Wendy’s Q1 sales decline 7.8% as Project Fresh turnaround gains momentum

by Amy Sorter — Writer and Editor, Connect Media

Wendy's reported its Q1 2026 results on May 8, focusing on its Project Fresh initiatives.

From scribbles to savings: Why precision labeling is the new profit protector

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

Star Micronics is showcasing its versatile mC-Label series at the National Restaurant Association Show this weekend, highlighting how high-precision labeling…

Presented by Star Micronics America

Papa Johns maintains 2026 outlook despite 6.4% North America sales drop

May 8, 2026

Papa John's International Inc. reported a decline in first-quarter profit and North American sales this week, as the pizza chain struggled with a cautious…

5 restaurant marketing mistakes that cost traffic, leads, revenue

by Mike Kresch — VP of Strategy, Moburst

Restaurants often fail to see a return on marketing when they treat it as a series of disconnected efforts rather than a cohesive, data-driven system focused…

How McDonald’s 'three-for-three' strategy drove Q1 gains

by Amy Sorter — Writer and Editor, Connect Media

May 8, 2026

McDonald's earnings call discussed how the company's three-for-three concept helped drive numbers in Q1 2026.

New York-style pizza joins Marco’s Pizza menu for limited run

May 7, 2026

Marco's Pizza is expanding its menu with the launch of a limited-time New York Style Pizza, according to a press release.

White Castle continues Florida growth with Kissimmee restaurant opening

May 7, 2026

White Castle has opened its third freestanding Central Florida restaurant. The restaurant is open in Kissimmee, according to a press release.

Taco John's updates POS, loyalty systems across 21 states

May 6, 2026

Taco John's has completed the deployment of a cloud-based technology platform across its 324 locations to manage point-of-sale systems, digital ordering and…

Papa Johns, Disney team up for global 'Toy Story 5' marketing campaign

May 6, 2026

Papa Johns has partnered with Disney and Pixar to celebrate the upcoming release of "Toy Story 5," which arrives in theaters June 19, according to a press…

How R&R Brands scaled from a single brand to a multi-brand platform

I sat down with Scott Taylor, Founder and CEO of R&R Brands, a visionary and an industry icon whose fingerprints are on some of the most important…

HTeaO partners with Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation for May fundraiser

May 5, 2026

Iced tea franchise HTeaO is partnering with Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation this May to raise funds for childhood cancer research, according to a press…

McDonald's to phase out self-serve soda fountains

May 5, 2026

McDonald's plans to remove self-serve beverage stations from its U.S. dining rooms by 2032, signaling the end of a long-standing fast-food tradition, according…

The Power of One leadership team: Building a Founder’s leadership team for success

by Kathleen Wood — Founder, K. Wood Partners

May 4, 2026

To scale a business successfully, a founder must transition from being the organization’s primary bottleneck to building a high-level Power of One leadership…

4 Reasons your restaurant’s AI initiative will probably fail

by Luke Fryer — CEO & Founder, Harri

To truly succeed in hospitality, AI must move beyond retroactive dashboards and cost-cutting to become a real-time, integrated "operational co-pilot" that…

Disposable cameras and raw reactions: Why 'imperfect' social media content is winning in 2026

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

Marketing leaders from Via 313, ATL Wing Spot, and Hook + Ladder explain how multi-unit restaurant brands can drive sustained foot traffic in 2026 by balancing…

Burger King to launch limited-time menu inspired by upcoming Star Wars movie

May 1, 2026

Burger King will launch a limited-time menu on May 4 to promote the upcoming theatrical release of "Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu," according to a press…

Minnie Bird opens 3rd location

May 1, 2026

Minnie Bird, a fast-casual chicken concept co-founded by Sean Thomas, the grandson of Wendy's founder Dave Thomas, has tripled its Chicago-area footprint over…

McDonald's to release 'Stranger Things' Happy Meal

April 30, 2026

McDonald's is set to release a "Stranger Things: Tales From '85" Happy Meal on May 5 in the U.S., according to a press release.

FAT Brands opens Fatburger, Buffalo's Express, Hot Dog on a Stick unit

April 30, 2026

FAT Brands has opened a a tri-branded unit in Manteca, California, containing a Fatburger, Buffalo's Express and Hot Dog on a Stick. It is located in a travel…

Diving deeper: Looking beyond sales for improved restaurant marketing

by Bradley Cooper — Editor, Connect Media

At the Restaurant Marketing Workshop in Boston from June 2 to 3, panelists will discuss how to do a deep dive into your brand's marketing and menu decisions.