #restaurantdive zurl.co/SDnDf

Dunkin’ hits 10K stores in the US The coffee chain is the latest brand to pass this milestone, joining Starbucks, McDonald’s and Subway in an elite — but sometimes troubled — cohort.

#Dunkin’ hits 10K stores in the US | #RestaurantDive zurl.co/hdV40

Why mobile-order and pickup-only restaurants fail, according to experts Starbucks learned the hard way that customers care more about experience than efficiency. 

Why #mobileorder and #pickup only #restaurants fail, according to experts | #RestaurantDive zurl.co/mob5m

9 restaurant industry trade shows to attend in 2026 Next year is jam-packed with restaurant conferences and trade shows that will cover key topics for the sector, ranging from franchising and menu development to economic forecasts.

9 #restaurant industry trade shows to attend in 2026 | #RestaurantDive zurl.co/tEoGC

Jimmy John’s moves to points-based rewards Switching from a surprise-and-delight program to JJ Rewards could help drive frequency and incentivize the chain’s most loyal guests.

#JimmyJohns moves to points-based #rewards | #restaurantdive zurl.co/JA6TB

Why picking the right CEO makes or breaks a restaurant turnaround From Starbucks’ Brian Niccol to BJ’s Lyle Tick and Potbelly’s Bob Wright, boards have made headway with executives that implemented strategic improvements to help sales and traffic.

Why picking the right #CEO makes or breaks a #restaurant turnaround | #RestaurantDive zurl.co/YHPOT

Olo lays off workers following Thoma Bravo acquisition The move marks the third time in three years the restaurant tech company has cut workers.

#Olo lays off workers following #ThomaBravo acquisition | #RestaurantDive zurl.co/71yiP

Jersey Mike’s appoints Wingstop vet as president, COO Stacy Peterson will lead U.S. operations, marketing and technology as the company continues to open roughly 300 domestic units a year.

#JerseyMikes appoints #Wingstop vet as #president, COO | #RestaurantDive zurl.co/ZFRlg

Starbucks deploys inventory-taking AI tool The computer vision tool helps the chain keep track of its in-store inventory and may be used to automate some stock ordering.

#Starbucks deploys inventory-taking #AI tool | #RestaurantDive zurl.co/2l2IK

Restaurant winners and losers from H1 2025 Casual dining chains, led by Chili’s, had a surprisingly strong quarter, while fast casuals, like Chipotle and Sweetgreen, struggled with consumer pullback and operations problems.

#Restaurant winners and losers from H1 2025 | #RestaurantDive zurl.co/elON3

Chipotle adds family meals as online exclusive The “Build-Your-Own-Chipotle” offering serves a family of four to six and could help drive same-store sales, which were down in the first half of the year.

#Chipotle adds #family #meals as online exclusive | #RestaurantDive zurl.co/7OBNW

#Fastfood fire up #AI despite challenging backdrop | #RestaurantDive zurl.co/CHHRF

Cava joins Chipotle in backing Hyphen with $10M The automated makeline company will use the money to accelerate the deployment of its technology, but Cava’s CFO says testing at the brand is unlikely until 2026.

#Cava joins #Chipotle in backing #Hyphen with $10M | #RestaurantDive zurl.co/Tr3b0

GoTo Foods launches drone delivery in Texas Through a partnership with DoorDash and Wing, the company will offer fast delivery from select restaurants in Frisco, Fort Worth and Plano.

#GoToFoods launches #drone delivery in #Texas - #DoorDash | #RestaurantDive zurl.co/4Dz1M

Domino’s carryout business reaches new heights Comparable sales for the chain’s takeout channel rose  5.8% in Q2, boosted by its rewards program, and is expected to remain positive throughout 2025.

Dominos carryout business reaches new heights | #RestaurantDive # zurl.co/c906x

Bojangles to install EV charging stations The QSR chain will begin installation during Q4 2025, and will have stations accessible many of its locations next year.

#Bojangles to install #EV #charging stations | #RestaurantDive zurl.co/PxcLP

Bottom Line: Starbucks isn’t just serving coffee — it’s serving notice:

The RTO era is here to stay (at least on 4 days a week).

#Starbucks #RTO #RemoteWork #CorporateCulture #RestaurantDive #FutureOfWork

DoorDash drone delivery takes off in Texas Flytrex will provide the service within the Dallas-Fort Worth area from dozens of restaurants, including Papa Johns.

# DoorDash #drone #delivery takes off in Texas | #RestaurantDive zurl.co/gDcdR

McDonald’s appoints US CIO Valerie Ashbaugh is set to switch positions with long-time tech chief Whitney McGinnis, who will now be senior vice president, commercial products and platforms.

#McDonalds appoints US #CIO #WhitneyMcGinnis | #RestaurantDive zurl.co/Fap48