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Burger King wants an easier human option in its AI drive-thrus
Comments from its technology executive put customer choice at the center of the ordering experiment.
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Explore the brands and developments shaping the restaurant business.
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CAVA reaches 500 restaurants, with training central to its next expansion
The Minneapolis milestone highlights the crews and preparation behind the chain’s growth toward its 2032 goal.
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KFC’s Open House puts breakfast, drinks and hospitality into one comeback test
The McKinney restaurant will help KFC learn which changes customers value and which its wider system can deliver.
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Starbucks plans 250 closures while North American comparable sales rise
The latest store exits show why a regional sales recovery and an individual coffeehouse’s future can point in different directions.
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East Peoria’s next 7 Brew freebies come with set hours and a one-drink limit
The West Washington Street stand opens September 28. Save the next giveaway dates.
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Maggiano’s comeback plan starts with fuller plates and faster service
Brinker is pairing a renewed emphasis on generosity with operational fixes as its Italian chain works to reverse falling comparable sales.
Read storyCracker Barrel’s reported $5 pancake deal lands Sept. 26
Check participation and extras before planning a National Pancake Day visit.
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Presto brings drive-thru voice AI into Toast’s ordering system
The integration gives Toast restaurants a new automation option. Operators still need to assess the cost, accuracy and employee handoff in their own lanes.
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Sonic is giving customers more reasons to stop just for a drink
Seasonal soda combinations show how the chain is competing for beverage visits, even as industry spending and drink volume tell different stories.
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Tropical Smoothie Cafe refreshes its brand as it targets more than 1,800 cafes
A new palm-inspired mark and planned digital updates accompany the chain’s expansion. The end-of-year cafe count remains a company projection.
Read storyGrovetown’s 7 Brew opens September 28. Free-drink previews start September 25.
Save the Friends & Family, Community Hours and October 3 shirt dates for 475 Lewiston Road.
Read storyFlemington’s 7 Brew opens September 28 with free drinks, stickers and shirts
The Route 31 opening has three offers to save. A free Community Hours drink does not qualify for the September 29 sticker.
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