Grubhub to Suspend Fees for Independent Restaurants in Light of Coronavirus Pandemic

Grubhub on Friday announced it is temporarily suspending collection of up to $100 million in commission payments from impacted independent restaurants nationwide. The suspension is in response to the impact of COVID-19 on restaurants. Statistics vary, but some estimate that dine-in traffic is expected to slow up to 75% over the next few weeks. “Independent restaurants are the…

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NYC’s Palm Steakhouse Company Sold for $45M After Tumultuous Family Drama

After a rocky few years involving a multimillion-dollar family Lawsuit and a family bankruptcy, storied steakhouse chain the Palm is no longer in the hands of the family who launched it in New York City 93 years ago. Massive Houston-based Landry’s — billionaire Tilman Fertitta’s company behind restaurants ranging from Morton’s the Steakhouse to Rainforest Cafe — has purchased the…

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Shake Shack, Starbucks, Chuck E. Cheese also Send Letters about How the Companies are Responding to COVID-19

Leaders at restaurant chains began reaching out to customers via email about the coronavirus, providing information on how their companies are responding to the pandemic. Every brand emphasized heightened cleaning and hygiene standards. At McDonald’s, that includes “enhancing our McDelivery procedures to ensure order packaging remains safe” before it’s filled, according to a letter sent…

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Some Brands are even Taking Away Tables Just to Ease Contact Concerns

Early day impacts from the coronavirus outbreak are starting to show for restaurant operators. Industry insights platform Black Box Intelligence released Wednesday a special update outlining some of COVID-19’s effect so far. It’s the first of what Black Box said will be weekly snapshots monitoring the situation. The next is planned for March 17. Here…

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Coronavirus Information and Resources

The restaurant industry is home to more than 15 million trained and skilled employees in restaurants across the country serving the public every day. The restaurant industry is open and the tables at America’s 1+ million restaurant and foodservice locations are always a great place to gather with friends and family. To ensure that restaurants…

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How are Restaurants Keeping up with Sustainability Trends?

From the addition of plant-based menu options to local sourcing and sustainable takeout packaging, restaurants have been tackling sustainability issues with gusto — and the industry as a whole is taking its role as steward of sustainability seriously. “Faced with constantly evolving challenges including production methods, sourcing and waste management, chefs are striving to improve…

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Red Robin Puts 3 – Year Timetable on Addition of Donatos Pizza

Red Robin Gourmet Burgers CEO Paul Murphy cracked open the casual chain’s playbook Tuesday to reveal the next steps in the burger concept’s turnaround plan, including the rollout of Donatos-brand pizza to its 550 units within three years. The introduction will cost the company and its franchisees about $91 million all told, or roughly $165,000…

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Papa John’s Sees Gains in Comparable Store Sales Growth

Executives of Papa John’s International, Inc. in fiscal 2020 expect strong earnings per share companywide and continued improvement in North American comparable store sales growth, but in late February the coronavirus appeared to have affected the company’s stock price negatively. The coronavirus has affected 210 restaurants in China, which has the company anticipating a negative…

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