The Latest

  • An image of a person holding a brown bag leaving a Chipotle store front.
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    Spencer Platt via Getty Images
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    Tracking the same-store sales of 23 major restaurant chains

    Q2 2026 saw more evidence of a casual dining resurgence, as fast casual sales stabilized and QSRs posted mixed results.

    Updated Aug. 27, 2026
  • 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 shutters 250 underperforming stores

    The brand said the closures would impact locations that can’t deliver the coffeehouse experience or financial performance it expects.

  • Customers pass in the Drive Thru lane during breakfast hours at a McDonald’s restaurant on October 23, 2024 in Omaha, Nebraska.
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    Mario Tama via Getty Images
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    Inside McDonald’s new marketing model as it enters media network fray

    At its first investor day since 2023, the fast food giant announced it is piloting a media network with the goal of building a $1 billion ad business.

  • A photograph of two boxes on a table with various breakfast food items in aluminum pans.
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    Permission granted by Denny's
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    How Denny’s is loading the bases for Project Grand Slam turnaround

    After closing units and going private, Denny’s is prepping for a new era with more catering, an overhauled menu, fresh tech and renovations.

  • A photograph of an empty McDonald's restaurant within a warehouse
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    Permission granted by McDonald's
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    McDonald’s to invest $8.5B as part of Next strategy

    The funding will be used to support restaurant modernization, tech deployments and operational improvements through 2036.

  • The Wendy's logo displayed near a Wendy's restaurant on June 18, 2024 in Austin, Texas.
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    Brandon Bell / Staff via Getty Images
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    Wendy’s claims bankrupt franchisee has no right to continue running 314 units

    The franchisor said Meritage Hospitality Group doesn’t have the right to seek operations support after Wendy’s terminated its franchise agreements.

  • gomart, wienerschnitzel
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    Permission granted by Galardi Group
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    GoMart to bring first Wienerschnitzel QSRs to West Virginia

    The new partnership is expected to expand beyond the initial two locations over the next five years, with potential sites including conversions and new builds.

  • A photograph of a red building with patio umbrellas and a sign that says Wendy's
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    RiverNorthPhotography via Getty Images
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    Inside an award-winning Wendy’s operator’s bankruptcy crisis

    Meritage Hospitality Group, which once had more than 350 restaurants, faced declining revenue and sales amid ongoing challenges with Wendy’s system.

  • A basket of fried chicken and some other food.
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    Courtesy of Yardbird
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    Yardbird files for bankruptcy

    The fried chicken and bar concept shuttered several locations in 2025 and 2026 as sales results diverged across its system.

    Updated Sept. 22, 2026
  • Will Arnett sits alongside a driver in a drive-thru lane while holding up a Subway sandwich
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    Permission granted by Subway
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    Subway skewers modern dining landscape with Will Arnett-led creative

    The actor serves as the subconscious of consumers sick of everything from unhealthy fast food to chalky protein bars in a new brand platform.

  • A spread of pasta entrees from Maggiano's Little Italy.
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    Courtesy of Maggiano's Little Italy
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    Maggiano’s turnaround yields ‘green shoots’

    The Italian brand only accounts for 3% of Brinker’s profits, but a focus on portion size and speed of service could grow sales, CEO Kevin Hochman said. 

  • An image of a speaker box on a blue background. The words "Toast" and "Presto" hover over the box.
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    Permission granted by Presto Phoenix
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    Presto integrates with Toast to scale drive-thru voice AI

    The AI company is joining the POS firm’s partner ecosystem, making it easier for many restaurants to deploy the voice tool.

  • The outside of a Starbucks store
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    Spencer Platt via Getty Images
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    Starbucks, Florida AG ink deal to end lawsuit over alleged illegal DEI practices

    Attorney General James Uthmeier alleged that the chain excluded or disfavored nonminorities in a lawsuit that mirrored recent federal enforcement activity.

  • An image of a restaurant that has a white sign with "Chili's" on the front and side.
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Why Chili’s is ready to open new stores

    While the casual giant saw its same-store sales explode, its unit count stayed stagnant. Now, Brinker International is investing in growing its storebase again.

  • 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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    Major Wendy’s franchisee declares bankruptcy

    Meritage Hospitality Group, which operates 314 Wendy’s units, has closed at least 60 units and opted out or altered the breakfast daypart to improve store-level EBITDA.

  • A photograph of a selection of food items, including pepperoni pizza, chicken wings and burgers next to a green checkered back with wording that says Wonder The Cravings Expert.
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    Courtesy of Wonder
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    Wonder lays off 533 as part of production consolidation

    The food hall company is closing two New Jersey facilities and moving to a high-capacity location that will better support long-term growth.

  • A table with a salad, cheeseburger quesadilla and a plate of rice
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    Permission granted by Applebee's
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    How a popular burger drove Applebee’s to double down on cheese

    The O-M-Cheese Burger hit on consumer preferences for cheese, affordability and a fun experience, leading to an expanded lineup. 

  • A close-up photograph of an orange sign that says Tropical Smoothie Cafe that is next to a palm tree logo shaped as a T.
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    Courtesy of Tropical Smoothie Cafe
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    Tropical Smoothie Cafe unveils rebrand, new logo

    The chain’s updated look will also include a redesigned web and app that will offer more seamless browsing, customizations and access to loyalty rewards.

  • An image of a drive-thru digital menu board with a Taco Bell restaurant with white and purple paint in the background.
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    Courtesy of Taco Bell
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    Taco Bell’s traffic slump persists as outbreak ends

    Nearly two months after iceberg lettuce at the chain was linked to Cyclospora, the QSR giant’s foot traffic remains depressed, according to Placer.ai.

  • A close up photograph of a red out of business sign hanging on a store window.
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    Getty Images
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    Why multi-unit restaurant franchisee bankruptcies are surging in 2026

    High labor and food costs and slumping sales have caused franchisee bankruptcies to reach pre-pandemic levels, but various strategies could help mitigate the problem.

  • A rendering of a bagel shop.
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    Courtesy of Einstein Bros. Bagels
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    Einstein Bros. Bagels staffs up C-suite for national growth

    The breakfast chain hired several executives to lead development, people and finance as it works to open 300 stores in three years.

  • People walk past a Chipotle storefront.
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    Spencer Platt via Getty Images
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    Chipotle to place apprentice managers in all company-owned locations

    These high-performing employees are working toward a general manager role and will be a key part of staffing newly opened restaurants. 

  • Danny DeVito for Jersey Mike's
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    Courtesy of Jersey Mike's
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    Jersey Mike’s kicks off NFL campaign as digital marketing spend surges

    “Game Day Mike’s Way” is billed as the brand’s most integrated campaign to date and arrives following its debut as a public company in July.

  • An image of two pan pizzas in front of a green background. On the right is a green pizza box.
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    Permission granted by Papa Johns
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    How technology is powering Papa Johns’ turnaround

    A new POS system, AI forecasting and greater customer segmentation could help the pizza chain improve its operations and drive sales.

  • A zoomed in image of a smartphone with a on orange app square that says "Grubhub" in white.
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    Scott Olson via Getty Images
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    DoorDash buys Grubhub campus unit for $300M

    DoorDash will continue to expand Grubhub’s former campus dining operations, and Wonder will use money from the deal and an investment to sustain growth.