Financials
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Meritage to sell 42 Wendy’s restaurants for $18.6M
The operator plans to divest units across Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi and Missouri to Divine Infinity Operations as part of its bankruptcy proceedings.
By Julie Littman • Oct. 22, 2026 -
Permission granted by Salad and Go
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.
By Julie Littman • Oct. 16, 2026 -
Explore the Trendline➔
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TrendlineRestaurant Financing
With ongoing macroeconomic pressures facing restaurants, operators are entering into alternative financing, mergers and acquisitions and even bankruptcy to sustain their businesses.
By Restaurant Dive staff -
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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.
By Bryan Wassel • Oct. 14, 2026 -
Courtesy of Swig
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.
By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Oct. 14, 2026 -
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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.
By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Oct. 14, 2026 -
Joe Raedle via Getty Images
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.
By Julie Littman • Oct. 13, 2026 -
Courtesy of True Food Kitchen
True Food Kitchen files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy
The chain plans to sell itself to a long-term partner that shares a similar brand mindset that can set it up for long-term success.
By Julie Littman • Oct. 6, 2026 -
Mario Tama via Getty Images
3 Big Numbers: How McDonald’s is investing in its Next playbook
The Golden Arches is targeting 250 basis points in restaurant-level efficiency gains, backed by major investments in equipment and processes.
By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Sept. 28, 2026 -
OntheRunPhoto via Getty Images
Yard House becomes Darden’s third billion-dollar brand
The full-service concept, which posted 10% growth in same-store sales during fiscal Q1 2027, plans to open 13 new stores during the ongoing fiscal year.
By Julie Littman • Sept. 25, 2026 -
David Ryder via Getty Images
Starbucks shutters 250 underperforming stores
The brand said the closures would impact locations that can’t deliver the coffeehouse experience or financial performance it expects.
By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Sept. 24, 2026 -
Permission granted by McDonald's
McDonald’s to invest $8.5B as part of Next strategy
The funding will be used to support restaurant modernization, tech deployments and operational improvements through 2036.
By Julie Littman • Sept. 23, 2026 -
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Wendy’s claims bankrupt franchisee has no right to continue running 314 units
The franchisor said Meritage Hospitality Group doesn’t have the right to seek operations support after Wendy’s terminated its franchise agreements.
By Julie Littman • Sept. 22, 2026 -
RiverNorthPhotography via Getty Images
Inside an award-winning Wendy’s operator’s bankruptcy crisis
Meritage Hospitality Group, which once had more than 350 restaurants, faced declining revenue and sales amid ongoing challenges with Wendy’s system.
By Julie Littman • Sept. 22, 2026 -
Courtesy of Yardbird
Yardbird files for bankruptcy
The fried chicken and bar concept shuttered several locations in 2025 and 2026 as sales results diverged across its system.
By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Updated Sept. 22, 2026 -
Courtesy of Wendy's
Major Wendy’s franchisee declares bankruptcy
Meritage Hospitality Group, which operates 314 Wendy’s units, has closed at least 60 units and opted out or altered the breakfast daypart to improve store-level EBITDA.
By Julie Littman • Sept. 18, 2026 -
Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
Why Chili’s is ready to open new stores
While the casual giant saw its same-store sales explode, its unit count stayed stagnant. Now, Brinker International is investing in growing its storebase again.
By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Sept. 18, 2026 -
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Why multi-unit restaurant franchisee bankruptcies are surging in 2026
High labor and food costs and slumping sales have caused franchisee bankruptcies to reach pre-pandemic levels, but various strategies could help mitigate the problem.
By Danielle McLean • Sept. 16, 2026 -
Courtesy of Einstein Bros. Bagels
Einstein Bros. Bagels staffs up C-suite for national growth
The breakfast chain hired several executives to lead development, people and finance as it works to open 300 stores in three years.
By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Sept. 16, 2026 -
Scott Olson via Getty Images
DoorDash buys Grubhub campus unit for $300M
DoorDash will continue to expand Grubhub’s former campus dining operations, and Wonder will use money from the deal and an investment to sustain growth.
By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Sept. 15, 2026 -
Courtesy of Fiesta Restaurant Group
Pollo Tropical owner secures $325M investment
Authentic Restaurant Brands said the funding from Trimontium would bring new resources to “hometown hero” brands.
By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Sept. 11, 2026 -
Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
4 key numbers shed light on Jersey Mike’s strategy
The sandwich chain is investing in digital marketing and significant unit growth in its first months as a public company.
By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Sept. 9, 2026 -
Courtesy of Huddle House
Huddle House woos multi-unit operators with franchising discounts
Plagued by net closures and low unit volumes in recent years, the chain is looking for franchisees willing to build new restaurants quickly.
By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Sept. 2, 2026 -
Retrieved from Pizza Hut.
It’s official: Yum has sold Pizza Hut for $1.5B
Taco Bell’s parent will focus on its other brands, while Pizza Hut can begin a turnaround sheltered from the immediate pressures of public markets.
By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Sept. 1, 2026 -
Courtesy of Roti Modern Mediterranean
OpinionThe future of restaurant growth is not a brand. It is a portfolio.
Creating a platform of chains provides more flexibility as competition for consumer dollars rises, writes Edible Brands’ CEO Somia Farid Silber.
By Somia Farid Silber • Aug. 28, 2026 -
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Gen Z is boosting restaurant traffic
Bars and independents are outperforming chains, and consumers are shifting from grocers to restaurants, according to Bank of America data.
By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Aug. 28, 2026
