The Latest
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Tracking the same-store sales of 21 major restaurant chains
Sales at pizza and casual dining brands have struggled, while QSR giants like McDonald’s and Starbucks saw anemic changes and fast casuals Cava and Chipotle made big gains.
Updated March 20, 2025 -
Sponsored by Restaurant Technologies
One of Freddy’s biggest secrets: Automation
One Freddy’s franchisee deployed automated cooking oil management in his restaurants. Learn how it has helped reduce costs, safety risks and increased efficiency.
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McDonald’s chicken strips mark first permanent menu addition in 4 years
The chain needs a menu win — and a leg up on fast-growing chicken competitors — after last year’s value and LTO successes were offset by an E. Coli outbreak.
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Bertucci’s goes bankrupt for 3rd time in 7 years
The ailing brand, which closed 7 of its 22 stores, may lean on its fast casual spinoff to weather the rising costs and waning consumer confidence hurting casual restaurants.
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Retrieved from Tri Star Energy.
How c-stores can pull loyalty from QSRs
Strong value, including meal deals and quality food, could help c-stores make inroads against fast food, says restaurant technology company Tillster.
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Jersey Mike’s hires Charlie Morrison as CEO
Morrison, former CEO of Wingstop and Salad and Go, takes over for Peter Cancro, who has led the chain for 50 years.
Updated April 24, 2025 -
Jack in the Box will shutter up to 200 stores, mulls Del Taco sale
The brand will also scale back its company-owned development starting next year and sell off real estate to pay down debt.
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Chipotle’s same-store sales wobble on economic uncertainty
The fast casual giant — a sales overperformer in 2024 — said its comparable transactions fell in what could be an early warning of anemic diner spending.
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GJ Hart resigns as Red Robin CEO
Hart, who led the brand through the first two years of its “North Star” reinvention plan, will be replaced by Board Chairman David Pace.
Updated April 24, 2025 -
Del Taco’s new meal boxes mirror Taco Bell deal
The value bundles — which are priced between $5 and $9 — come as the chain battles shrinking same-store sales.
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Kroger to close 2 restaurants
The grocer is shuttering Kitchen 1883 eateries in Union, Kentucky, and Cincinnati, but plans to continue operating a third location in a supermarket next to its headquarters.
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Nando’s Peri-Peri hires Ruby Tuesday vet as CEO
Kimberly Grant, who is also former CEO of Jose Andres Group, will oversee the chain’s growth as it opens more company-owned locations in the U.S.
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Q&A
Zaxbys’ CMO on breaking through the chicken category with ‘sauce’
The chain’s first work from Goodby Silverstein & Partners introduces a brand character that speaks to both signature sauces and cool charisma.
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Salad and Go hires former Krispy Kreme head as CEO
The salad chain’s central kitchen operating model bears a resemblance to the doughnut maker’s hub-and-spoke structure, which Mike Tattersfield has seven years of experience leading.
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FTC lawsuit: Uber made it too hard to cancel Uber One subscriptions
Uber contests the allegations, which include claims the delivery platform signed consumers up without their consent and charged them too early, according to a complaint filed Monday.
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Cava is poised to outperform restaurant industry, analysts say
The Mediterranean fast casual chain is the clear segment leader, and is on course for 1,200 stores by 2033, TD Cowen estimated.
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How KFC’s customer listening program helps it nail the first experience
The program is designed to collect data from a range of sources, disseminate findings across the company and coordinate teams to solve customer pain points, KFC COO Rob Swain said.
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Chipotle is going to Mexico
Alsea, a restaurant operator with 4,700 restaurants in Latin America and Europe, will build the chain’s first Mexico location by early 2026.
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KFC’s US sales fall behind Raising Cane’s, Wingstop
Sales at most American QSR chicken chains rose in 2024, but fell 4% at KFC, according to a Circana report on the 50 largest U.S. restaurant brands.
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Retrieved from Wawa.
10 notable c-store foodservice launches this past month
Convenience retailers debuted fresh takes on sandwiches, smoothies and more in March and April. Here’s what caught our attention.
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Sweetgreen COO Rossann Williams resigns
Williams will remain with the chain until June as an advisor after stepping down from a role she held for over a year.
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7 Brew opens first walk-thru location in Walmart
The coffee chain’s partnership with the mega retailer will help diversify 7 Brew’s development model as it works toward becoming a nationwide brand.
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Massachusetts slaps Dunkin’, McDonald’s, Subway operators with $226K in child labor fines
Franchisees allegedly employed minors without proper permits, and kept them working too long and without proper supervision, according to the state attorney general.
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Circana: Restaurant traffic stalled in 2024, but diner spending rose 2%
Starbucks, McDonald’s and Burger King all had flat spending, but Circana’s David Portalatin said “flat is the new up” given current macroeconomic trends.
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Taco Bell Nuggets return, teasing more Crispy Chicken menu items
After a strong initial performance, the chain is using the Nuggets LTO as a test run for adding Crispy Chicken to its regular menu next year.
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Krystal to open first Texas travel center location
The QSR is focusing on non-traditional locations like travel centers, c-stores and airports as part of a strategy to add high-traffic restaurants to its portfolio.
Updated April 17, 2025