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 23 major restaurant chains

    Q1 2026 saw more evidence of a casual dining resurgence, as fast casual sales continued to slow and QSRs posted mixed results.

    Updated May 26, 2026
  • A photograph of a gray storefrot with a yellow sign that says Qdoba
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    jetcityimage via Getty Images
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    Qdoba completes $435M whole business securitization

    The transaction will allow the chain to refinance debt, providing liquidity to help it reach 2,000 units and support investments in remodels and digital makelines.

  • Lizzo for Chili's
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    Courtesy of Chili's Grill & Bar
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    Chili’s remakes iconic Baby Back Ribs jingle — again — with Lizzo

    The cultural play comes several years after the chain tapped Boyz II Men to remix the tune in an effort to double down on ‘90s nostalgia.

    Updated May 27, 2026
  • Sign above conference attendees reads "AI changes everything" referring to artificial intelligence
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    Sean Gallup via Getty Images
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    Deep Dive

    Restaurant tech execs warn against AI overdependence

    There are limits to AI’s use cases, reliability and applicability, industry leaders said at the 2026 National Restaurant Association Show.

  • A photograph of a person wearing a blue suit jacket
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    Courtesy of Church's Texas Chicken
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    Church’s Texas Chicken appoints Popeyes vet as chief commercial officer

    Kevin Nemeth will oversee various aspects of the chain’s commercial strategy and help connect brand, digital, loyalty, menu and execution.

  • An image of a building with a sign that says "Sweetgreen."
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    Courtesy of Sweetgreen
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    Sweetgreen hires Chipotle exec as chief strategy officer

    Cindy Olsen will help oversee the beleaguered chain’s turnaround strategy after it posted its worst sales decline since going public.

  • Papa Johns Toy Story collaboration
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    Courtesy of Papa Johns
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    Q&A

    Papa Johns’ CMO on driving cultural relevance with a ‘Toy Story’ tie-up

    Jenna Bromberg digs into recent moves around marketing co-ops and agency partners and how the chain is working with Google Cloud on AI.

    Updated May 27, 2026
  • People sit in a coffee shop.
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    Adam Gray via Getty Images
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    Starbucks ditches AI inventory system after just 9 months

    The coffee giant is ending its computer vision inventory counting system — which employees called “unreliable” — in favor of traditional stock-keeping methods, Reuters reported. 

  • An image of a Smashburger restaurant in the evening light
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    Permission granted by Smashburger
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    Smashburger hires CMO in push for growth

    Kate Savelli, who previously worked at Einstein Bros.’ parent, will lead brand, consumer, menu and partnership strategies as the chain focuses on expansion.

  • An empty Starbucks redesigned for on-premise occasions with couches and nice chairs.
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    Courtesy of Starbucks
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    Inside Starbucks’ atmospheric and experiential renovations

    At a remodeled Chicago cafe, the proportion of on-premise traffic has doubled as consumers enjoy couches, comfy seating, outlets and warm lighting. 

  • Four Cold Brews, three with flavored cold foam toppings.
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    Courtesy of Taco Bell
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    Taco Bell tests cold brew coffee

    The chain will use its Live Más Cafés to pilot the beverages, which could see a wider national rollout.

  • 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 appoints Bob Wright as CEO

    Wright joins the fast food chain as it continues to face declining sales, store closures and pressure from an activist investor.

    Updated May 20, 2026
  • An image of a Twin Peaks restaurant in the daytime.
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    Permission granted by Twin Peaks
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    Fat Brands to be sold to multiple buyers for nearly $1B

    Elevation Burger and Hot Dog on the Stick will go to different owners in cash transactions, while Twin Peaks and the remaining Fat restaurant concepts will be sold in debt sales to two entities. 

  • Minnesota restaurant reportedly closed amid ICE enforcement operations
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    Scott Olson via Getty Images
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    Restaurants frame immigration as a fight for consumer affordability

    As inflation concerns escalate, restaurant groups have found lawmakers more receptive to immigration conversations — even in deep red Texas.

  • A photo of a Cava location in a brick endcap retail space.
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    Courtesy of Cava
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    Cava wins Q1 with 9.7% same-store sales jump

    The fast casual chain posted the strongest comparable sales results of the segment, while Sweetgreen and Wingstop faced steep declines.

  • An evening photo of Topfgolf with backlit lights and a white sign that says Topgolf.
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    Courtesy of Topgolf
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    Topgolf appoints over half a dozen execs following Callaway spinoff

    The company named new leadership spanning departments, including operations and finance, a few months after David McKillips became CEO.

  • A photograph of a hand holding up a cheeseburger above a white plate. The plate is on a wooden table and there is a blue card on the left that says Wyndham Rewards. On the right there is a paper bag that says Applebee's To-Go.
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    Courtesy of Applebee's
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    Applebee’s offers free delivery to Wyndham Rewards members

    The partnership could expand Applebee’s off-premise channel, which grew by 3.5% to make up nearly 24% of sales during the first quarter.

  • A close up image of a person holding up a slice of Mexican Pizza from Taco Bell
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    Courtesy of Taco Bell
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    Restaurant LTOs are booming thanks to health, novelty and value

    GLP-1s, international crises and consumer demand for novelty have made limited-time items an ever more important part of restaurant menu playbooks.

  • A hand drops sauce from a spoon onto plates of food.
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    Getty Images
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    Can AI help independent restaurants close the gap with big chains?

    While large language models can identify gaps in brand messaging, AI is not a perfect solution for small players — and may not cater to their strengths.

  • Three toasted sandwiches and a small cup of Papa Johns garlic sauce on a white table in front of a green background.
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    Courtesy of Papa Johns
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    How 5 restaurant chains are growing beyond their core menus

    From sandwiches at pizza brands to flatbreads at smoothie concepts, restaurants are reacting to consumer competition with food innovation.

  • Pedestrians walk by a KFC and a Taco Bell restaurant on July 2, 2014 in San Rafael, California.
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Yum Brands’ tech chief on building its ‘AI backbone’

    The company underwent modernization efforts for its decades-old brands to use one common data model across 35,000 restaurants.

  • A rendering of an A-frame building with orange and white stripes and wood tones.
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    Permission granted by Whataburger
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    Whataburger unveils 2 new prototypes

    As the burger chain expanded outside of Texas, it didn’t always bring its iconic A-frame design with it, but its newest restaurants are about to fix that.

  • A photograph of a brown sign with white lettering that says Starbucks Center.
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    David Ryder via Getty Images
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    Starbucks to cut 300 jobs, close 4 support centers

    Despite improved sales and the impending opening of a secondary headquarters in Nashville, the coffee chain is undertaking its third round of layoffs under CEO Brian Niccol.

  • An image of a beige building with a green sign that says "Krispy Kreme" in red and then "doughnuts" in white typeface.
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    Brandon Bell via Getty Images
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    How Krispy Kreme is making its US operations more profitable

    With its shift to third-party logistics complete, the company is focusing on improving operations, growing digital sales and making better doughnuts.

  • A photograph of a co-branded Wetzel's Pretzels and Cold Stone Creamery inside a mall.
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    Permission granted by Wetzel's Pretzels/Cold Stone Creamery
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    Wetzel’s Pretzels, Cold Stone to open 17 co-branded units

    The dual-concept units will provide daypart expansion, additional revenue streams and efficient store models for franchisees.