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Tracking the same-store sales of 24 major restaurant chains
Q3 2025 saw more evidence of a casual dining resurgence, as fast casual sales continued to slow and QSRs posted divergent results.
Updated Dec. 1, 2025 -
Retrieved from Couche-Tard.
Inside the 18-month reset reviving Couche-Tard’s US food business
After a hot start in 2020, Circle K’s Fresh Food, Fast program slowed. Executives are now fine-tuning the offering through operational improvements and menu updates to spark new growth.
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Courtesy of Domino's
Domino’s wants to double its market share
CEO Russel Weiner thinks the chain can capture half of the QSR pizza market at the expense of Pizza Hut and Papa Johns.
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Courtesy of Subway
Subway to remove free footlong offer from Sub Club
On April 1, the company will allow members to earn a $2 reward for every 400 points accumulated.
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Courtesy of Topgolf
Topgolf hires David McKillips as CEO
McKillips, former president and CEO of Chuck E. Cheese’s parent, will focus on the chain’s growth strategy now that it has been spun off from Callaway.
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Toast courts fast food restaurants
The company is entering the drive-thru business in a bid to attract more of the quick-service sector to its customer rolls.
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Stephen Maturen via Getty Images
NRA: Tariffs, immigration and swipe fees will define restaurant politics in 2026
The National Restaurant Association said restaurants need stable trade policy, protections for immigrant workers and lower swipe fees.
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Courtesy of Wendy's
Wendy’s is ‘undervalued’ and could face takeover by Nelson Peltz
The former Wendy’s board chair is considering taking action at the chain, where stock prices have fallen 60% over the past five years.
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Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
Why Jack in the Box bets parking lot paint can cure sales
The chain hopes improvements to product quality and restaurant cosmetics will reverse sliding same-store sales and help prepare for a full remodel program.
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Courtesy of Wingstop
How Wingstop plans to weather traffic slides and winter storms
The company expects investments in speed of service and in loyalty systems will reverse a third quarter of comparable sales declines.
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Laser1987 via Getty Images
Fat Brands sued by lender over cash use during bankruptcy
352 Capital contests Fat’s plan to use management fees and other cash under securitization receivables to fund operations during Chapter 11 proceedings.
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Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
Jack in the Box’s board battle is getting serious
With proxy advisors saying investors have “persuasive cause” to oppose the re-election of board chair David Goebel, Sardar Biglari’s months-long effort to shake up the brand’s board may be gaining momentum.
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bankkgraphy via Getty Images
NRA: Over 25% of restaurant operators use AI
Marketing is the top area where automation is being used, followed by administrative tasks, according to a National Restaurant Association report.
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Courtesy of Carl's Jr.
Deep DiveHow QSRs are building on value marketing with pop culture, nostalgia
Fast food marketers including McDonald’s, Burger King and Wendy’s will have to move beyond price-point value to drive sales and traffic.
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Courtesy of Habit Burger & Grill
Habit Burger launches core menu update
The menu additions and upgrades could help the fast casual chain grow same-store sales, which were down 1% in 2025.
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SolStock via Getty Images
NRA: Restaurant, foodservice to surpass $1.5 trillion in sales
While challenges related to the economy and food and labor costs will persist, the National Restaurant Association said operators are cautiously optimistic.
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McDonald’s positions loyalty app at the center of its tech ambitions
Active loyalty members are the “single most important digital metric” for McDonald’s, EVP and CFO Ian Borden said.
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Courtesy of Wendy's
Wendy’s pulls back on breakfast hours
The chain is allowing franchisees to focus more on lunch and late-night hours as same-store sales logs its steepest decline in roughly six years.
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Courtesy of McDonald's
McDonald’s is adding energy drinks, craft sodas to McCafe line
The beverages, inspired by the chain’s defunct CosMc’s spinoff, were “highly successful” in a 500-store test and will be deployed nationwide this year.
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Scott Olson via Getty Images
Sweetgreen names Wpromote paid media AOR as brand looks to reignite growth
Wpromote is tasked with balancing a cohesive national strategy with more market-specific opportunities as Sweetgreen combats a sales slump.
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Walter Cicchetti via Getty Images
Popeyes hopes restaurant-level reliability will turn sales around
The chain, which saw comp sales decline by 4.9% in Q4, has already improved field engagement and targeted support for underperforming restaurants.
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Ceri Breeze via Getty Images
How McDonald’s won back low-income diners
Over a year after it began rolling out various value options, the chain is seeing improved scores on affordability and notched 6.8% comparable sales growth in the fourth quarter.
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Courtesy of Portillo's
Portillo’s hires Outback Steakhouse vet as CEO
Brett Patterson, who most recently served as CEO of Miller’s Ale House, joins the chain as it slows down its unit growth.
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Restaurant lobby celebrates Illinois court win on swipe fees
A judge ruled the state can prohibit financial firms from charging interchange fees on tips and sales taxes.
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Brett Dworski/Restaurant Dive
C-store foodservice innovation is off to a hot start in 2026
Casey’s, 7-Eleven, Rutter’s and other players have bolted out of the gate this year with new sandwiches, pizzas and more, increasing competition against QSRs.
