Restaurant Dive

We offer fresh insights into the newest developments in the restaurant sector. Restaurant Dive is a top industry news source managed by Industry Dive. Our team of reporters generates ideas and influences strategies for over 5 million key players in highly competitive markets.

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Olive Garden president to retire, spark C-suite shuffle

1 week ago | restaurantdive.com | Julie Littman

This audio is auto-generated. Please let us know if you have feedback. Olive Garden President Dan Kiernan will retire on Aug. 31, parent company Darden said in a Securities and Exchange Commission filing on Friday. Darden’s board of directors appointed John Wilkerson, president of its Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen unit, to Kiernan’s role, starting in September. Wilkerson will become president-elect of Olive Garden on June 23 and no longer serve in his post at Cheddar’s.
How Olive Garden’s delivery channel is impacting sales growth

1 week ago | restaurantdive.com | Julie Littman

This audio is auto-generated. Please let us know if you have feedback. Olive Garden grew its off-premise sales by nearly 20% over last year, with gains in delivery, catering and curbside to go, Darden CEO Rick Cardenas said Friday during an earnings call. Delivery order volumes increased week to week while boasting higher-than-average sales per transaction compared to curbside pickup orders, Cardenas said.
Darden considering sale of Bahama Breeze

1 week ago | restaurantdive.com | Julie Littman

This audio is auto-generated. Please let us know if you have feedback. Darden is considering strategic alternatives for its Bahama Breeze restaurants, CEO Rick Cardenas said Friday during an earnings call. In May, Darden closed 15 underperforming Bahama Breeze restaurants, leaving it with 28 high-performing units.
McDonald’s appoints US CIO

1 week ago | restaurantdive.com | Julie Littman

This audio is auto-generated. Please let us know if you have feedback. McDonald’s has appointed Valerie Ashbaugh to succeed Whitney McGinnis as U.S. chief information officer, effective August 1, company executives said Tuesday in a website post. McGinnis will become senior vice president, commercial products and platforms, which is Ashbaugh’s current role. The role swap will “broaden their leadership impact and scope of System experience,” the company said.
Portillo’s expands breakfast test

1 week ago | restaurantdive.com | Julie Littman

This audio is auto-generated. Please let us know if you have feedback. Portillo’s expanded its breakfast test to five more restaurants on Tuesday, the company wrote in an email to Restaurant Dive. The brand is serving food during the morning daypart in 10 Chicagoland locations. The chain also added a Maple Sausage & Egg Croissant to the menu. The croissant sandwich is made with scrambled eggs and a breakfast sausage drizzled with maple syrup.
Portillo’s appoints Gene Lee to board

1 week ago | restaurantdive.com | Julie Littman

This audio is auto-generated. Please let us know if you have feedback. Portillo’s has appointed former Darden CEO Eugene Lee, Jr. to its board of directors, effective immediately, according to a Monday press release. Lee has decades of restaurant experience, including a period as chairman of the board at Darden, which ended in 2023, a year after he retired from his post as CEO there.
Why Golden Corral rebranded its fast casual concept

1 week ago | restaurantdive.com | Julie Littman

This audio is auto-generated. Please let us know if you have feedback. When Golden Corral reopened its fast casual concept, previously known as Homeward Kitchens, as Golden Corral Favorites in April, there was a line of 100 people out the door. Just a few months after the launch, guest sentiment has been overwhelmingly positive — Google reviews rates the initial North Carolina location at 4.6-stars based on more than 400 reviews. “Golden Corral has been on an incredible run.
Fuzzy’s to open first full-service restaurant

2 weeks ago | restaurantdive.com | Julie Littman

This audio is auto-generated. Please let us know if you have feedback. Fuzzy’s Taco Shop will open its first full-service model, called Fuzzy’s Tacos and Margs, on Monday in the Houston suburb of Sugar Land, Texas, the company wrote in an email to Restaurant Dive. The location is owned by NGA Group and operated by Miro and Andrew Nazarian, who agreed to open three full-service Fuzzy’s locations by the end of this year, Fuzzy’s Taco Shop said.
Ascent Hospitality appoints technology chief

2 weeks ago | restaurantdive.com | Julie Littman

This audio is auto-generated. Please let us know if you have feedback. Name: Brian WallunasNew title: Chief technology officer, Ascent Hospitality ManagementPrevious title: Chief technology officer, Smokey BonesWallunas has more than two decades of experience in hospitality and technology. He helped lead the digital transformation efforts at brands including Smokey Bones, Fat Brands, Domino’s, Arby’s and Coca-Cola, according to his LinkedIn profile.
Restaurants develop a taste for AI as economic outlook sours

2 weeks ago | restaurantdive.com | Lindsey Wilkinson

This audio is auto-generated. Please let us know if you have feedback. Restaurants have generally had a rough start to the year as consumer spending shifts and potential trade policy changes continue to threaten momentum. The industry is searching for answers amid the volatility, with major chains looking to automation and AI to boost efficiency and increase productivity.