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
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    Adobe Stock

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    Sponsored by Toast

    Why do restaurant regulars stop coming back? It’s a slow fade, not a blowup

    Toast survey data: Most don’t stop after one bad night. They drift off gradually, often feeling unrecognized.

  • A daytime photograph of a building with a stone facade and a large red sign that says "Red Robin." The parking lot in front of the building is empty.
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    Brett_Hondow via Getty Images
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    Red Robin refranchises 86 units for $72.5M

    Since May, the brand has entered three agreements to offload over 100 restaurants to franchisees as it works to raise capital to pay down debt.

  • An image of a Twin Peaks restaurant with wooden exteriors.
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    Permission granted by Twin Peaks
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    Twin Peaks franchisees take over management of brand

    Summit Acquisitions, a firm made up of tenured operators, will oversee operations and growth strategy as the brand emerges from bankruptcy.

    Updated June 16, 2026
  • Blaze Pizza's new signature pizzas.
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    Courtesy of Blaze Pizza
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    Blaze Pizza hires GoTo Foods alum as CFO

    The chain has struggled with a declining store base in recent years, despite menu changes and a loyalty overhaul. 

  • A rendering of a KFC next-generation restaurant that includes pink neon lights and black facade.
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    Permission granted by KFC
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    KFC’s global transformation has sauce at the center

    The fried chicken chain’s rebrand will include new sauces and design elements developed through its Saucy spinoff, as well as an expansion of its Kwench beverage platform.

  • Arby's Angus Cheesesteak, a sandwich made with steak and cheese.
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    Courtesy of Arby's
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    Arby’s adds new Angus Cheesesteak to core menu

    With parent Inspire Brands mulling an IPO, Arby’s could be looking for ways to round out its menu and better compete with chains like Jersey Mike’s. 

  • An image of a restaurant with a logo that says "on the border mexican grill & cantina."
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    The image by Dwight Burdette is licensed under CC BY 3.0
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    On the Border has just 5 restaurants left

    The Tex-Mex chain was left out of casual dining’s revival and closed about 30 of its company-owned restaurants in the last week.

  • A sign on a Chipotle restaurant.
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    Spencer Platt via Getty Images
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    Chipotle is testing these 5 things to bring back buzz

    From a crispy chicken to renaming its group meals, Chipotle is considering various operational changes that could help drive sales and traffic.

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    Permission granted by Zaxbys
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    Zaxbys hires Waffle House vet as chief development officer

    Russell Holland, who has served as interim CDO since February, will support the chain’s aggressive growth as it expands past 1,000 units.

  • An image of a small restaurant with people gathered around. Thereis 7 Brew signage.
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    Permission granted by 7 Brew
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    7 Brew on pace to reach 1K units this year in challenge to Dutch Bros

    The drive-thru coffee chain has reached 777 units so far and has more than 250 stores in its pipeline, gaining on its rival’s footprint of nearly 1,200 stores.

  • A photograph of a person sitting at a bar doing financing.
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    Getty Images
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    Opinion

    Your financial tools aren’t built for your restaurant

    Operators need support built around how restaurants actually make and spend money, and that troubleshoot when those two things fall out of sync, writes Toast’s Michel Rbeiz.

  • A burger, a soda and a basket of chips.
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    Courtesy of Chili's
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    Why restaurant value needs to go beyond just price

    Premium add-ons, generous portions and better experiences are helping boost sales at chains like Chili’s, despite the challenging consumer environment.

  • A photograph of two people in the foreground looking at a chalkboard menu that is blurred
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    Getty Images
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    Menu prices moderate in May despite 3-year high inflation

    Menu prices were up only 3.5%, down from a 4% increase at the beginning of the year. 

  • A Cracker Barrel sign hangs on the outside of a restaurant.
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    Joe Raedle via Getty Images
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    Cracker Barrel reports rising guest metrics, but sales remain on the decline

    The restaurant’s Google star rating is up 4% year over year, but the company has yet to return to sales growth after the fall out from a botched rebrand attempt last year.

  • 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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    How Wetzel’s, Cold Stone use co-branding to entice diners

    With two concepts in one, franchisees have a larger menu, bigger storefronts and other opportunities they wouldn’t have had with a single brand.

  • An image ofa brick Cava storefront
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    Courtesy of Cava
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    Cava will hire over 2K employees, open 75 units in 2026

    The chain has already hired 150 assistant general managers as part of its Flavor Your Future platform to develop a deep bench of future general managers.

  • Inside a beverage facility that sells boba teas.
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    Permission granted by Gong cha
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    How Gong cha overhauled its supply chain for US growth

    The bubble tea brand has standardized its supply chain playbook by moving to a direct franchising system, according to Alan Davis, director of supply chain for the Americas.

  • A person holds up a black, blue, white and yellow chart titled “Reciprocal Tariffs” listing the names of several countries alongside percentages.
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    Chip Somodevilla via Getty Images
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    Q&A

    Why trade, swipe fees are NRA’s political priorities for restaurants

    The National Restaurant Association is urging the Trump administration to approve the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement and take a do-no-harm stance on tariffs.

  • A photograph of a person wearing black glasses and a black blazer.
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    Courtesy of First Watch
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    First Watch appoints CFO

    Ashlee Weisser, who has worked at First Watch since 2023, takes over for the retiring Mel Hope.

  • An image of back-of-house workers preparing meals in a kitchen. Their faces are blurred
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    Hispanolistic via Getty Images
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    Q&A

    NRA: Immigration reform may be on the table in 2026

    From scheduling laws to visa delays, the restaurant workforce is uniquely impacted by changes to labor regulations, posing major problems for operators with thin margins.

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    Courtesy of RaceTrac
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    RaceTrac’s upcoming c-store near Atlanta headquarters will feature a Potbelly

    This appears to be RaceTrac’s first confirmed location with a Potbelly on site since the retailer acquired the sandwich chain last year.

  • People dressed in yelp sit at a table inside a restaurant and bar eating food and drinking beer.
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    andresr via Getty Images
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    How independent restaurants are leaning into World Cup frenzy

    Of the tournament-themed menu additions, 65% added from March to May were drinks, while 27% were merchandise, according to SpotOn data.

  • A photo of a corner of a brick building that says Chipotle on the side
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    Courtesy of Chipotle
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    Chipotle CFO zeroes in on international growth

    The restaurant company could potentially have as many locations outside the U.S. as it does inside, if given a few decades of further growth, CFO Adam Rymer said.

  • A Chick-fil-A restaurant is seen on July 05, 2022 in Houston, Texas.
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    Brandon Bell via Getty Images
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    Chick-fil-A opens ghost kitchen in Miami

    The chain joins a growing cohort of brands, including Pressed Juicery and Roti, to open inside delivery-centric facilities years after restaurants moved away from these channels.

  • A photograph of a restaurant with Subway signage that is inside a Walmart
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    J.D. Pooley via Getty Images
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    Subway to offer delivery from Walmart locations

    The sandwich chain is the first restaurant to be integrated with Walmart’s Express Delivery. Meals can ordered with groceries or delivered separate.