McDonald’s Testing New Restaurant Format for On-the-Go Customers

QSR
In McDonald’s top six markets globally, digital has rocketed to more than a third of system-wide sales, fueled by north of 43 million active app customers. . . . more

Wegmans lines up its next new store locations

Winsight Grocery Business
Further expanding its regional footprint, Wegmans Food Markets aims to open two new stores in 2023 and has another five locations in its brick-and-mortar pipeline. . . . more

Steak ‘n Shake's Transformation Remains a Work in Progress

QSR
Steak ‘n Shake intends to emerge from COVID-19 reimagined across two areas: Firstly, structurally as it continues a 2018-hatched transition labeled the “franchise partnership program.”. . . more

This 56-Unit Premium Sandwich Concept Has a Unique Recipe for Growth

QSR
Mr. Pickle’s Sandwich Shop, a beloved northern California brand that has grown from one to 56 locations over the course of almost 30 years, recently announced plans to expand franchise opportunities nationwide. . . . more

Five Below maintains momentum with strong quarter; lifts guidance

CSA
Five Below reported a better-than-expected third quarter during which it continued to expand its footprint as it entered two new states. . . . more

Trader Joe’s takes top spot in ‘brand intimacy’ ranking

CSA
A popular grocer bests other retailers when it comes to making emotional connections with customers. . . . more

Black Friday in-store traffic up 3%

CSA
Shoppers returned to physical stores and shopping centers on Black Friday even as they continued to set new records online. . . . more

Rite Aid debuts small-store format

CSA
Rite Aid is going smaller — by more than half. . . . more

Inflation forces mom and pop restaurants and big chains to lean on their unique strengths

CNBC Business
As the restaurant industry battles inflation, the large size of chains and their access to cash gives them the upper hand, but independents have advantages of their own when managing higher costs. . . . more

Jack in the Box predicts unit growth in 2023

Restaurant Dive
The unit growth expected next year will include entering two new markets: Salt Lake City and Louisville, Kentucky. . . . more

How a second drive-thru lane boosted sales for an A&W franchisee

SOURCE
Third-generation A&W franchisee Anthony Walker has seen just about every iteration of fast food restaurants. His grandparents set up an A&W in Wisconsin as a roadside stand. That location has since transformed from a drive-in to a drive-thru with a dining room. . . . more

Macy’s establishes mini distribution centers at 35 stores

Retail Dive
Macy’s is using space within 35 of its stores to function as mini distribution centers as the retailer positions its e-commerce network to handle an expected influx of shipments ahead of the holidays. . . . more

Winn-Dixie Owner Southeastern Grocers Considers Sale

PYMNTS
Nearly one year after cancelling its plans to go public, Florida-based supermarket chain owner Southeastern Grocers is reportedly considering an outright sale of the company. . . . more

ICSC predicts $125 billion in consumer spending over Thanksgiving weekend

CSA
Consumers are ready to shop over Thanksgiving weekend — particularly in physical stores. . . . more

H&M unveils ‘first of its kind’ rotating style store concept in New York

CSA
H&M has opened a new type of store experience that will be updated with new fashions, visuals, events and neighborhood partners throughout the year. . . . more

Primark continues U.S. store expansion

CSA
Primark is kicking off its U.S. growth plan to reach 60 stores by 2026. . . . more

As chains expand drive-thrus, speed of service becomes paramount

Restaurant Dive
Shortly after Hawaiian Bros opened a third location in Overland Park, Kansas, co-founder Cameron McNie realized the drive-thru was creating big problems. While opening sales were double that of the chain’s previous two restaurants, which don’t have drive-thrus, the parking lot was a gridlock. . . . more

Chipotle to open 250 to 285 restaurants in 2023

CSA
Chipotle Mexican Grill has reached a new milestone. . . . more

Foxtrot Preps 5th D.C.-Area Location

Progressive Grocer
Innovative c-store chain Foxtrot has revealed that its fifth Washington, D.C.-area location, in Bethesda, Md., at 7262 Woodmont Avenue, will officially open to the public on Friday, Nov. 18. Consumers who download and use the Foxtrot app opening week will receive a gift while supplies last. . . . more

Sweetgreen to open first drive-thru in Chicago suburb

Restaurant Dive
Sweetgreen will open its first drive-thru pickup window, or “Sweetlane,” in Schaumburg, Illinois, within the next year, the chain announced Wednesday. . . . more

Dutch Bros targets 150 new stores for 2023

CSA
Dutch Bros. Inc. is on track to meeting its store expansion goal.  . . . more

Sally Beauty closing hundreds of stores

CSA
Sally Beauty Holdings is accelerating its store optimization plans. . . . more

Malls have transformed themselves into mixed-use lifestyle centers

ModernRetail
Lifestyle centers are the new malls, at least according to retail industry experts. . . . more

Ahold Delhaize posts strong Q3 results as Stop & Shop moves ahead

Grocery Dive
Ahold Delhaize on Wednesday reported robust financial results for the third quarter of 2022, with U.S. same-store sales up 8.2%, excluding gasoline, and net sales coming in at 14.7 billion euros ($14.8 billion), an 8.8% increase at constant exchange rates. . . . more

Freshii Inks Deal to Grow in New Jersey

QSR
Omnichannel health and wellness brand, Freshii Inc., announced it has entered into a new multi-unit agreement with brothers, Greg and Ryan Lahr, for the planned development of six new restaurant locations over the next five years in New Jersey, US. . . . more

Target goes big — unveils larger-format store with more modern design

CSA
Target Corp.’s latest new store strategy involves a bigger footprint, with more space for fulfillment of online orders. . . . more

In the Wake of COVID, Boston's Downtown Poised for Reinvention

NBC 10 Boston
The City of Boston is relaunching a push to revitalize its downtown by trying to make it more affordable to live, offer more diverse businesses and change the way people get around. . . . more

Sweetgreen to test fully automated restaurants next year

Restaurant Business
Sweetgreen plans to open two fully automated restaurants in 2023 using the robotic Spyce technology acquired last year, the company said Tuesday. . . . more

Panera Bread targets growth in urban markets with new digitally driven formats

CSA
Panera Bread is expanding into urban markets and non-traditional settings with a streamlined store model. . . . more

Kohl’s CEO to step down

CSA
The chief executive of Kohl’s is moving on — to another big job. . . . more