The Latest

  • An image of a man leaving a Chipotle. He is holding a brown bag.
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    Getty Images
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    Tracking the same-store sales of 23 major restaurant chains

    Q1 2026 saw more evidence of a casual dining resurgence, as fast casual sales continued to slow and QSRs posted mixed results.

    Updated May 26, 2026
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    Paperboy Media Group

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    Sponsored by Toast

    The most valuable thing a restaurant can offer isn’t on the menu

    Restaurant loyalty and retention report from Toast and Resy: what keeps your best guests coming back.

  • A Cracker Barrel sign hangs on the outside of a restaurant.
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    Joe Raedle via Getty Images
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    Cracker Barrel reports rising guest metrics, but sales remain on the decline

    The restaurant’s Google star rating is up 4% year over year, but the company has yet to return to sales growth after the fall out from a botched rebrand attempt last year.

  • A photograph of a co-branded Wetzel's Pretzels and Cold Stone Creamery inside a mall.
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    Permission granted by Wetzel's Pretzels/Cold Stone Creamery
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    How Wetzel’s, Cold Stone use co-branding to entice diners

    With two concepts in one, franchisees have a larger menu, bigger storefronts and other opportunities they wouldn’t have had with a single brand.

  • An image ofa brick Cava storefront
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    Courtesy of Cava
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    Cava will hire over 2K employees, open 75 units in 2026

    The chain has already hired 150 assistant general managers as part of its Flavor Your Future platform to develop a deep bench of future general managers.

  • Inside a beverage facility that sells boba teas.
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    Permission granted by Gong cha
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    How Gong cha overhauled its supply chain for US growth

    The bubble tea brand has standardized its supply chain playbook by moving to a direct franchising system, according to Alan Davis, director of supply chain for the Americas.

  • A person holds up a black, blue, white and yellow chart titled “Reciprocal Tariffs” listing the names of several countries alongside percentages.
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    Chip Somodevilla via Getty Images
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    Q&A

    Why trade, swipe fees are NRA’s political priorities for restaurants

    The National Restaurant Association is urging the Trump administration to approve the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement and take a do-no-harm stance on tariffs.

  • A photograph of a person wearing black glasses and a black blazer.
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    Courtesy of First Watch
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    First Watch appoints CFO

    Ashlee Weisser, who has worked at First Watch since 2023, takes over for the retiring Mel Hope.

  • An image of back-of-house workers preparing meals in a kitchen. Their faces are blurred
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    Hispanolistic via Getty Images
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    Q&A

    NRA: Immigration reform may be on the table in 2026

    From scheduling laws to visa delays, the restaurant workforce is uniquely impacted by changes to labor regulations, posing major problems for operators with thin margins.

  • racetrac
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    Courtesy of RaceTrac
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    RaceTrac’s upcoming c-store near Atlanta headquarters will feature a Potbelly

    This appears to be RaceTrac’s first confirmed location with a Potbelly on site since the retailer acquired the sandwich chain last year.

  • People dressed in yelp sit at a table inside a restaurant and bar eating food and drinking beer.
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    andresr via Getty Images
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    How independent restaurants are leaning into World Cup frenzy

    Of the tournament-themed menu additions, 65% added from March to May were drinks, while 27% were merchandise, according to SpotOn data.

  • A photo of a corner of a brick building that says Chipotle on the side
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    Courtesy of Chipotle
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    Chipotle CFO zeroes in on international growth

    The restaurant company could potentially have as many locations outside the U.S. as it does inside, if given a few decades of further growth, CFO Adam Rymer said.

  • A Chick-fil-A restaurant is seen on July 05, 2022 in Houston, Texas.
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    Brandon Bell via Getty Images
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    Chick-fil-A opens ghost kitchen in Miami

    The chain joins a growing cohort of brands, including Pressed Juicery and Roti, to open inside delivery-centric facilities years after restaurants moved away from these channels.

  • A photograph of a restaurant with Subway signage that is inside a Walmart
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    J.D. Pooley via Getty Images
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    Subway to offer delivery from Walmart locations

    The sandwich chain is the first restaurant to be integrated with Walmart’s Express Delivery. Meals can ordered with groceries or delivered separate.

  • An image of a white and red restaurant with Krystal on the signage
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    Permission granted by Krystal
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    SPB Hospitality CEO launches strategy change 6 months in

    Krystal and the company’s upscale casual brands will operate as parallel businesses under one leadership team, GJ Hart said Thursday.

  • A Dave's Hot Chicken fast casual restaurant in Chicago viewed from above.
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    Courtesy of Dave's Hot Chicken
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    Dave’s Hot Chicken diners don’t want to talk to robots — so here’s how it’s innovating

    After successfully upgrading its point of sale and kitchen display tech, Dave’s is waiting for other tech to mature, the brand’s chief technology officer said.

  • Chipotle campaign imagery for its “53 Years. 53 Real Ingredients" NBA Finals campaign.
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    Courtesy of Chipotle
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    Chipotle nods to NBA milestones to dole out 53K free entrees

    The chain will post a text-to-win code on X as part of an effort inspired by separate achievements from the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs.

  • NBA star Devin Booker uses a camcorder to record a video with a Ronald McDonald statue to tease a scavenger hunt for his latest signature shoes.
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    Courtesy of McDonald's
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    How McDonald’s is serving up culture as part of its new strategic plan

    Activations around a Nike sneaker release and box office smash “Backrooms” demonstrate how the fast-food giant uses social media marketing.

  • Little Caesars Hot and Ready
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    Courtesy of Little Caesars
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    Little Caesars offers $5 pizza deal through Amazon Prime

    The limited-time value play could help the chain reach consumers through a new channel at a moment when QSR pizza is generally stagnant.

  • An image of a gray building with a black sign that says "&pizza"
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    Permission granted by &pizza
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    &pizza, Tijuana Flats search for a new CEO

    The parent company of the two restaurant chains said its strategy has not changed since CEO Mike Burns left to take over Cafe Rio’s leadership.

  • A view of a Taco Bell restaurant on February 06, 2025 in Dublin, California.
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Yum Brands COO to retire after 25 years

    Tracy Skeans helped the company emerge as one of the clear QSR winners after the COVID-19 pandemic.

  • An image of cold-press juices from Pressed Juicery
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    Permission granted by Pressed Juicery
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    Pressed Juicery to open in 27 CloudKitchen locations

    The juice brand, which has 100 company-owned locations and a robust consumer packaged goods business, will add this channel to expand into high-density areas.

  • Illinois legislature credit card fees laws banks card networks
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    Getty Images
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    Illinois restaurants face more tip fees, for now

    A federal court blocked the state's interchange fee ban. Delays to the law could cost local businesses $500 million a year, proponents say. 

  • An image of a McDonald's with a playplace
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    M. Suhail via Getty Images
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    McDonald’s bets chicken, restaurant improvements will grow sales

    The McDonald’s > NEXT plan focuses on improving food quality and taste, customer experiences, restaurant interiors and hospitality.  

  • An exterior photograph of a Cafe Rio restaurant.
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    Courtesy of Cafe Rio
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    Cafe Rio hires &pizza CEO after losing its way

    Mike Burns will oversee an effort to return the fast casual Mexican chain to sales growth with speedy service, better food and cleaner restaurants.

  • A close up image of a veggie slider with white bun and jalapeno cheese. There is a orange background
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    Permission granted by White Castle
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    White Castle to add veggie slider to core menu

    Roughly a year after it added a Crispy Chicken Slider to its permanent menu, the chain will add a Southwest Veggie Slider on June 15.