Restaurant visits are declining as consumers worry about their finances: Uncertainty is pushing customers to be more discerning about where they spend their food dollars.
Clucking strong in a soft market: Chicken-focused restaurants are drawing more visits than other fast-casual chains with a winning formula of value, variety, and innovation.
Low-income consumers feel squeezed: With prices rising and the GOP tax bill set to reduce their after-tax income, relief may not come soon.
Starbucks’ dominance is under threat as Dutch Bros’ growth surges: The coffee giant is struggling to stem a sales slump as the latter’s colorful drinks and service win it more customers.
Consumers pulled back on dining out in Q1: Restaurant Brands faced headwinds but saw an April rebound, while Krispy Kreme is changing course to regain momentum.
Food delivery platforms are in expansion mode: DoorDash, Uber, Instacart, and Wonder are turning to acquisitions and new markets to maintain their momentum.
Middle- and low-income consumers pulled back on fast food in Q1: That posed a significant challenge for McDonald’s, which reported its US same-store sales fell 3.6%.
Tariffs cast a shadow over consumer spending in Q1: Growth slowed from 4.0% in Q4 to just 1.8% in Q1 as households sharply cut back on goods.
Weakening demand hits QSR same-store sales: Starbucks, Chipotle, and Pizza Hut are among the chains reporting a slowdown as consumers pull back.
Domino’s customers pulled back on delivery to save money: Consumers’ focus on cost is unlikely to ease anytime soon, especially with new tariffs expected to push everyday prices even higher.
DoorDash makes $3.6 billion bid for Deliveroo despite global economic uncertainty: The delivery company hopes to broaden its international reach at a time when consumers are cutting restaurant spend.
Chipotle sees pullback in spending tied to consumer unease: Despite those challenges, McDonald’s and Sonic have both found recent success with limited-time promotions.
Domino’s inks deal with DoorDash to expand delivery reach: The partnership will put the pizza chain on track to reach its goal of $1 billion in sales from aggregator platforms by 2026.
Dutch Bros’ secret sauce helps it defy gravity: The coffee chain is thriving at a time when macroeconomic headwinds are creating clear challenges for companies like Starbucks and McDonald’s.
National Burrito Day is this Thursday: Chipotle’s success with the made-up holiday has driven competitors like Qdoba, Moe’s Southwest Grill, and even 7-Eleven to offer their own burrito-centric deals.
51% of US adults would prefer not to use AI drive-thrus because they “replace human jobs,” according to a January YouGov survey.
Sluggish spending in February signals a challenging year: Consumers are curbing discretionary spending as sentiment plunges to the lowest level in over two years.
The pandemic was catastrophic to many downtown QSRs: But demand is returning as workers go back to their offices.
Darden expects consumers to keep splurging on restaurant meals despite uncertainty: But dining out could be one of the first indulgences to go once tariff-related price hikes take effect.
50% of US adults are likely to cut back on spending at fast food restaurants if tariffs lead to higher prices, according to a February 2025 CivicScience survey.