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.
McDonald’s will focus on “McValue” in 2025: The fast-food chain plans to extend its $5 value menu and add deals as the QSR price war rages on.
McDonald’s earmarks $100 million to undo damage from the E. coli outbreak: The fast-food chain will spend big on marketing and offer franchisees more support to win back customer trust and sales.
Wonder buys Grubhub for $650 million: The Marc Lore-owned company snapped up the delivery service at a steep discount, seeking to develop a meal-time super app.
Cava’s brand positioning resonates with consumers: It stands in stark contrast with Sweetgreen, which is adding new proteins and testing fries to broaden its appeal.
Consumers steer clear of fast food despite QSR price war: Burger King, KFC, Pizza Hut, and Popeye’s all saw comparable sales fall in Q3—although Taco Bell’s value proposition kept it ahead of the pack.
Yum China bucks difficult retail environment thanks to more promotions, rapid store expansion, and durian pizza: The KFC and Pizza Hut operator’s efforts to offer more value and reach consumers in lower-tier cities drove sales and transaction growth in Q3.
Chinese consumers aren’t buying as much beer as they used to: Anheuser-Busch InBev and Carlsberg both reported bigger-than-expected volume declines in Q3.
New Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol has his work cut out for him: One can look to his former employer, Chipotle, to see how he can sharpen the coffee chain’s focus.
McDonald’s value focus paid off in Q3: But challenges remain as the company needs to dig out from the recent E. coli outbreak.
It’s a tough time to be a mid-market restaurant chain: Consumers’ pullback on dining out has led Denny’s, TGI Friday’s, and Shari’s to close locations.
McDonald’s doesn’t want to be political: But franchisees in the US and Israel have put the brand in political hot water.