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

    Q3 2025 saw more evidence of a casual dining resurgence, as fast casual sales continued to slow and QSRs posted divergent results.

    Updated Dec. 1, 2025
  • A photograph of a First Watch restaurant
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    Permission granted by First Watch
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    First Watch CFO to retire

    Mel Hope led the breakfast chain’s fiscal operations through a pandemic, an IPO and high inflation. His successor faces a strained consumer environment.

  • A photogrpah of a beige brick building with a yellow sign with red words that says sonic.
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    M. Suhail via Getty Images
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    Sonic sells 78 restaurants to KBP

    The franchisee nearly doubles its Sonic unit count with its second acquisition of restaurants from the QSR chain.

  • A close up image of a red sign that says Fatburger
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    Wirestock via Getty Images
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    ‘This is not personal. It’s business’: Why an expert says the clock is ticking for Fat Brands’ CEO

    Andrew Wiederhorn’s days as CEO could be numbered if creditors successfully argue conflict of interests exist, bankruptcy expert Jerrold Bregman said.

  • The exterior of a Del Taco with several empty parking lots out front
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    Permission granted by Del Taco
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    Del Taco operator closes all Georgia locations

    Matadoor Restaurant Group closed 14 restaurants in the state months after filing for Chapter 11, but Del Taco says it is looking for options to reopen them.

  • A Domino's Pizza employee assists a customer over the phone.
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    Brandon Bell via Getty Images
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    Domino’s loyalty program fuels carryout growth

    “We stated before that our objectives with the loyalty program was definitely to cater much more to the carryout customer and also to attract light users,” CEO Russell Weiner said.

  • Couche-Tard
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    Retrieved from Couche-Tard.
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    Inside the 18-month reset reviving Couche-Tard’s US food business

    After a hot start in 2020, Circle K’s Fresh Food, Fast program slowed. Executives are now fine-tuning the offering through operational improvements and menu updates to spark new growth.

  • A hand lifts a slice of stuffed crust pizza topped with pepperoni and peppers. The slice trails strings of melted mozzarella.
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    Courtesy of Domino's
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    Domino’s wants to double its market share

    CEO Russel Weiner thinks the chain can capture half of the QSR pizza market at the expense of Pizza Hut and Papa Johns.

  • An image of a refreshed Subway.
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    Courtesy of Subway
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    Subway to remove free footlong offer from Sub Club

    On April 1, the company will allow members to earn a $2 reward for every 400 points accumulated.

  • A person stands in front of a blurred out building
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    Courtesy of Topgolf
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    Topgolf hires David McKillips as CEO

    McKillips, former president and CEO of Chuck E. Cheese’s parent, will focus on the chain’s growth strategy now that it has been spun off from Callaway.

  • Toast for Hotel Restaurants
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    Permission granted by Toast
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    Toast courts fast food restaurants

    The company is entering the drive-thru business in a bid to attract more of the quick-service sector to its customer rolls.

  • Protestors confront ICE officers in Minneapolis, Minnesota
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    Stephen Maturen via Getty Images
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    NRA: Tariffs, immigration and swipe fees will define restaurant politics in 2026

    The National Restaurant Association said restaurants need stable trade policy, protections for immigrant workers and lower swipe fees.

  • An image ofa brick colored building with a logl of a red-headed girl with pigtails.
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    Courtesy of Wendy's
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    Wendy’s is ‘undervalued’ and could face takeover by Nelson Peltz

    The former Wendy’s board chair is considering taking action at the chain, where stock prices have fallen 60% over the past five years.

  • Jack in the Box
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Why Jack in the Box bets parking lot paint can cure sales

    The chain hopes improvements to product quality and restaurant cosmetics will reverse sliding same-store sales and help prepare for a full remodel program.

  • A hand dips a chicken tender into a sauce
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    Courtesy of Wingstop
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    How Wingstop plans to weather traffic slides and winter storms

    The company expects investments in speed of service and in loyalty systems will reverse a third quarter of comparable sales declines.

  • A Buggalo's and Fatbuger restaurant signs
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    Laser1987 via Getty Images
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    Fat Brands sued by lender over cash use during bankruptcy

    352 Capital contests Fat’s plan to use management fees and other cash under securitization receivables to fund operations during Chapter 11 proceedings.

  • A Jack in the Box sign looms ominously from behind a hedge.
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Jack in the Box’s board battle is getting serious

    With proxy advisors saying investors have “persuasive cause” to oppose the re-election of board chair David Goebel, Sardar Biglari’s months-long effort to shake up the brand’s board may be gaining momentum.

  • A hand holds up a smartphone with various graphics coming off of it. In the background,there is a blurred restaurant table.
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    bankkgraphy via Getty Images
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    NRA: Over 25% of restaurant operators use AI

    Marketing is the top area where automation is being used, followed by administrative tasks, according to a National Restaurant Association report.

  • AI-generated Paris Hiltons in a Carl's Jr. ad
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    Courtesy of Carl's Jr.
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    Deep Dive

    How QSRs are building on value marketing with pop culture, nostalgia

    Fast food marketers including McDonald’s, Burger King and Wendy’s will have to move beyond price-point value to drive sales and traffic.

  • A person holds their arms out to showcase various sandwiches, salads and burgers from Habit Burger
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    Courtesy of Habit Burger & Grill
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    Habit Burger launches core menu update

    The menu additions and upgrades could help the fast casual chain grow same-store sales, which were down 1% in 2025.

  • An image of three people sitting at a table as another person serves them food on white plates.
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    SolStock via Getty Images
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    NRA: Restaurant, foodservice to surpass $1.5 trillion in sales

    While challenges related to the economy and food and labor costs will persist, the National Restaurant Association said operators are cautiously optimistic.

  • People stand in front of kiosks by a McDonald's
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    Getty Images
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    McDonald’s positions loyalty app at the center of its tech ambitions

    Active loyalty members are the “single most important digital metric” for McDonald’s, EVP and CFO Ian Borden said.

  • A promotional image for Wendy's 2-for-$3 breakfast bundles.
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    Courtesy of Wendy's
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    Wendy’s pulls back on breakfast hours

    The chain is allowing franchisees to focus more on lunch and late-night hours as same-store sales logs its steepest decline in roughly six years.

  • Five fancy drinks at McDonald's against a dark blue background.
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    Courtesy of McDonald's
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    McDonald’s is adding energy drinks, craft sodas to McCafe line

    The beverages, inspired by the chain’s defunct CosMc’s spinoff, were “highly successful” in a 500-store test and will be deployed nationwide this year. 

  • People walking in front of a Sweetgreen on Aug.8, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois
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    Scott Olson via Getty Images
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    Sweetgreen names Wpromote paid media AOR as brand looks to reignite growth

    Wpromote is tasked with balancing a cohesive national strategy with more market-specific opportunities as Sweetgreen combats a sales slump.