Starbucks-AI, Fat Brands, Abuelo’s

There’s activist investor interest in Denny’s. McDonald’s is adding more muscle to its global impact team. And here are some of the big takeaways from the FSTEC technology conference.

McDonald’s is investing in regenerative agriculture. Popeyes is turning up the heat with a new partnership. And IHOP is doubling down on value.

There’s a new publicly traded restaurant chain for the first time in three years. Can Portillo’s get its groove back? And speed wins, when it comes to delivery.

The value wars are being fought on third-party delivery apps, restaurant chains might want to focus marketing on younger consumers, and menu pricing at full-service restaurants ticked up to its highest level in two years.

Potbelly was sold to a big name in the convenience store sector. Portillo’s has ended its test of breakfast, and Outback is hopping on the appetizer trio trend.

Cracker Barrel is walking back even more of its planned brand revamp. A food-and-games chain has filed for bankruptcy protection. And Taco Bell’s parent company is shaking up its leadership ranks.

Freddy’s is going global. Red Lobster is poking fun at its own bankruptcy. And Waffle House is jumping fully into delivery.

Freddy’s officially has a new owner. McDonald’s is pushing back on the tip credit. And it was a very slow jobs report for August.

Noodles & Company is pondering a sale that would likely take the fast-casual chain private. Raising Cane’s is bringing chicken fingers to London. And CAVA is bringing Chicken Shawarma to its system for a limited time.

Starbucks has a new AI assistant for inventory tracking. Andy Wiederhorn is back at the helm of Fat Brands. And a casual-dining Mexican chain declared bankruptcy.