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 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.

  • A portrait of a person dressed in a suit in front of a gray background.
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    Courtesy of P.F. Chang's
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    Red Lobster hires former P.F. Chang’s CEO as CFO

    Brad Hill will oversee the chain’s finances and real estate strategy as it focuses on long-term growth.

    Updated March 3, 2026
  • Jack in the Box restaurant location
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Jack in the Box re-elects board, but chair will retire

    Shareholders approved a poison pill and re-elected the board, including David Goebel, despite a challenge from activist investor Sardar Biglari.

  • An image of a red and white building with Freddy's signage.
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    Permission granted by Freddy's
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    JRI Hospitality buys 43 Freddy’s restaurants

    The chain’s largest franchisee will operate more than one-fifth of its system following the purchase of Kansas-based HCI Hospitality.

  • A close upimage of a Papa Johns sign with red lettering and a white background. There is green trim around the sign.
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    Brandon Bell via Getty Images
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    Why Papa Johns is going back to basics in latest marketing shakeup

    The pizza chain has reestablished local marketing co-ops and plans to launch a creative platform in collaboration with new AOR Leo Chicago.

  • Wooden seats and tables inside a Cava. In the background there is a make line with digital menu boards.
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    Courtesy of Cava
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    Deep Dive

    Why are leading fast casuals primarily company owned?

    Franchising is the primary model for development in fast food, but different market dynamics prevail in fast casual.

  • An image of an interior restaurant with a order lane and seating area and orange, blue and white decor
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    Courtesy of Schlotzsky's Deli
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    Schlotzsky’s rebrands, launches new prototype

    The chain’s latest store design features self-order kiosks, a designated pickup area and a smaller footprint to slash operating costs by up to 25%.

  • A Papa John's sign.
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    Joe Raedle / Staff via Getty Images
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    Papa Johns plans CX upgrades following corporate cuts

    The pizza chain will enhance its app with an AI-powered food ordering agent in the coming quarter, CEO Todd Penegor said.

  • An image of two individuals with the one on the left wearing a blue suit. The person on the right is in black and white with a dark shirt on.
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    Courtesy of GoTo Foods
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    GoTo Foods appoints Roark exec as CFO

    Brett Ubl becomes chief financial officer at the restaurant company, while Francisco Bram joins as chief growth officer as the company prepares for additional global expansion.

  • Papa Johns Cool Ranch Papadia sandwiches in various packaging and contexts.
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    Courtesy of Papa Johns
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    Papa Johns will drop Papadias, Papa Bites from menu

    While the two items drove incremental sales in past quarters, they can disrupt operational rhythm and create more complexities, CEO Todd Penegor said.

  • An image of a building with a sign that says "Sweetgreen."
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    Courtesy of Sweetgreen
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    Sweetgreen may change its pricing after disaster quarter

    The salad chain suffered the worst quarter among major fast casual restaurants. It is now rethinking everything from core prices to its menu’s emphasis on bowls.

  • A marketing image for Burger King's reworked Whopper
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    Courtesy of Burger King
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    Buns, bots and ad-buys: Burger King talks strategy at RBI investor day

    The years-long Reclaim the Flame program will continue with a renewed emphasis on core menu food quality and accelerated refranchising.

  • An image of Papa Johns sign on a store
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    Courtesy of Papa Johns
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    Papa Johns will close 300 restaurants

    As part of its transformation, the chain will close units that are over 10 years old with AUVs under $600,000 and has already cut 7% of its corporate staff.

  • An image of a Jack in the Box restaurant.
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    What’s at stake in Jack in the Box’s board battle with Biglari?

    If the activist investor prevents David Goebel’s re-election as chair, the board could still reappoint him, likely starting a long and expensive board battle.

  • IHOP pancakes
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    Courtesy of IHOP
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    IHOP promotes pancakes with low-tech aesthetics, experiential play

    In a tie-up with musician Mr. Fantasy, the chain is plastering high-traffic areas with old-school flyers reminiscent of the early internet. 

  • An image of various sandwiches, soups and salads from Panera.
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    Courtesy of Panera Bread
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    Panera debuts Mix & Match value menu

    Two years after introducing its Value Duets, the chain now offers 10 items for $4.99 as part of a strategy to improve its value proposition.

  • A sign marks the location of an Outback Steakhouse restaurant on November 02, 2021 in Skokie, Illinois.
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    Scott Olson / Staff via Getty Images
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    Outback posts first traffic growth in 5 years

    New steaks improved guest satisfaction, and fresh investments in facilities, labor and marketing could help build the brand’s transaction momentum.

  • An image of a McDonald's sign
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    JillianCain via Getty Images
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    McDonald’s launches supersized Big Arch Burger in US

    The limited-time offer is part of the chain’s strategy to help drive sales and traffic by boosting food quality.

  • Peter the Pita Chip plushie on a Cava bag
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    Courtesy of Cava
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    Cava hits $1B in sales, but traffic growth slows

    The chain will work to boost visits with menu innovation and other initiatives, CFO Tricia Tolivar said, as the fast casual category fights off headwinds.

  • 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.