Heather Lalley

Managing editor

Articles by
Heather Lalley

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Financing

Revamped loyalty program drives sales at Potbelly

The sandwich chain said its fast-growing digital business is shifting customers away from third-party channels, with loyalty membership growing nearly 90% during the fourth quarter.

Marketing

Restaurants circle Pi Day on their marketing calendars

Marketing Bites: Operators gear up for 3.14 with deals. Plus, how one daytime dining chain is marking International Women’s Day.

Two women allege the company knowingly hired a registered sex offender, who harassed them when they were 17-year-old high school students.

The 70th annual awards from the International Foodservice Manufacturers Association recognize leaders who have made lasting contributions to advance the foodservice industry.

Marketing Bites: After its now-walked back comments about dynamic pricing, the burger chain is catching the flame-grilled indignation of some restaurant competitors.

The Chicago-style fast casual opened 12 new restaurants in 2023, a record number, and said same-store sales rose 5.7% during the year.

Marketing Bites: The burger giant becomes WcDonald’s on Monday, with a limited-time spicy WcNugget sauce. Plus, Zoup! has a new name but the exclamation point isn’t going away.

The famed Southern chef is ready to grow his fast-casual concept, saying it’s “a great privilege for somebody to make something as simple as a burger and fries and see how happy it makes people.”

With the transaction, early investor Jimmy John Liautaud of sandwich chain fame sold his stake in the drive-thru coffee-stand concept.

Marketing Bites: It only comes around every four years, after all. Plus, lots of developments in restaurant loyalty programs.

Williams, previously president of Taco Bell International, will assume her new role at the fast-casual grilled chicken chain on March 11.

Marketing Bites: Chains are consoling those who’ve recently been dumped, as well as offering to do the breaking up on behalf of their customers.

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