CONTENTS OCTOBER 2025
TECHNOLOGY RESTAURANT AI GETS A MUCH-NEEDED REALITY CHECK..............................................36
COVER STORY DELIVERY IS CHEAPER, BUT IT’S ALSO SLOWER..........................................................20 SPECIAL REPORT FIRST-PARTY DELIVERY MAY NOT HAVE THE ADVANTAGES RESTAURANTS THINK IT DOES...........................................................24 WANT TO IMPROVE YOUR DELIVERY BUSINESS? DON’T FORGET THE SAUCE, AND TOSS IN A LITTLE EXTRA..................................................26 MENU DIRTY SODAS ARE MAKING A SPLASH ON MENUS, FROM DRIVE-THRUS TO CASUAL DINING............................................................28 MEET THE CHICAGO COFFEE SHOP WHERE IT’S ALWAYS PUMPKIN SPICE SEASON...........................................................32
FINANCE A WEAKENING JOB MARKET SPELLS MOSTLY TROUBLE FOR RESTAURANTS....................................................4 RESTAURANTS PROFITABILITY HAS TAKEN A HIT SINCE THE PANDEMIC.................................6 OPERATIONS CHECK OUT SOME OF THE MOST-ANTICIPATED RESTAURANT OPENINGS FOR THE BACK HALF OF 2025..............................................................8
DON’T OVERLOOK TAKOUT’S ROLE IN THE CASUAL-DIING COMEBACK...........................38
MINNESOTA STATE FAIR VENDORS CASH IN DURING A 12-DAY FOOD FRENZY....................12
EVERY DAY, A CAR SLAMS INTO A RESTAURANT SOMEWHERE. OPERATORS NEED TO TAKE ACTION.............................................................18
FROM OUR COLUMNISTS
THE BOTTOM LINE: MCDONALD’S DROPS A BOMB ON THE FAST-FOOD INDUSTRY............................................40 TECH CHECK: RESTAURANT TECH’S NEXT BILLION-DOLLAR QUESTION.................................................................42 BEHIND THE MENU: A GROUNDSWELL OF DEMAND LANDS A SMASH BURGER ON HOPDODDY’S PERMANENT MENU.....................................................................................................................................................44
Photo: Nico Heins/Midjourney Cover Photo: Nico Heins/Midjourney
OCTOBER 2025 RESTAURANT BUSINESS
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