407 stories · last 30 days by relevance
Teriyaki Madness hired Jake Lowell as Franchise Development Real Estate Manager, a newly created position, signaling the chain's active focus on site selection and franchise expansion infrastructure.
Qdoba and Chipotle halted jalapeño service after they were linked to a multistate Salmonella outbreak affecting hundreds of customers, signaling potential supply chain vulnerabilities in produce sourc
Jersey Mike's muted IPO response reflects investor caution on valuations and fast-casual sector outlook rather than operational weakness, as the franchise-model chain maintains solid unit economics de
Rōti Modern Mediterranean has launched a franchise incentive program aimed at supporting and accelerating development for its franchise partners.
Chicken Salad Chick appointed Drew Travis as CFO, continuing a recent round of C-suite hires that includes a new CMO and CDO.
Flytrex and Nash have partnered to offer delivery options combining drones and traditional couriers, signaling a shift toward hybrid logistics that lets restaurants choose delivery method by order.
Shake Shack achieved 2% traffic growth and 3.5% same-store sales increases in Q2, extending its streak to four consecutive quarters of positive traffic, suggesting the chain is sustaining customer vis
Pokeworks is running September-long promotions including tiered bonus points for loyalty members and Labor Day offers, signaling continued focus on member engagement and seasonal traffic drivers.
CAVA reported 31.3% revenue growth and 9% same-restaurant sales growth driven by traffic increases in Q2 2026, signaling continued customer acquisition momentum in the fast-casual segment.
Cava reported 31% revenue growth driven by consumer demand and new menu items, though it is managing near-term challenges from a Cyclospora outbreak while investing in operational efficiency.
Graze Craze reported a 65% increase in same-store sales for the first half of 2026 compared to the prior year, signaling strong consumer demand for the charcuterie franchise format.
Shake Shack released its second-quarter 2026 financial results via shareholder letter on its investor relations website.
Chipotle's stock declined following the company's removal of ingredients linked to a Salmonella outbreak, signaling renewed food-safety concerns for a chain working to rebuild customer trust.
The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill is approaching 100 locations following strong first-half 2026 performance, signaling continued momentum in the fast-casual Mediterranean segment.
El Pollo Loco's CEO announced the chain is doubling its development pace year-over-year and exploring fried chicken additions, signaling accelerated expansion and product diversification following a b
Sweetgreen reported operational improvements in value perception, transactions, and throughput, though a Cyclospora outbreak concern dampened sales gains despite the brand not serving iceberg lettuce.
HTeaO has appointed Brian Wise, a 7.5-year veteran of Freddy's who most recently served as COO, as its new CEO.
Potbelly is opening its first Georgia location on September 1, marking the chain's expansion into a new state market.
Jeff's Bagel Run has awarded a 10-unit franchise agreement for Eastern and South Central Pennsylvania, marking the brand's entry into the state and signaling expansion beyond its current footprint.
A Toast survey shows fast casual operators remain growth-focused despite cost and labor headwinds, signaling confidence in the segment's resilience amid near-term operational pressures.
CAVA reported Q2 results above expectations with higher sales, net income, and EPS, alongside restaurant unit growth and menu expansion, raising questions about whether the gains are already reflected
Panera has revamped its loyalty program to include a points system, tiered membership levels, and expanded reward options, signaling a shift toward more granular customer engagement and potentially hi
Panera launched a redesigned points-based MyPanera rewards program, signaling a shift toward flexible redemption models that may help brands compete for repeat transactions in a crowded loyalty landsc
CAVA reported a Q2 beat driven by strong traffic and continued expansion, though rising costs in food, labor, and delivery are squeezing margins—signaling operational leverage challenges even as top-l
Cava reported 9% same-restaurant sales growth in its fiscal second quarter, signaling that consumers continue to dine out despite broader spending caution—a data point that may indicate resilience in
Chipotle posted traffic gains in Q2 and guided to low-single-digit comparable sales growth for 2026, though third-quarter softness may test whether the turnaround is sustainable.
CAVA exceeded Q2 earnings and revenue expectations driven by increased customer traffic and restaurant unit expansion, though margin pressure from elevated food, labor, and delivery costs signals pers
CAVA reported 9.0% same-restaurant sales growth led by increased customer traffic rather than price increases, signaling the chain is expanding by volume rather than margin optimization.
CAVA opened 94 new locations, expanding its store base by nearly 20%, with the new restaurants performing better than expected; this suggests the chain is maintaining unit-level economics while scalin
Cava reported better-than-expected Q2 2026 earnings driven by same-store sales and traffic growth, signaling strong operational execution amid competitive fast-casual dining.
Cava Group reported second-quarter revenue and customer traffic that exceeded analyst expectations, lifting shares roughly 10% and signaling sustained growth momentum for the fast-casual chain.
CAVA Group beat Q2 revenue expectations and posted strong same-restaurant sales and traffic growth, signaling sustained consumer demand for its Mediterranean fast-casual concept.
CAVA exceeded earnings expectations in Q2 with 31.3% revenue growth, signaling strong operational momentum and customer demand in the fast-casual segment.
Cava reported quarterly results that exceeded expectations while maintaining its full-year guidance despite operational headwinds from disease outbreaks and consumer economic concerns.
Chipotle's traffic and ticket growth despite macro headwinds validates menu innovation + discipline over price increases — a template for margin-friendly comps in an inflationary environment.
First Watch is investing more in marketing, food, and development costs while reporting increases in sales and revenue, suggesting the chain believes elevated spending is driving customer acquisition
Shake Shack posted 17% sales growth but saw restaurant margins, net income, and adjusted EBITDA margins decline, signaling that unit expansion and top-line strength did not offset rising operating cos
Chipotle removed jalapeños from its Minnesota menu following reports linking them to a Salmonella outbreak, with the stock declining nearly 9% on Tuesday.
Chipotle's stock fell 10% on August 4 after reports linked a salmonella outbreak in Minnesota to jalapeños at multiple locations, signaling investor concerns about food-safety incidents' immediate mar
la Madeleine introduced a $9.99 weekday breakfast deal featuring Classic French Toast, signaling an effort to drive weekday traffic during a traditionally slower daypart for casual dining.
Shake Shack's Q2 revenue grew to $417.62 million from $356.47 million year-over-year, but net income declined as beef costs and operating expenses pressured margins; the stock rose 11.4% following the
Chipotle launched a back-to-school BOGO that achieved record redemptions, and has now rolled out another promotion tied to tennis player Taylor Fritz and the U.S. Open, signaling the chain's confidenc
CEO reveals growth and franchising playbook for a fast-casual brand thriving despite market headwinds — relevant for operators evaluating expansion and unit economics.
Cava proves low-spend marketing (1% of revenue) can outperform via loyalty, social, and experience — a martech efficiency model worth studying for budget-constrained chains.
Chipotle's ingredient traceability system identified jalapeños linked to a salmonella investigation.
Chipotle's plan to scale to 7,000 units depends on maintaining new-store profitability and operational efficiency amid expansion.
A 20-year-old founder built a fast-growing grazing-box franchise after gaining hands-on experience across multiple foodservice operations during high school, signaling that early operational exposure
CAVA Group's stock surged after beating second-quarter revenue and earnings targets with 9% same-restaurant sales growth, signaling that cyclospora concerns that had pressured the fast-casual sector m
Cava posted strong Q2 results driven by increased customer traffic and new restaurant openings.
Strong traffic growth translating to profit gains — signals that Cava's pricing/positioning strategy is sustaining both volume and margins.