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 smiling man with a beard in a blue shirt and blue jacket with lapels.
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    Courtesy of Dave's Hot Chicken
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    Dave’s Hot Chicken promotes COO to CEO

    Jim Bitticks succeeds Bill Phelps, who helmed the brand since 2019, and will continue to grow the chain that has nearly doubled its unit count since 2024. 

  • A Starbucks hub appears on season two of "Beast Games"
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    Courtesy of Starbucks
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    Starbucks links with MrBeast to fuel Prime Video competition series

    The coffee chain will appear in season two of “Beast Games” and offer a limited-edition drink in a bid to the popular creator’s younger fan base.

  • An image of a Twin Peaks restaurant in the daytime.
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    Permission granted by Twin Peaks
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    Twin Hospitality Group appoints Andy Wiederhorn as CEO

    The company terminated Kim Boerema as CEO in late December after over six months in the position.

  • A person holds up a box that say Sprinkles
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    Andrew Burton via Getty Images
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    Sprinkles Cupcakes shutters all company-owned bakeries

    Company founder Candace Nelson, who sold the chain in 2012 to private equity, shared in an Instagram video that these locations closed on Dec. 31.

    Updated Jan. 1, 2026
  • Malik Nabers in an IHOP ad
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    Retrieved from IHOP on December 23, 2025
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    Why IHOP flipped a fantasy football punishment into bottomless pancakes

    President Lawrence Kim explains why the breakfast chain tapped into fantasy football culture as part of its latest value-focused play.

  • An image of various doughnuts from Krispy Kreme behind a bakery counter.
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    Brandon Bell via Getty Images
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    Why Krispy Kreme’s Japan sale deal is key to its turnaround plan

    The $65 million transaction is the latest in a series of asset sales by the doughnut brand meant to shave down over $900 million in long-term debt.

  • An image of a fork piercing a steak that sits on a white plate.
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    RapidEye via Getty Images
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    How restaurants are navigating tariff-related costs this holiday season

    Operators are getting creative when crafting menus, setting prices, scheduling staff, and finding new revenue amid surging expenses exacerbated by tariffs.

  • Bolla,, firehouse
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    Permission granted by Firehouse Subs
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    Bolla Market opens first of several Firehouse Subs

    The sandwich shop debuted on Nov. 15 at a Bolla Market in Hicksville, New York. Another in Farmingdale is expected for the end of January.

  • An image of a building with a brick facade and a green sign that says Potbelly
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    Getty Images
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    Potbelly focuses on growth under RaceTrac

    Putting a Potbelly in every RaceTrac location isn’t on the agenda, but c-store adjacent locations could become part of the sandwich chain’s expansion plans.

  • The outside of a Starbucks store
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    Spencer Platt via Getty Images
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    Starbucks hires technology chief from Amazon

    Anand Varadarajan brings nearly two decades of retail technology experience to the coffee giant, which is working to implement customer-centric solutions.

  • A Sweetgreen salad and an order of air fried potatoes.
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    Courtesy of Sweetgreen
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    4 restaurant menu strategy fails in 2025

    From french fries that clogged up core operations to unprofitable doughnuts, national chains tried and abandoned a wide range of menu tactics to woo diners in 2025.

  • An image of arms holding up drinks with a Mixue store in the background
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    Courtesy of Mixue
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    China’s popular Mixue boba shop launches in US

    The brand, which offers low-priced boba tea drinks, opened its first U.S. location in Los Angeles and plans to open more in New York shortly.

  • A picture of an Olive Garden restaurant.
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    Courtesy of Olive Garden
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    Olive Garden drives sales growth with delivery, smaller portions

    The Italian chain will accelerate the rollout of a lower-priced menu, which features seven existing items in reduced sizes, after receiving positive consumer feedback over affordability.

  • A cup of chicken from Chipotle
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    Courtesy of Chipotle
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    Chipotle adds protein snack cups

    The fast casual giant framed the new items, which offer four-ounce portions of meat for about $4, as both a health and value play.

  • A person smiles while wearing a black sweater.
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    Permission granted by 7 Brew
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    7 Brew hires RBI exec as CFO

    Matthew Dunnigan will help the rapidly growing drive-thru coffee chain during its next phase of growth now that it has surpassed 500 units.

  • People walking in front of a Sweetgreen on Aug.8, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois
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    Scott Olson via Getty Images
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    Sweetgreen cofounder exits beleaguered brand

    Nathaniel Ru, Sweetgreen’s chief brand officer, is retiring after a bruising year for the fast casual chain.

    Updated Dec. 17, 2025
  • A photograph of a yellow sign with Denny's in red.
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Top M&A restaurant deals of 2025

    From Potbelly and Denny’s going private to franchisees buying Del Taco and Uncle Julio’s, restaurant consolidation increased this year and could continue into 2026.

    M&A
  • A DoorDash delivery worker walks his bike along the road in the Mission neighborhood of San Francisco, California.
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    Getty Images
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    DoorDash tests AI-powered restaurant discovery app

    The delivery giant’s technology chief said Zesty, now in testing in New York City and the San Francisco Bay Area, improves local restaurant visibility.

  • 7-Eleven
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    Brett Dworski/Restaurant Dive
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    Column

    Fueling Up: How foodservice and QSRs can reshape c-store labor in 2026

    Hiring and retaining good workers has become an intractable challenge for the industry. Building first-class food programs could help retailers finally break through.

  • An image of a light brown building with a small tree out front that lost its leaves. The signage says California Pizza Kitchen.
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    Permission granted by California Pizza Kitchen
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    California Pizza Kitchen sells itself

    Convive Brands will take over the global operator and master franchisor of the 120-unit pizza chain in a transaction backed by Bain Capital.

    M&A
  • Cups and Munchkins on a Yellow Brick Road
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    Courtesy of Dunkin'
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    Dunkin’ and Starbucks boost traffic with holiday LTOs

    The chains’ successful holiday campaigns show the legacy coffee sector isn’t out of ammunition in a competitive battle with rising stars.

  • A picture of a restaurant interior. Empty tables, white tile, green walls.
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    Courtesy of Perkins
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    Perkins names new brand president

    Matt Carpenter brings decades of restaurant experience from both sides of the franchisee-franchisor divide, and could help Perkins modernize and expand. 

  • 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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    Doherty adds Qdoba to portfolio, plans 27-unit development

    The agreement with Doherty is part of a spate of agreements by Qdoba that will result in 90 new restaurants across New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

  • A photograph of a gray sign with a red box inside with white letters that says "Jack" under the box it says "in the box."
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    What’s next for Jack in the Box after its Del Taco sale?

    The burger chain is in “survival” mode as it struggles to pay down debt and get back to basics, one expert said.

    M&A