The Week in Restaurants

AI is coming for your drive-thru.

This week’s episode of the restaurant news podcast The Week in Restaurants features a discussion on one of the industry’s hottest topics: AI. Specifically, Yum Brands announced a landmark deal with AI chipmaker Nvidia. What does that mean for Taco Bell, KFC and Pizza Hut?

We also talk about Olive Garden’s strong March, and what that means for the state of full-service restaurants. Are they coming back?

And Luckin Coffee is eyeing the U.S. market. What impact will that have on a beverage market already flush with competitors?

On Tech Check, Joe talks about Wonder’s acquisition of Tastemade. And Mark Hatch, senior director of trade relations at Informa Connect, joins the podcast to talk about his Nests program.

Check it out.

What will the future of Starbucks look like?

This week’s episode of the restaurant news podcast The Week in Restaurants includes a discussion on Starbucks’ plans to redesign its cafes. The chain revealed that it is testing new designs that include outlets, better seating, better division with mobile orders and a more espresso-making “theater” experience. 

McDonald’s, meanwhile, is creating new Restaurant Experience Teams, including teams focused on beef, chicken and beverages, to take on more specialized competitors. Is that the right idea?

And Noodles & Company is changing its menu again. We discuss that move.

Senior Technology Editor Joe Guszkowski talks about robots on Tech Check. And we talk about how restaurants have changed since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Check it out.

Another casual-dining chain has filed for bankruptcy. 

The latest episode of the Restaurant Business podcast The Week in Restaurants features a discussion on the bankruptcy of On the Border, the fourth casual-dining chain to declare Chapter 11 in less than a year. A fifth could be coming. 

We also discuss the weird situation involving the closure of all but one Del Taco location in Colorado. And Applebee’s is getting back into the business of running restaurants, albeit temporarily. 

In Tech Check, a discussion on an interesting loyalty program. And then a discussion on the most unique event in the restaurant industry. 

What does a potential Hooters bankruptcy say about the industry?

In the latest episode of the Restaurant Business podcast The Week in Restaurants, Executive Editor Lisa Jennings and I discuss the potential bankruptcy of Hooters and what led the brand to this fate, as well as several other companies. 

We also talk about the layoffs at Starbucks, and why the company is doing that, and why culture may be playing a role. Dave’s Hot Chicken is also near a sale to Roark Capital. What are the risks in that deal.

Senior Tech Editor Joe Guszkowski tells us why you should pay heed to what happened to Krispy Kreme last quarter. And he talks about his story about computer vision and what that could mean for restaurants. 

Welcome to the latest podcast from the crack team at Restaurant Business: The Week in Restaurants. The podcast will feature a discussion on the week’s biggest stories in the industry by RB editors, led by myself, along with other features highlighting other topics and some previews of what’s to come.This week, Executive Editor Lisa Jennings and I discuss In-N-Out’s move to Tennessee. The burger chain is moving some workers to its second headquarters and we discuss the real reasons for that move. We also talk about lower-income consumers, who appear to be shying away from restaurants early this year.And we talk about the potential sale of Dave’s Hot Chicken, which has apparently hired an investment bank and could seek $1 billion. Meanwhile, Senior Technology Editor Joe Guszkowski talks about a rather large blind spot when it comes to restaurant technology. Check it out.