MTY Food Group rebuffs Foodtastic’s $720M bid

Following a strategic review of its business, Cold Stone’s parent declined a takeover offer from Foodtastic, prompting the latter to to accuse the company of “unrealistic expectations.”

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Nov. 4, 2026

Dine Brands fights acquisition attempt with poison pill

Pizza Hut. Wendy’s. Now, Applebee’s and IHOP? Buyers want to take chains private to avoid market pressure — but Dine Brands isn’t ready yet. 

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Oct. 30, 2026

Explore the Trendline➔

Restaurant 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

Wendy’s evaluating $1.4B offer from investor group

A committee of independent directors is evaluating the proposal, but the chain made no assurances over the unsolicited proposal or any other transaction.

By Julie Littman • Oct. 29, 2026

DoorDash to buy Instacart for $17B

The deal marks the consolidation of two major players in the grocery e-commerce industry.

By Catherine Douglas Moran • Updated Oct. 29, 2026

Wendy’s activist investors propose $1.4B buyout

Trian Fund, owned by former Wendy’s chair Nelson Peltz, alongside other private equity firms said a sale would help the chain focus on long-term profitability.

By Julie Littman • Oct. 28, 2026

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

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

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

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

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.

By Julie Littman • Oct. 12, 2026

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

Uber Eats to buy ezCater for $2.3B

The catering platform will expand Uber Eats' large order business, which has become a significant opportunity in recent quarters.

By Julie Littman • Oct. 6, 2026

7 Brew’s $123M bid for at least 60 Salad and Go units is approved

The drive-thru locations will be converted to 7 Brews over time, allowing the chain to accelerate its growth toward 1,000 units.

By Julie Littman • Updated Sept. 29, 2026

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

7 Brew outbids Dutch Bros in $143M offer for Salad and Go units

The drive-thru coffee chain proposed to take over half of the bankrupt fast casual’s closed locations. 

By Julie Littman • Updated Sept. 2, 2026

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

Papa Johns sells 28 Florida units

The refranchising deal in Orlando is part of the chain’s initiative to reduce the number of company-owned restaurants in North America.

By Julie Littman • Aug. 26, 2026

Bonchon’s American division sold to PE firm

The deal with Serruya Private Equity could help speed up the brand’s U.S. development and follows a busy period for restaurant M&A.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Aug. 14, 2026

7 Brew vies for piece of Salad and Go portfolio

7 Brew said it is a competing bidder for the salad chain’s closed stores, and its lawyers are crying foul over Dutch Bros’ exclusive agreement for 64 sites.

By Julie Littman • Aug. 12, 2026

Gen Restaurant Group mulls $100M offer for its BBQ chain

Selling its restaurant business would allow Gen to pivot to CPG, where it can grow with lower development expenditure. 

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Aug. 10, 2026

Dutch Bros buys 65 former Salad and Go units

The coffee chain will convert units in Arizona, Nevada, Oklahoma and Texas as part of its strategy to reach 2,029 units in 2029.

By Julie Littman • Aug. 6, 2026

Bain Capital buys Gong cha bubble tea chain

The private equity firm will assume control of a 2,200-unit global chain, with at least 240 stores in the U.S.  

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Updated Aug. 5, 2026

Yum bids Pizza Hut farewell, overhauls KFC

Yum Brands is ushering in a new era for KFC through a global brand transformation, while Pizza Hut is shifting to new ownership.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • July 31, 2026

Judge approves Fat Brands liquidation

After a complicated bankruptcy process that included a CEO ouster effort, Fat’s liquidation can proceed with court approval.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • July 28, 2026

Cracker Barrel sells Maple Street Biscuit Company

The chain will close 16 of its subsidiary biscuit brand locations after selling 35 to Biscuit Belly as part of a move to improve profitability. 

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • July 21, 2026