Trending this week: Chick-fil-A introduces new prototype

NRN editors discuss restaurants’ marketing initiatives and Toast removing its controversial fee

Plus hear from Brian Sullivan, VP of culinary for Red Robin Gourmet Burgers & Brews.

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Chick-fil-A to open a drive-thru/walk-up window-only location in Hawaii

The new restaurant in Honolulu includes a dual-lane drive-thru and three walk-up windows for pedestrians.

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100 Under 100: Emerging restaurant chains take the United States by storm

Meet the fastest-growing emerging restaurants in the U.S.

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Menu Tracker: New items from Burger King, Pizza Hut, and Wingstop

Plus Innovation at BD’s Mongolian Grill, Buddy’s Pizza, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, Costa Vida Fresh Mexican Grill, Flat Top Grill, Friendly’s, Genghis Grill, Krispy Kreme, Miller’s Ale House, Naf Naf Middle Eastern Grill, Orange Leaf, P.F. Chang’s, Piada Italian Street Food, Pickleman’s Gourmet Café, Randy’s Donuts, Salata, 7-Eleven, Smalls Sliders, True Food Kitchen, Velvet Taco, Viva Chicken, and WaBa Grill.

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The 10 biggest restaurant chains in America by estimated sales per unit

In 2022, the ten restaurant chains with the highest ESPU in the U.S. also all saw year-over-year growth — two grew ESPU by more than 51%, but each grew by at least 1.9% and had ESPU of at least $8.1 million.

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Toast to remove 99-cent fee on orders over $10

The online ordering platform backs down from the restaurant-customer-facing ‘order processing fee’.

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Why retail giant Macy’s prioritizes its restaurant program

Macy’s food and beverage division dates back to 1890 and now includes over 120 licensed, franchised and proprietary concepts.

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Smalls Sliders franchise aims for massive growth with shipping container restaurants

CEO Maria Rivera weighs in on how this upstart brand is leaning into efficiencies and discipline ahead of exponential growth.

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In-N-Out edict ignites new brawl over worker-mask policies

Restaurant brand’s memo bans face coverings in Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, Texas and Utah unless employees get medical note, and customers petition to change policy.

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.99 Problems: The true cost of your point-of-sale system

How to have better visibility into what is effectively the beating heart of your restaurant.

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