The Latest

  • An image of a man leaving a Chipotle. He is holding a brown bag.
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    Getty Images
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    Tracking the same-store sales of 24 major restaurant chains

    Q4 2025 saw more evidence of a casual dining resurgence, as fast casual sales continued to slow and QSRs posted divergent results.

    Updated March 10, 2026
  • A smiling restaurant worker at a takeout window hands a bag of food to a customer outside, while holding a handheld payment device.
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    Smallhands Creative

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    Sponsored by Toast

    Recognition is the loyalty perk most restaurants aren’t offering

    Discounts aren't the only reason why guests come back. So what is?

  • Customers enter a McDonald's restaurant.
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    Mario Tama / Staff via Getty Images
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    McDonald’s reportedly eyes $3 or less value platform

    The low-priced menu will include items like a four-piece Chicken McNuggets and a sausage biscuit when it launches in April, per The Wall Street Journal.

  • An image ofa brown building with wood paneling. There is a parking lot out front. It has a logo with Logan's in red and Roadhouse in yellow underneath
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    TennesseePhotographer via Getty Images
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    SPB Hospitality sells Logan’s Roadhouse to SSCP Management

    Krystal’s parent company has now sold off all of the concepts it purchased from Craftworks Holdings in 2020 as it focuses on more upscale casual brands.

    M&A
  • Layne's Chicken Fingers
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    Permission granted by Layne's Chicken Fingers
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    Layne’s Chicken Fingers thinks it has what it takes to go national

    Cane’s. Dave’s. Now Layne’s? A small Texas chicken chain wants to be the next big thing. Multi-unit operators, a simple menu and a premium product could make it happen.

  • Freshly roasted coffee beans are seen in a barrel
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Coffee, cold brew sales slip as lattes, energy drinks surge

    Drip coffee and cold brew orders fell in 2025 as energy drinks exploded and premium, handcrafted coffees saw a modest rise.

  • An image of a white and red restaurant with Krystal on the signage
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    Permission granted by Krystal
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    Krystal promotes COO from parent company

    Amanda Hyde expands her role at the QSR chain, partnering with operators and franchisees to improve performance and support growth.

  • Casey's
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    Retrieved from Casey's.
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    Casey’s built its brand on pizza. Now it’s chasing chicken wings.

    The Iowa retailer plans to roll out the wing line to all 2,900-plus stores over the next two years as it diversifies its fast-growing food business.

  • A Taco Bell Mexican Pizza with premium chicken
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    Courtesy of Taco Bell
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    Taco Bell makes Nacho Fries permanent, teases more LTOs

    The brand showed off more than 20 new menu items at its third-annual Live Más LIVE event, including LTOs meant to ramp up sales momentum.

  • Chicken tenders in a basket
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    Courtesy of Starbird
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    Starbird signs Texas deal to more than double footprint

    The fast casual chicken chain’s newest, largest franchising deal will bring 36 restaurants to Houston, Austin and San Antonio.  

  • An image of four bike riders won a street. The bike rider in the foreground is carying an Uber Eats bag on his back.
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    Sean Gallup via Getty Images
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    Uber Eats raises marketplace fees

    Some restaurants will see rates go up by 5% for delivery, while all merchants will see commissions for pickup orders increase by 1%.

  • Jimmy John's has promoted chief marketing officer Darin Dugan to president.
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    Courtesy of Jimmy John's
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    Jimmy John’s promotes CMO to president

    Darin Dugan succeeds James North, who spent more than 20 years as the chain’s brand president.

  • A marketing image for Burger King's reworked Whopper
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    Courtesy of Burger King
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    Burger King names 2 new agencies following viral Whopper bite moment

    Mojo Supermarket, now the chain’s U.S. social AOR, claimed credit for a video swiping at McDonald’s CEO Chris Kempczinski’s awkward Big Arch review. 

  • Renderings of the interior of Gong cha's new store design for its bubble tea shops.
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    Courtesy of Gong cha
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    Gong cha buys 170 US stores from master franchisee

    The purchase will help the bubble tea brand strengthen its U.S. system and ultimately speed up growth as it targets 1,000 units in the country.

  • An image of people with gray hair holding up wine glasses while at a restaurant
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    Getty Images
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    How restaurants can prepare for an influx of aging diners

    People aged 65 and older will account for 18% of all U.S. restaurant spending in 2030, up from just 10% in 2025, according to Technomic.

  • Pilot
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    Permission granted by Pilot
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    Pilot to overhaul foodservice program at all locations

    A new combination made-to-order and grab-and-go platform aims to set a consistent standard for the retailer’s menu, SVP Sean Marrero said.

  • An image of a Applebee's and IHOP dual-branded restaurant inside an airport
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    Courtesy of Dallas Love Field
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    Dine Brands targets non-traditional spaces for dual-branded concept

    Airports and other 24/7 locations are ideal for the Applebee’s/IHOP restaurants because they offer morning and evening menu items, the company said.

  • Overly busy restaurant
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    Getty Images
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    The restaurant labor market in 6 key statistics

    Unemployment has returned to pre-pandemic rates, while job and wage growth remained relatively slow over the past year.

    Updated March 9, 2026
  • An image of a worn sign on a window that says "sorry we're closed."
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    Getty Images
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    BBI: 15% of restaurants could close in 2026

    Nine percent of full-service restaurants are at risk of shuttering, while only 4% of limited-service units could close this year, Black Box Intelligence data shows

  • A consumers sits at a computer opened to landing page featuring the pizza orders of influencers and other celebrities.
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    Courtesy of Domino's
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    Domino’s redefines celebrity meals in social-first campaign

    Ahead of March Madness, the pizza brand is hoping influencers will drive sales.

  • A close up imae of a white sign with Cracker Barrel logo and Uncle Herschal mascot.
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    Joe Raedle via Getty Images
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    Cracker Barrel reports steepest traffic decline since botched rebrand

    Despite focusing on menu quality and value, the chain reported a 10% traffic drop nearly six months after it attempted to remove its iconic Uncle Herschel from its branding.

  • A close up image of three burritos from Del Taco.
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    Courtesy of Del Taco
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    Del Taco unveils 18-month turnaround plan

    Under its Project Sunrise roadmap, the chain will focus on quality and consistency of menu items, bold innovation to drive trial, expansion of catering and a more impactful loyalty program.

  • A chef prepares a seasonal Easter dish with pickeled egg dyed prupose and served with a watercress salad and olive oil dressing
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    Getty Images
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    How spring holidays can boost restaurant sales

    Savvy planning for St. Patrick’s Day and Easter visits can help restaurants recover after a challenging winter season.

  • McDonald's First Job Confessional
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    Courtesy of McDonald's
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    McDonald’s reality TV-inspired campaign turns kiosks into confessionals

    The social-heavy effort comes as the chain faces social media and competitor blowback for a video featuring its CEO.

  • A close up photograph of a partial Starbucks siren logo as seen from the top of an office building.
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    David Ryder via Getty Images
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    Starbucks to open Nashville corporate office

    The coffee chain will use the Tennessee location to support its ongoing growth efforts across the Southeast. 

  • An image of a Chili's sign with a red chili pepper.
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Chili’s CMO promoted to translate winning playbook to Brinker’s other brand

    George Felix will lead marketing for both Chili’s and Maggiano’s Little Italy, which has lagged behind its sister brand’s eye-popping run of sales growth.