Restaurant mergers and acquisitions gain momentum, but will it hold? Who’s the recording artist behind the latest vegan restaurant opening in Los Angeles? Did consumer confidence improve in November? Which foodservice designer just became a hall of famer? We answer these stories and more This Week in Foodservice.

Coffee and tea concepts perk up as commuters return to the office. How much are consumers willing to pay for a QSR meal? Plus, The Conference Board takes a look at the 2024 economic environment. Those stories and more this week in foodservice.

A culinary forecast highlights the impact of social media on menus. Are restaurants finally getting some relief? Alto-Shaam breaks ground on a plant expansion. These stories and more This Week in Foodservice.

Panera Brands tightens its belt. A college addresses food insecurity. Plus, a closer look at industry job performance. These stories and more This Week in Foodservice.

The restaurant industry remains in expansion mode despite facing some challenges. Ghost kitchens’ appeal is anything but spooky. A casual dining chain prepares for a 2024 IPO. A c-store chain tries to perk up its coffee service. These stories and more This Week in Foodservice.

Chains continue to embrace the late-night segment. A new fast-casual concept is preparing to open. Salted prepares to grow. These stories and more This Week in Foodservice.

NAFEM provides an update on factories’ supply chain issues. Another iconic restaurant closes, while a North Carolina association looks to boost industry employment through a marketing campaign. These stories and more This Week in Foodservice.

A chain bets big on sports gambling. Chipotle moves into the next development phase for its latest concept. And an Oregon-based doughnut chain prepares to land in flyover country. These stories and more This Week in Foodservice.

Investment activity in the restaurant industry has gained momentum. Drive-thru times improve. These stories and more This Week in Foodservice.

Consumers' complicated mindsets. Chipotle tests a robotic make line. Two more chains test off-premises-only units. Another coffee-related lawsuit percolates. These stories and more This Week in Foodservice.

Understanding the impact of environmentally friendly solutions. Design mistakes to avoid. These stories and more This Week in Foodservice.

McDonald’s to suspend self-serve drinks. Another chain adds a to-go-only prototype. These stories and more This Week in Foodservice.

Plus, c-stores are brewing better coffee programs. What’s next for Subway? Lots of jobs data. These stories and more This Week in Foodservice.

Consumer confidence takes a hit. Unions seek a caffeine jolt in their latest organizing efforts. It’s lights out for one celebrity chef in Las Vegas. One chain tests reusable cups while another puts its menu on a diet. These stories and more This Week in Foodservice.

 Wendy’s takes the wraps off a new kitchen design. Chicken chains rule the roost when it comes to one key metric. These stories and more This Week in Foodservice.

IFMA forecasts operator spending for 2024. Taco Bell updates its Go Mobile prototype. Google unveils a robot while Brix Holdings tests a cobot. These stories and more This Week in Foodservice.

Pollo Tropical gets new owners. Starbucks plans to add more stores. Uber Eats says “take me out to the ballgame,” while another third-party delivery company gets deeper into brick and mortar. Plus, introducing Strata GPO. These stories and more This Week in Foodservice.

Is the threat of a recession on hold? Which consumer packaged goods company is testing a pizza vending machine? Did another chain just file for bankruptcy? Do consumers want truth in restaurant advertising? Which two celebrities tried their hand at foodservice this week? We answer these questions and more This Week in Foodservice.

Pop culture’s growing influence in foodservice, including the introduction of Cherlato. Another chain takes a drive-thru only unit for a test drive. Can virtual brands be an international growth vehicle? Plus, is a recession near? These stories and more This Week in Foodservice.

Are virtual brands at a crossroads? An autonomous pizza vending machine comes to Ohio. A Domino’s franchisee explores modular construction. Menu price increases help keep restaurant sales in growth mode. These stories and more This Week in Foodservice.

Challenging economic news hits the restaurant industry. Subway loads up on slicers. Sensory-friendly dining at a suburban Chicago restaurant. These stories and more This Week in Foodservice.

Pizza ovens come under fire. Another restaurant chain opens a flagship location in Times Square, while two chains look overseas for innovation and inspiration. Plus, even more tech talk.

Pickleball-themed restaurants gain popularity. AI tries its hand at menu making. Caribou Coffee goes big game hunting. Plus, a closer look at retail sales and how foodservice faired in May.

Off-premises alcohol sales have become a key revenue generator for restaurant operators across a variety of segments. One fast-casual chain looks at expanding its automated kitchens. Lots of third-party delivery-related news. Plus, an iconic Chicago food manufacturer gets back into the restaurant business.

Restaurant IPOs heat up with the weather. A full-service chain prepares to exit the fast-casual space. Does on-premises or off-premises dominate weekday lunch? What’s it like to dine like Barbie? Lots and lots of jobs data, including how many positions the restaurant industry added last month. These stories and more This Week in Foodservice. 

Restaurants and consumers share their outlook for the summer season. Another chain adds an off-premises-only location, while a legendary restaurant entrepreneur plots a comeback. These stories and more This Week in Foodservice.

A quick take on the National Restaurant Association Show. Is the business lunch making a comeback? These stories and more This Week in Foodservice.

A buffet chain enters the fast-casual lane. Wendy’s will close the last of its Reef locations, while J.P. Morgan Chase gets into the hospitality game. These stores and more This Week in Foodservice.

From AI to robots there’s lots of tech to talk about. Burger King prepares to close hundreds of locations while Portillo’s may be poised for takeoff. Economic news includes many labor updates plus small businesses share their perspective. These stories and more This Week in Foodservice.