Old is the new new: Across food and fashion retail, brands lean on nostalgic goods and practices to win over shoppers as inflation worries rise.
McDonald’s zigs when others zag: Rather than follow the lead of Denny's and Waffle House in adding an egg surcharge, the fast food giant is slashing the price of its Egg McMuffin.
Prosus to buy Just Eat Takeaway for $4.3 billion: The firm plans to reuse the playbook that drove growth at its Brazilian food delivery company iFood.
Domino’s US same-store sales rose 0.4% in Q4: The chain’s emergency pizza promotion and other offerings weren’t enough to convince cost-conscious consumers to bite.
Less than a third of US consumers with a household income of more than $100,000 see fast food as a luxury, compared with 71% of consumers with an income of less than $30,000, according to April 2024 data from LendingTree.
Chipotle prepares for a busy burrito season: The fast-casual chain plans to hire 20,000 workers—with the help of AI—in anticipation of strong demand this spring.
More retailers open restaurants: Muji, Coach, and Louis Vuitton are among the companies relying on hospitality concepts to boost store visits and spending.
Burger King gave consumers a reason to spend in Q4: Limited-time menu options, such as Addams Family-themed items, along with the Million Dollar Whopper campaign, boosted US same-store sales 1.5%.
DoorDash vows to invest more in expansion: Strong Q4 revenues and orders boost momentum, but inflation and tariffs pose risks.
47% of restaurant operators plan to add discounts, deals or value promotions this year: But McDonald’s disappointing results highlight the challenges of that strategy.
Chipotle and Taco Bell’s same-store sales grew around 5% in Q4: Chipotle’s smoked brisket and Taco Bell’s nostalgic menu items proved to be customer magnets.
Twin Peaks went public as a standalone company: Investors’ response to the sports bar chain could determine whether companies like Panera and Inspire Brands—parent of Dunkin’—IPO this year.
Starbucks’ turnaround takes shape: While US comp sales fell for the fourth-straight quarter, CEO Brian Niccol is confident that investments in the store and worker experience will bear fruit.
Shake Shack looks to broaden its reach: The burger chain plans to more than quadruple its footprint in the coming years while preserving its status as a premium brand.
QSRs resume the value wars in 2025: McDonald’s, Taco Bell, and Wendy’s are among the many fast-food chains leaning on deals to drive traffic.
Serve Robotics stockpiles cash ahead of planned expansion: The company aims to have 2,000 delivery robots on the streets by 2025’s end.
The minimum wage will rise in 23 states next year: That will eat into retailer and restaurant margins, leading some to hike prices at a time when consumers are incredibly price sensitive.
Green shoots emerge in the restaurant industry: After a challenging 2024, executives have reason for optimism in the year ahead.
QSRs may need to evolve to better serve online orders: Pizza Hut and McDonald’s are both testing new store formats focused on digital and drive-thru customers.
Key stat: Price inclination for food away from home was up 3.8% YoY in October 2024, higher than the 1.1% increase in inflation for food at home, according to data from the US Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics.