Restaurants
McDonald’s to extend $5 value meal in most U.S. markets as diners return to restaurants
In an aerial view, a customer walks by a sign as they leave a McDonald’s restaurant in San Pablo, California, on April 3, 2023. Justin Sullivan | Getty Images McDonald’s will extend its $5 value meal beyond its initial four-week window in most of its U.S. markets as the fast-food giant says the offer is […]
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Activist Elliott reportedly has a significant stake in Starbucks, in talks with management
A Starbucks coffee shop in Amsterdam. Nicolas Economou | Nurphoto | Getty Images Elliott Management has taken a significant stake in coffee chain Starbucks and is engaging with management to find ways to improve the company’s share price, the Wall Street Journal reported Friday, citing people familiar with the matter. Representatives for Elliott declined to […]
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Darden Restaurants to acquire Chuy’s for approximately $605 million
Igor Golovniov | Getty Images Darden Restaurants will acquire Chuy’s Holdings for approximately $605 million in cash, the companies announced jointly on Wednesday. Darden agreed to acquire all outstanding shares of Chuy’s at $37.50 per share, according to a press release. The Tex-Mex restaurant chain joins Darden’s portfolio that includes restaurants such as Olive Garden, […]
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PepsiCo earnings beat estimates, but U.S. demand weakens
Pepsi bottles with new and previous logos are seen at the grocery store in Las Vegas, United States on November 17, 2023. Jakub Porzycki | Nurphoto | Getty Images PepsiCo reported mixed quarterly results Thursday, hurt by declining demand in North America for its drinks and snacks. The company also narrowed its revenue outlook for the […]
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AI drive-thru ordering is on the rise — but it may take years to iron out its flaws
The drive-thru menu at a McDonald’s restaurant showing various meal options and promotions, in Buttonwillow in Kern County, California, on 23, 2024. Smith Collection | Gado | Archive Photos | Getty Images Searching for ways to lower labor costs, restaurants are hoping that artificial intelligence can take down drive-thru orders — but it will likely […]
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Inside Starbucks’ plans to improve stores for customers and baristas
Starbucks Coffee shop in Krakow, Poland on February 29, 2024. Beata Zawrzel | Nurphoto | Getty Images Starbucks cafes across the country are starting to change how they make drink orders, among other tweaks designed to reduce bottlenecks and long wait times that have dogged the chain. The overhaul comes as the coffee giant prepares […]
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These could be the next big food and beverage trends
The budding trends in food sound like a return to the diet of cavemen: Fish is the hottest protein, honey is the flavor du jour and game meat is an upgrade to charcuterie boards. That’s according to the hundreds of items on display at the Summer Fancy Food Show, a trade show hosted by the […]
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Starbucks debuts fruity energy drink less than two months after Panera discontinues highly caffeinated Charged Lemonade
Starbucks on Tuesday launched a drink at stores nationwide called Iced Energy, which has up to 205 milligrams of caffeine in it — about the same amount as six cans of Coke. The fruity energy drink debuts less than two months after bakery-cafe chain Panera Bread announced it was discontinuing its controversial Charged Lemonade, a beverage […]
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Fast-food customers are shifting to casual-dining chains, Darden Restaurants CEO says
Customers arrive at an Olive Garden location in San Antonio, Texas. Callaghan O’Hare | Bloomberg | Getty Images Casual-dining chains are gaining customers who have grown frustrated with higher fast-food prices, Darden Restaurants CEO Rick Cardenas said on Thursday. While Darden itself hasn’t benefited from the shift, its competitors, like Chili’s owner Brinker International and […]
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Darden beats on earnings, even as Olive Garden, fine-dining sales drag
Olive Garden Italian restaurant sign showing company logo, Spokane Valley, Washington, owned by Darden Restaurants Incorporated headquartered in Florida. Universal Images Group | Getty Images Darden Restaurants on Thursday reported mixed quarterly results as Olive Garden’s same-store sales fell for the second consecutive quarter. Shares of the company rose more than 1% in premarket trading. […]
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