Leadership lessons of the drive-thru

2025 is already coming in hot for the restaurant industry, with end-of-2024 rulings that will affect restaurants across the country. Today, we've got the rundown of what you might have missed in the midst of your holiday celebrations. Plus: Nuggets at Taco Bell?? Check out the latest menu items at some of the nation's most popular franchises. 

On the menu:
💠 Life lessons via drive-thru work
💠 Why are diners skipping dessert?
💠 Grubhub finds itself in hot water
💠 A breakdown of fees on a receipt

The end of the year came with a bit of legislation and decisions that could impact restaurants. Let's take a few minutes to catch up:

Third-party delivery: In mid-December, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission and the Illinois Attorney General accused Grubhub of “unlawful practices” that include deceiving consumers about costs, deceiving delivery drivers about profits and listing restaurants on its platform without permission from the businesses. Grubhub, which denies the allegations, will pay a $25 million settlement. In other third-party news, Joe Guszkowski over at Restaurant Business breaks down a typical receipt to show how all those fees end up costing restaurants. 

New rules:  New York’s Restaurant Reservation Anti-Piracy Act is finally law. Resellers who violate the law can be fined up to $1,000 for each violation. Still, enforcement will be challenging, and services that work with restaurants to sell reservations, like Dorsia, can continue operations. 

Pandemic impacts: Most restaurants were forced to shutter as COVID-19 spread throughout the country, but many operators found their insurance companies didn’t consider the pandemic a covered event, and courts have supported that decision. But a new ruling from the North Carolina Supreme Court in mid-December is bucking that trend. It finds the impacts of the pandemic-related closures caused “physical loss” to North State Deli and 14 other businesses that brought their insurance company, Cincinnati Insurance, to court. The decision largely focuses on the wording in Cincinnati’s policy and could have larger implications for the industry.  

Junk fees: You know those fees listed on your restaurant menu? Well, they're not junk fees. Or at least that's according to the FTC. "This decision is a testament to the FTC's understanding of
the unique challenges faced by independent restaurants and bars, and reflects a commitment to the support of a crucial mechanism that many neighborhood businesses rely on to guarantee our vitality," writes the Independent Restaurant Coalition in a press release. (IRC)

Plus: Did this San Francisco-area restaurant overreact with a salacious sign about raising its prices?

Leadership-building lessons of the drive-thru

Monica Rothgery, former KFC COO, shares hard-earned leadership lessons in her book, Lessons from the Drive-Thru. After transitioning from Army officer to fast-food manager, she quickly realized that the military’s “do it or else” approach didn’t fly in restaurants. Instead, she learned the power of connecting with her team on a personal level — care for the people, and they’ll care about the job. Rothgery’s book is a raw, real look at the grind of restaurant leadership, emphasizing the importance of recognition, storytelling and empathy. She believes frontline managers are the true heroes of the industry, capable of shaping lives and driving success. Her mission? To empower restaurant leaders and show them just how much impact they really have. (Entrepreneur)

PAR acquires Delaget for $132 million

PAR Technology has acquired Delaget for $132 million, supercharging its food service tech platform with advanced analytics and operational insights. The move expands PAR’s cloud solution, helping restaurant operators cut costs and boost efficiency in real time. Delaget serves over 125 brands, including 40 of North America's top 50 restaurant concepts. This acquisition follows PAR’s recent buys of TASK Group and Stuzo Holdings, broadening its reach into convenience stores and global markets. With the restaurant industry shifting toward data-driven tech and pay-at-the-table options, PAR is positioning itself as a major player in the digital dining revolution. (PYMNTS) 

62%

        of consumers are interested in trying new and unique coffee drinks

(Dataessential)

💠 Craft beer sales kick the keg

💠 Diners are skipping the dessert menu

💠 Conflicted meat eaters offer clear opportunity  

"The key to strong leadership, it’s building longevity ... If you can lead and motivate and inspire others, then that has such an impact over time for your own organization and the industry as a whole."

-Chef Mark Bolchoz, culinary director for The Indigo Road Hospitality Group

(🎧 Restaurant Rockstars podcast)

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