The Latest

  • An image of a man leaving a Chipotle. He is holding a brown bag.
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    Spencer Platt via Getty Images
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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
  • An image of a pink sign that says "Saucy"
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    Permission granted by Saucy by KFC
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    Taco Bell sales surge, KFC will expand Saucy concept

    As Taco Bell succeeds in the U.S., KFC’s spinoff could replicate the Cantina strategy that Taco Bell has used to power its menu innovation.

  • People sit in a coffee shop.
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    Adam Gray via Getty Images
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    Starbucks suffers 5th quarter of falling comps

    The coffee chain will start cafe remodels to improve its coffeehouse feel in New York and Southern California later this year as its brand turnaround continues.

  • An image of a beige building wiht both Fatburger and Round Table Pizza signage
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    Permission granted by Fat Brands
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    Fat Brands promotes Taylor Wiederhorn to co-CEO

    Taylor Wiederhorn, the company’s chief development officer since 2017 and son of former CEO Andrew Wiederhorn, will work alongside Ken Kuick.

  • A smiling man in a blue windowpane check suit coat with a white dress shirt
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    Courtesy of Sweetgreen
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    Sweetgreen hires Chipotle vet as COO

    Jason Cochran, who served as vice president of operations at Chipotle under Brian Niccol, could help Sweetgreen as it looks to establish itself as a clear segment leader.

  • Chili's Big Smasher cheeseburger accompanied by sides of chips, fries and cola on a wooden dining table
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    Permission granted by Chili's Grill & Bar
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    Chili’s notches 21% traffic surge

    The casual chain’s focus on value is driving success where rivals are lagging, with many competitors reporting sliding same-store sales. 

  • A waiter serves a table at a nice restaurant
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    Rawpixel via Getty Images
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    Fiserv ventures into high-end restaurants

    The payment processing giant’s point-of-sale platform Clover will begin catering to upscale dining establishments next month.

  • A man in Deliveroo livery loads a Joe and the Juice bag into a delivery bag.
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    Courtesy of Deliveroo
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    DoorDash offers $3.6B for Deliveroo

    Deliveroo indicated in filings it was inclined to accept the deal, which would bring DoorDash into major markets including the U.K., France and Italy.

  • A smiling white woman with blond hair and a blue shirt. She is Julie Fussner, the new CEO of Culver's
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    Courtesy of Culver's
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    Culver’s promotes CMO Julie Fussner to CEO

    Fussner takes the helm as the brand hits the 1,000 restaurant mark, propelled by a $3.8 million AUV.

  • 5 chefs work in a restaurant kitchens
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    lechatnoir via Getty Images
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    Independent restaurants could use pandemic-era strategies against tariffs

    Navigating supply chain challenges under Trump’s fluctuating trade policy will require both flexibility and conservative cost measures, experts and restaurateurs say.

  • McDonald's new McCrispy chicken strips.
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    Courtesy of McDonald's
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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.

  • A photograph of a brick building with a red sign and white letters that says Chipotle.
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    Spencer Platt via Getty Images
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    Chipotle wants its workers to smile for customers

    The restaurant chain plans to improve CX through friendliness. “The fact is smiles down the line don't slow us down,” CEO Scott Boatwright said.

  • An image of two pizzas in front of a pizza oven.
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    Courtesy of Bertucci's
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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.

  • Tri Star
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    Retrieved from Tri Star Energy.
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    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.

  • A sign that says "Since 1956 Jersey Miek's Subs"
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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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 restaurant location
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    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.

  • Pedestrians walk by a Chipotle restaurant in San Francisco, California
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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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.

  • The sign on a Red Robin restaurant.
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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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
  • The exterior of a Del Taco with several empty parking lots out front
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    Permission granted by Del Taco
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    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.

  • Chairs and tables outside a restaurant beneath a rectangular "Kitchen 1883" sign.
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    Screenshot: Google Maps

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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.

  • An iamge of a delivery driver in front of a Nando's restaurant.
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    Catherine Ivill via Getty Images
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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.

  • Omar Epps as the Sauce Boss in a Zaxbys campaign
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    Courtesy of Zaxbys
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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.

  • A white man in gray pants, a polo, a blue windowpane checked sportcoat and a baseball cap stands in front of a salad restaurant.
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    Courtesy of Salad and Go
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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.

  • An image of three mobile app images of Uber Eats
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    Permission granted by Uber
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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.

  • An image of a Cava logo
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    Mario Tama via Getty Images
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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.