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.
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.