The Latest

  • An image of a person holding a brown bag leaving a Chipotle store front.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Spencer Platt via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Tracking the same-store sales of 23 major restaurant chains

    Q2 2026 saw more evidence of a casual dining resurgence, as fast casual sales stabilized and QSRs posted mixed results.

    Updated Aug. 27, 2026
  • An evening photograph of a corner of an Applebee's restaurant
    Image attribution tooltip
    M. Suhail via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip
    Q&A

    Applebee’s CMO on differentiating marketing in a value-obsessed industry

    Michelle Chin digs into how the casual dining chain’s marketing is evolving, including through a new partnership with agency BBDO Chicago.

  • A car at a window picking up an order from a restaurant
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Salad and Go
    Image attribution tooltip

    Salad and Go is coming back from the dead

    Roughly 100 former Salad and Go locations were approved for sale during bankruptcy, but the buyer of its intellectual property plans to reopen some units.

  • A person wearing a chef outfit holds up a container of tomatoes and looks at clipboard. The person appears to be in a kitchen storage area.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip
    Opinion

    Why small restaurants struggle with inventory counts

    Creating a routine, using consistent counting metrics and clarifying how to measure partial containers can reduce inventory errors, writes Jim Lange, founder of Genius Food Purchasing.

  • A bucket of fried chicken from KFC surrounded by Coca-Cola glasses
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by KFC U.S.
    Image attribution tooltip

    KFC ditches Pepsi for Coke in latest turnaround move

    The fried chicken chain — once owned by Pepsi — will shift beverage providers as part of a broader overhaul of its menu and operations.

  • An image of a Golden Corral restaurant exterior in the evening
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Golden Corral
    Image attribution tooltip

    Golden Corral faces uptick in closures

    While the chain said its current attrition rate is higher than normal, many of the closed locations are likely to reopen under new ownership.

  • Arby's drive-thru
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Arby's
    Image attribution tooltip

    Arby’s hires ex-Papa Johns CMO to balance brand-building, sales growth

    Jenna Bromberg’s appointment is effective Nov. 2 and comes as parent company Inspire Brands considers an IPO.

  • Noodles & Company's new Ramen bowls
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Noodles & Company
    Image attribution tooltip

    Noodles & Company adds ramen to core menu

    The chain’s Chili Garlic Ramen LTO was one of its most successful launches ever, prompting it to build out a new menu platform.

  • Four horchata based beverages Taco Bell will serve at its Live Mas Cafes.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Taco Bell
    Image attribution tooltip

    Taco Bell tests 4 horchata beverages

    Live Más Cafés will pilot the drinks ahead of a December nationwide launch as the chain pushes toward $5 billion in annual drink sales.

  • It's a restaurant.
    Image attribution tooltip
    wdstock via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Gen Restaurant Group sells 47 restaurants for $100M to Chubby Cattle Group

    The deal will strengthen Gen’s balance sheet while speeding up the growth of Chubby’s restaurant operations. 

  • A diamond sign with red and blue and a white words that say "Domino's"
    Image attribution tooltip
    Joe Raedle via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Domino’s new CEO plans on ‘getting closer to the customer’

    The company will sharpen promotions through its loyalty app and improve consistency in an effort to drive greater frequency, CEO Joe Jordan said.

  • A car drives to a drive-thru window at a Kentucky Fried Chicken storefront.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Yum! Brands
    Image attribution tooltip

    Why Yum Brands is deepening supplier relationships

    The restaurant company has built a network of suppliers that are “ready to flex with us” if disruption strikes, Chief Supply Chain Officer Eric Craft said.

  • Krispy Kreme's Times Square location in NYC
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Krispy Kreme
    Image attribution tooltip

    Krispy Kreme signs deal to open 33 units in New York metro

    Franchisee Original Entrepreneurs has worked with the brand since 2017, and has experience running donut shops in a highly competitive environment.

  • A Swig Dirty Soda location with a drive-thru.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Swig
    Image attribution tooltip

    Savory Fund raises over $200M to back emerging restaurant chains

    The private equity firm aided the early growth of Swig and Mo’ Bettahs, and its latest fund will support expanding concepts with strong brand identity.

  • An image of a a white building with Chipotle signage at night.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Chipotle
    Image attribution tooltip

    How 4 restaurant brands hit big development milestones this fall

    Cava and Dave’s Hot Chicken surpassed 500 units, while Chipotle reached 1,500 Chipotlanes.

  • A daytime image of a Domino's restaurant and sign
    Image attribution tooltip
    Joe Raedle via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Domino’s focus shifts toward driving ticket growth

    CEO Joe Jordan said the chain will improve franchisee profitability by driving order counts and ticket totals through promotions and menu innovation.

  • An image of a building with Hawaiian Bros branding
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Hawaiian Bros
    Image attribution tooltip

    Hawaiian Bros signs 52-store Florida deal

    The brand’s newest franchisee will open 24 locations in the first three years of its agreement, which spans Orlando, Jacksonsville, Gainesville and Tampa.

  • A person in a suit stands on stage surrounded by a large crowd in the stands.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Starbucks
    Image attribution tooltip
    Analysis

    Was a Starbucks buyout of Chipotle even possible?

    The coffee giant denied it was buying the burrito chain, but analysts offered an interesting view of what a mega-merger would have meant to the restaurant industry.

    M&A
  • People walking in front of a Sweetgreen on Aug.8, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois
    Image attribution tooltip
    Scott Olson via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Sweetgreen hires Starbucks vet as chief people officer

    Lauren Crowley joins the brand amid an ongoing turnaround strategy that includes new training programs for restaurant-level employees.

  • An Outback Steakhouse restaurant on Jan. 31, 2025 in Daly City, California.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Outback beefs up steak quality

    The steakhouse chain also hired a chief steak officer to serve as its authority on selection, marbling and prep.

  • A hand holds up a smartphone with Fatburger Rewards on screen
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Fatburger
    Image attribution tooltip

    Fatburger launches first rewards program

    Members earn points for every $1 spent on eligible purchases and receive $5 discounts for every 75 points accrued, a strategy that could help boost sales and frequency.

  • A rendering if a Papa Murphy's and Pinkberry restaurant
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Papa Murphy's
    Image attribution tooltip

    Papa Murphy’s to open co-branded Pinkberry restaurants

    The take-and-bake pizza chain will open three such restaurants, which are expected to provide franchisees with additional revenue streams and dayparts.

  • Customers line up in a drive-thru at a Starbucks store
    Image attribution tooltip
    Justin Sullivan / Staff via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    When the drive-thru feels fast and friendly, satisfaction grows

    Dutch Bros Coffee, Chick-fil-A and Starbucks ranked as not just the friendliest brands, but the ones with the highest overall satisfaction, a QSR and InTouch CX study found. 

  • A photograph of an empty McDonald's restaurant within a warehouse
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by McDonald's
    Image attribution tooltip

    McDonald’s navigates pushback over Next initiatives

    Franchisees were reportedly surprised by remodel costs, per Bloomberg, and McDonald’s has been sued for using a pricing tool that allegedly determined what customers would be willing to pay.

  • A Hardee's location
    Image attribution tooltip
    gsheldon via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    CKE appoints IHOP alum as Hardee’s president

    Alisa Gmelich brings over 30 years of brand experience to her new role, where she will oversee growth, guest experience improvements and menu optimization.