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Savory Fund, the PE firm behind Swig and Mo' Bettahs, invested in Zao Asian Grill, a 23-unit pan-Asian fast-casual chain—signaling continued appetite for growth-stage plays in the fast-casual segment.
Fractured Prune Doughnuts is launching a new franchise expansion after 50 years built on made-to-order doughnuts fried at point of sale, signaling confidence that the fresh-product differentiation mod
Yum! Brands completed the sale of Pizza Hut U.S. to LongRange Capital for approximately $1.5 billion, marking the brand's first new ownership since 1977.
McDonald's USA promoted longtime executive Skye Anderson to president, signaling the company sees opportunity to improve performance in its largest market.
Technomic identified 50 menu trends expected to grow over the next two years, signaling which categories operators should monitor for customer demand shifts.
McDonald's U.S. same-store sales grew only 0.8% in Q2, missing internal targets and falling slightly negative in April, signaling potential weakness in its value positioning relative to competitor off
Jeremiah's Italian Ice appointed Lisa McGill as its first VP of Franchise Development, signaling acceleration of its franchise expansion strategy.
A new research roundup from Modern Restaurant Management covers consumer traffic patterns, resale market dynamics, menu pricing, workplace meal programs, private chef demand, and sports bar attributes
Burger King's U.S. same-store sales grew 8.5% in Q2, significantly outpacing the broader burger category, suggesting the chain's turnaround strategy is translating into measurable market momentum.
Bain Capital is acquiring tea chain Gong cha from TA Associates, signaling continued investor appetite for scaling established beverage brands in North American and international markets.
Taco Bell's chief brand officer Taylor Montgomery has been named Jack in the Box president and is positioned to become CEO within 12 months, signaling the company's effort to stabilize leadership afte
Taco Bell partnered with Olivia Rodrigo to co-create a Baja Blast variant, signaling continued celebrity collaboration as a lever for beverage differentiation in QSR.
Google has launched AI-powered ordering in Google Maps, signaling a renewed push to position itself as a central commerce platform for restaurant discovery and transactions.
McDonald's franchisees report weakened profitability from unsuccessful discount programs, raising concerns about their capacity to fund store renovations.
Maria Rivera, former Krispy Kreme president, has launched RC Hospitality Group to support emerging restaurant brands led by female and minority entrepreneurs.
Carl's Jr. has shifted to made-to-order burger preparation, a move the chain credits with improving customer satisfaction scores and lowering food waste.
Panera replaced its surprise-and-delight rewards model with a points-based program featuring premium tiers, shifting toward predictable redemption value and member control.
A restaurant finance newsletter survey signals ongoing profitability pressures across multiple franchise brands including Jack in the Box and Subway.
Sweetgreen introduced lower-priced wraps to boost traffic and value perception after a weak first quarter, but faces fresh operational challenges that may limit the strategy's impact.
Panera Bread has launched a tiered, points-based loyalty program designed to increase perceived value and member engagement through clearer reward mechanics.
Cava's same-store sales grew 9% in the second quarter, driven by a 5.3% traffic increase, despite a temporary consumer pullback from salad.
Portillo's is cutting corporate staff and reducing discounting while rethinking its development strategy to lower costs, signals the chain is adjusting its operational model as it faces margin pressur
McDonald's appointed Skye Anderson as president of McDonald's USA, signaling an attempt to revitalize the sluggish U.S. market under a new corporate strategy.
Moe's Southwest Grill is opening its first brick-and-mortar location in the Twin Cities on September 4 in Woodbury, signaling expansion into a new market outside its existing footprint.
Loyalty program fraud is now a material threat to chain revenue and customer data; credential stuffing and weak authentication are evolving attack vectors brands must defend.
Serruya Private Equity has acquired Bonchon's American division, a move the source suggests could accelerate the brand's U.S. expansion.
Nelson Peltz's Trian Fund Management is reportedly assembling a bid to acquire Wendy's in partnership with BlueFive Capital and Flynn Group, signaling potential activist interest in reshaping the chai
Salad and Go filed for bankruptcy and will close all 70 locations, ending the 13-year-old drive-thru salad chain's operations.
Wendy's U.S. same-store sales fell 7% last quarter, and the chain is now smaller than Burger King—signaling intensifying competitive pressure in the burger segment.
Krystal is testing Mike's Hot Honey across four menu items at select Atlanta locations, signaling continued interest in the hot honey trend among quick-service chains seeking differentiation in chicke
Restaurant consultant David Scott Peters recommends holiday menus focus on operational simplicity and profitability through dish costing, inventory optimization, and testing—suggesting operators shoul
McDonald's and Wendy's have both lost low-income customers since the pandemic, contributing to their recent traffic declines.
InKind offers restaurants funding in exchange for future dining credits rather than debt or equity. The model suggests an alternative capital structure that avoids traditional borrowing constraints, t
Nelson Peltz, a long-time investor in Wendy's, is reported to be moving closer to a potential acquisition of the chain, though his historical involvement raises questions about execution risk.
Papa Johns appointed Chris Lyn-Sue as global chief marketing officer as part of broader leadership changes tied to its strategic transformation.
McDonald's executives attributed recent U.S. traffic declines to execution issues and value problems rather than broader market conditions, signaling the chain is prioritizing operational fixes to res
Taco Bell has signed an exclusive franchise deal with Americana Restaurants to re-enter the United Arab Emirates market, marking a return to the region after a 12-year absence.
Crisp & Green is accelerating franchise expansion, with existing franchisees planning to open 15+ restaurants by year-end as the wellness-focused chain targets density in priority markets.
A restaurant franchise publication emphasizes onboarding as a critical phase where franchisor-franchisee trust is either validated or damaged, signaling operators should prioritize structured launch s
CAVA's second-quarter results showed newly opened locations performing strongly, existing stores driving increased traffic, and top-performing units suggesting headroom for sales growth above current
Panera appointed Andrew Rebhun as Chief Marketing Officer, tasking him with oversight of brand, digital, loyalty, menu innovation, and media functions.
SupplyCaddy, a restaurant packaging and supply chain service founded in 2020, secured growth investment from existing partner CEAS Investments and counts more than 70 brands among its clients.
The Flying Biscuit Café, an Atlanta-based breakfast and brunch brand, has signed a franchise agreement to expand into McDonough, Georgia and Henry County, signaling continued franchisee interest in th
Pizza chains are adjusting their limited-time offer strategies for fall, balancing new menu items with value and established favorites as back-to-school, Labor Day, and football season overlap.
California Pizza Kitchen is partnering with T-ROC Global to deploy up to 1,000 automated kiosks nationwide over three years, signaling a shift toward off-premise channels as casual-dining chains explo
Chipotle proactively removed jalapeños from some Minnesota locations and sourced replacements from different growers as part of a salmonella investigation.
Taco Bell redesigned its loyalty program with features including a 'My Menu' tool that saves favorite orders and customizations and personalizes recommendations.
Lola Beans signed a six-unit franchise agreement to expand into Delaware with founder Donny Bradley's brother Jay and his wife Beth, extending the drive-thru beverage brand's footprint through a famil
Wonder laid off approximately 150 employees, representing 7% of its workforce, as part of a streamlining effort.
