Restaurants & Dining

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.

US restaurant sales rose just 1.5% YoY in February: That’s one of the troubling signs in February’s weaker-than-expected retail sales numbers.

Starbucks to add seating, power outlets to its cafes: Making those locations more welcoming is a vital piece of CEO Brian Niccol’s turnaround strategy.

McDonald’s organizational overhaul aims to get new products out faster: The speedier rate of innovation could entice customers to visit more often.

McDonald’s turns to AI to streamline operations, bolster customer experience: But it isn’t clear how much the technology will translate into increased sales.