The Latest

  • An image of a man leaving a Chipotle. He is holding a brown bag.
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    Spencer Platt via Getty Images
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    Tracking the same-store sales of 21 major restaurant chains

    Major publicly traded restaurant chains had a strange Q2 for comps growth, from Chili’s 23% jump to Sweetgreen’s 7.6% shortfall.

    Updated Aug. 18, 2025
  • Various food items and toast set on a red background
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    Permission granted by Smoothie King
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    Smoothie King debuts food menu

    The fast casual chain added toasts and protein bowls following a 100-store test in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

  • Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley for Little Caesars
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    Courtesy of Little Caesars
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    Little Caesars dials up NFL marketing with deals, co-branded campaign

    The pizza chain is also flexing partnerships with football stars like Saquon Barkley for its fourth year as the Official Pizza Sponsor of the league.

  • A photograph of a person's arms holding a wooden knief that is resting in a small paper box of food. Another hand is on a gray latop.
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    Permission granted by DoorDash
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    DoorDash updates features for corporate clients

    Companies can track spending, usage and engagement by employees who participate in meal programs.

  • An image of three large platters in the forefront with various food items. I nthe bagkround there are three cups, chips and tortillas.
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    Courtesy of Chipotle
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    Chipotle adds family meals as online exclusive

    The “Build-Your-Own-Chipotle” offering serves a family of four to six and could help drive same-store sales, which were down in the first half of the year.

  • A pretzel shop in an airport.
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    jessicaphoto via Getty Images
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    Auntie Anne’s airport strategy takes flight

    High-traffic, high-volume locations connect the brand to new consumers, setting the stage for expansion beyond captive audience venues. 

  • A smiling man in a blue suit.
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    Courtesy of Applebee's
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    Applebee’s appoints operations, marketing chiefs

    Following a strong Q2, Dine Brands will bring on Jerrold Wong as COO and Michelle Chin as CMO to extend Applebee’s recent successes.

  • An image of a small blue building with White Castle signage.
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    Permission granted by White Castle
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    White Castle to open first Texas restaurant in 2026

    The Columbus-based slider chain will open the restaurant next summer in a Dallas suburb, as it continues to expand into new states.

  • Two drinks, a coconut water matcha cold foam one on the left and the same base but with cold brew cold foam on the right.
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    Courtesy of Starbucks
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    Starbucks expands coconut water drinks test to 400 stores

    CEO Brian Niccol has said the chain’s menu innovation will focus on “the function-forward modern offerings that customers want.”

  • Customer spending rising due to inflation
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    Joe Raedle via Getty Images
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    Opinion

    Improving franchise profitability in uncertain times

    Uncertainty caused by tariffs and interest rates may be hurting consumer traffic, but it shouldn’t stop savvy investments, Alicia Chandler from First Franchise Capital Corporation says.

  • A photograph of a small drone-like device lowering a bag with a Chipotle logo on it to the ground.
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    Courtesy of Chipotle/Zipline
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    Chipotle launches Zipline drone delivery in Texas

    Chipotle joins a growing list of restaurant companies, including GoTo Foods and Papa Johns, piloting drone delivery in the Lone Star State.

  • A fast casual restaurant with a celebratory crowd ready for its opening.
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    Courtesy of Chicken Salad Chick
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    Chicken Salad Chick targets Northeast, Southwest for franchised expansion

    The fast casual chain plans to grow in Arizona, Nevada, New Jersey, New York and Utah after its store system increased 13% last year.

  • Five flat pizzas.
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    Courtesy of Pizza Hut
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    Pizza Hut’s new menu category targets solo diners

    Crafted Flatzz, which include flatbread-style pies, marks Pizza Hut’s largest global launch of a menu item and will be available in over 20 countries.

  • A photograph of a person wearing a long-sleeved white shirt standing in front of a green background with a Subway logo.
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    Courtesy of Subway
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    Subway hires president of North America

    Damien Harmon joins the chain alongside two other regional presidents assigned to accelerate sustainable growth and boost franchisee profitability.

  • An arm holds a smartphone over a takeout box that is on a red table. On the right is a QSR code.
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    Permission granted by DoorDash
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    DoorDash adds loyalty program for partner restaurants

    Restaurants can choose from visit-based or spend-based rewards programs, and customers can accrue points across multiple channels, including in-store.

  • Applebee's Ultimate Trio on a football field
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    Courtesy of Applebee's
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    How Applebee’s sharper marketing turned around sales ahead of NFL season

    The casual dining chain recently achieved positive same-store sales growth for the first time in two years, Dine Brands CEO John Peyton explains.

  • A collage of Chipotle-themed Urban Outfitters products
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    Courtesy of Chipotle
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    Chipotle targets Gen Z with college rewards program

    The fast casual chain is offering free points, occasional prize drops and faster rewards accrual to loyalty members who validate their college enrollment.

  • An image of a brick building with Applebee's signage
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    Scott Olson via Getty Images
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    Activist investor targets Dine Brands

    The Edge Consulting Group, which has roughly a 1% stake in the company, wants Dine to consider divesting non-core assets like Fuzzy’s Taco Shop.

  • A beige building with Barvo! Cucina Italiana logo
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    TennesseePhotographer via Getty Images
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    Bravo Brio Restaurants declares bankruptcy a second time

    Restaurants in shopping centers with high vacancy and low foot traffic have struggled, especially with softening consumer discretionary spending.

  • An image of different bowls with foods and hands making tacos.
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    Permission granted by Del Taco/ezCater
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    Del Taco expands catering with ezCater

    The partnership is live in about 250 restaurants, and more units will be phased onto the platform through 2026.

  • A rendering of brick buildings and trees. In the center building there is a logo that says sweetgreen
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    Courtesy of Sweetgreen
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    Fast casual chains remain optimistic about unit development

    Despite Wingstop, Sweetgreen and Chipotle posting negative comparable sales in Q2, they remain focused on building stores and expanding into new markets.

  • An image of a building with Texas Roadhouse signage
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    jetcityimage via Getty Images
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    Texas Roadhouse promotes chief growth officer

    Lloyd Paul Marshall, who has worked at the company for almost three decades, will now oversee construction, design and real estate, among other functions.

  • People stand in front of kiosks by a McDonald's
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    hapabapa via Getty Images
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    Fast food brands fire up AI despite challenging backdrop

    McDonald’s, Chipotle and Yum Brands are embedding the technology into workflows to streamline processes and improve customer and employee experiences.

  • A Whatburger storefront. A sign outside reads, "Whataburger".
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    Courtesy of https://stories.whataburger.com/press-kit
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    Whataburger hires COO from Flynn Group

    Jessica Reicher brings considerable operations experience from her work at Nando’s, Fuddrucker’s and Yum Brands to the growing burger brand.

  • An image of a Chili's sign with a red chili pepper.
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Chili’s same-store sales growth tops 20%, again

    Three years into its turnaround strategy, the chain continues to outperform the casual dining industry with double-digit traffic growth.