Articles & Insights

How the F&B industry actually runs, evolves, and grows.

Original analysis and curated reads with an editor's take — the operations, market shifts, technology bets, and people decisions shaping food service.

Neighborhood Advantage Can Boost Game-Day Revenue

Signal

Markets4 min read

Neighborhood Advantage Can Boost Game-Day Revenue

The World Cup is providing independent restaurants with an opportunity to engage with guests by providing local hospitality as fans without tickets are looking for neighborhood places to watch the games and connect with fellow fans, data from SpotOn revealed.

via Modern Restaurant Management·Jun 16, 2026

How Hunar Is Using AI To Fix The Broken Economics Of Frontline Hiring

India’s AI conversation is increasingly shifting toward software agents, automation stacks and enterprise copilots. But amid the rush to automate white-collar workflows, one segment has remained relatively untouched: frontline workforce operations.

via Inc42·Jun 16, 2026·6 min

Corporate Dining: The Revenue Opportunity Most Restaurants Are Overlooking

Signal

Markets

Corporate Dining: The Revenue Opportunity Most Restaurants Are Overlooking

How corporate dining is being reinvented in 2026 — and what it means for the restaurant industry. The corporate cafeteria is facing an existential reckoning.

via Modern Restaurant Management·Jun 15, 2026·6 min

Decoding The Customer Journey: Where Restaurants Lose Their Most Loyal Shoppers

Signal

Technology

Decoding The Customer Journey: Where Restaurants Lose Their Most Loyal Shoppers

That window between a first and second visit is where most customer relationships start to fray. Most small businesses think they lose customers because of pricing. But really, silence is what drives them away.

via QSR Magazine·Jun 12, 2026·5 min

Signal

Markets

Clarity-First Menus Build Guest Trust

By using precise descriptions that communicate the intention behind menu items, operators can resolve ingredient confusion and help diners feel more confident in their choices.

via Modern Restaurant Management·Jun 12, 2026·4 min

QSR Brands Have More Customer Data Than Ever. Are They Using It Wisely?

Signal

People

QSR Brands Have More Customer Data Than Ever. Are They Using It Wisely?

When you have permission to communicate with someone several times a week, the cost of being irrelevant goes up. QSR brands have something most industries would like to have: customers who come back often. A bank may hear from a customer a few times a month.

via QSR Magazine·Jun 11, 2026·7 min

Signal

People

AI Takes on Scheduling in Restaurants

As operators look to improve their workflows, they need to rethink how they approach their tech stack. Restaurant managers can spend several hours each week creating employee schedules, a mundane task often completed by hand.

via FSR Magazine·Jun 11, 2026·5 min

A Tale of Two Cities: The Case for Strategic Temp Staffing in Restaurants

Signal

People

A Tale of Two Cities: The Case for Strategic Temp Staffing in Restaurants

Having well-trained staff, and enough of them, is key to creating the customer experience that keeps traffic coming back. Hospitality staffing drama is real. Last-minute call outs.

via FSR Magazine·Jun 10, 2026·4 min

Why Plant-Based Menu Options Are Driving Franchise Growth

Signal

People

Why Plant-Based Menu Options Are Driving Franchise Growth

Consumers are paying closer attention to what they eat. The food industry is evolving fast, and one of the most noticeable shifts in recent years is the rise of plant-based eating. What was once considered a niche lifestyle choice has moved firmly into the mainstream.

via FSR Magazine·Jun 8, 2026·6 min

How Demographics and Sticker Shock are Reshaping Drinking Culture

Signal

People

How Demographics and Sticker Shock are Reshaping Drinking Culture

The underlying challenge is straightforward: guests still want the experience, but they are less willing to pay for multiple rounds once they’re there. For years, the conversation around alcohol in the U.S.

via FSR Magazine·Jun 8, 2026·7 min

Is Your Restaurant Ready for the Biggest Patio Season Yet?

Signal

People

Is Your Restaurant Ready for the Biggest Patio Season Yet?

We are heading into one of the busiest patio seasons on record, and for restaurants, the difference between a good summer and a great one comes down to preparation.

via Modern Restaurant Management·Jun 5, 2026·4 min

CAVA Sees Massive Runway as Mediterranean Cuisine Goes Mainstream

Signal

People

CAVA Sees Massive Runway as Mediterranean Cuisine Goes Mainstream

CAVA’s leadership believes its success has less to do with bowls and more to do with building a differentiated cuisine category that continues to attract consumers across income levels, markets, and occasions.

via QSR Magazine·Jun 5, 2026·5 min

How Intelligent Digital Signage Can Be an Operational Tool for QSR Franchises

Signal

People

How Intelligent Digital Signage Can Be an Operational Tool for QSR Franchises

Digital signage takes many shapes. The state of quick-serve restaurants is in uncharted territory. While no stranger to challenges, QSRs are battling both stiff competition and shifting consumer confidence.

via QSR Magazine·Jun 4, 2026·5 min

Signal

People

Debating Device-Free Policies

Digital detox, phone-free dining and disconnected venues are a few terms restaurant operators need to pay attention to as Nielsen IQ on premise research found 21 percent of consumers have visited a site with some restrictions and 46 percent of all consumers said they would hav...

via Modern Restaurant Management·Jun 3, 2026·6 min

The Restaurant Brands Winning on Value Know Exactly What Value Means

Signal

People

The Restaurant Brands Winning on Value Know Exactly What Value Means

Because value is an outcome, we must first answer a basic question: for which specific type of guest are we trying to improve the value of our brand?

via FSR Magazine·Jun 1, 2026·7 min

MRM Research Roundup: Road Trips, Cheese Obsessed, and Burger Bucks

Signal

Growth

MRM Research Roundup: Road Trips, Cheese Obsessed, and Burger Bucks

This edition of Modern Restaurant Management (MRM) magazine's Research Roundup features how summer drinking is being redefined, burger pricing, American’s love affair with cheese, and fast-food location changes.

via Modern Restaurant Management·Jun 1, 2026·16 min

Applebee’s Sees Hotels as Next Frontier for Off-Premises Growth

Signal

Markets

Applebee’s Sees Hotels as Next Frontier for Off-Premises Growth

Wyndham has more than 124 million loyalty members. Applebee’s is extending its off-premises reach through a new partnership with Wyndham Rewards that allows hotel guests to order delivery directly through the Wyndham mobile app.

via FSR Magazine·Jun 1, 2026·5 min

Rising Fuel Costs Drive New Margin Pressures for QSR Operators

Signal

Growth

Rising Fuel Costs Drive New Margin Pressures for QSR Operators

Rising fuel costs don’t just affect operators. Consumers feel the pinch, too. For the past several years, QSR operators have dealt with rising inflation. As food, labor, and occupancy costs have grown, QSRs have had to stay disciplined on pricing, efficiency, and margins.

via QSR Magazine·May 28, 2026·4 min