Tracking the same-store sales of 21 major restaurant chains

Major publicly traded restaurant chains had a strange Q2 for comps growth, from Chili’s 23% jump to Sweetgreen’s 7.6% shortfall.

Updated Aug. 18, 2025

Andrew Wiederhorn returns as Fat Brands CEO

The shift in leadership comes after the U.S. Department of Justice dropped fraud charges against Fat Brands and Wiederhorn in July.

McDonald’s latest value deals target combo meals

The Extra Value Meals will decrease the price of eight meals by 15% compared to ordering items a la carte.

Caribou Coffee names permanent CEO

Scott Kennedy, who has served as interim CEO since March, has become president and CEO of the coffee chain.

Sweetgreen hires former Taco Bell exec as chief commercial officer

Zipporah Allen, a major architect of Taco Bell’s digital transformation, has joined the embattled salad brand as it looks to rebuild traffic and sales.

Jersey Mike’s appoints Wingstop vet as president, COO

Stacy Peterson will lead U.S. operations, marketing and technology as the company continues to open roughly 300 domestic units a year.

Chipotle brings back Carne Asada to cure sliding sales

The return of the highly anticipated protein could help the fast casual giant kick a sales slump that has so far proved resistant to LTOs.

Cracker Barrel: Another case of the blanding of branding

Restaurants must engage core and growth audiences to understand what they value and which brand equities to protect, evolve or retire, writes Jon Shapiro, chief creative officer of brand experience at PV&COHO.

Twin Hospitality closes 15 Smokey Bones restaurants

The company will also convert 19 Smokey Bones units into higher-performing Twin Peaks restaurants, leaving the barbecue brand with 26 units.

Why consumer confidence is the leading restaurant traffic indicator

Dwindling confidence in macroeconomic growth means consumers are more price-sensitive than ever, in a potential win for value-oriented brands, Revenue Management Solutions said.

Grubhub settles false advertising lawsuit for $7M

A 2020 lawsuit alleged that the aggregator used business logos and names on its platforms without a restaurant’s permission, causing customer confusion.

Denny’s adds 5 Slams for $5

After sunsetting its $2-$4-$6-$8 value play, the casual dining brand is focused on time-limited promotions centering on meals.

Restaurant winners and losers from H1 2025

Casual dining chains, led by Chili’s, had a surprisingly strong quarter, while fast casuals, like Chipotle and Sweetgreen, struggled with consumer pullback and operations problems.

Uber Eats settles Seattle labor claims for $15M

The delivery aggregator denied allegations by city authorities that it misled workers about potential earnings and paid them less than required.

Updated Aug. 27, 2025

McDonald’s bulks up chicken menu with Special Edition Gold Sauce

The North Carolina barbecue-flavored sauce will accompany two new McCrispy sandwiches as the QSR aims to boost its chicken market share.

Smoothie King debuts food menu

The fast casual chain added toasts and protein bowls following a 100-store test in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

Little Caesars dials up NFL marketing with deals, co-branded campaign

The pizza chain is also flexing partnerships with football stars like Saquon Barkley for its fourth year as the Official Pizza Sponsor of the league.

DoorDash updates features for corporate clients

Companies can track spending, usage and engagement by employees who participate in meal programs.

Chipotle adds family meals as online exclusive

The “Build-Your-Own-Chipotle” offering serves a family of four to six and could help drive same-store sales, which were down in the first half of the year.

Auntie Anne’s airport strategy takes flight

High-traffic, high-volume locations connect the brand to new consumers, setting the stage for expansion beyond captive audience venues. 

Applebee’s appoints operations, marketing chiefs

Following a strong Q2, Dine Brands will bring on Jerrold Wong as COO and Michelle Chin as CMO to extend Applebee’s recent successes.

White Castle to open first Texas restaurant in 2026

The Columbus-based slider chain will open the restaurant next summer in a Dallas suburb, as it continues to expand into new states.

Starbucks expands coconut water drinks test to 400 stores

CEO Brian Niccol has said the chain’s menu innovation will focus on “the function-forward modern offerings that customers want.”

Improving franchise profitability in uncertain times

Uncertainty caused by tariffs and interest rates may be hurting consumer traffic, but it shouldn’t stop savvy investments, Alicia Chandler from First Franchise Capital Corporation says.

Chipotle launches Zipline drone delivery in Texas

Chipotle joins a growing list of restaurant companies, including GoTo Foods and Papa Johns, piloting drone delivery in the Lone Star State.