The Latest

  • An image of a person holding a brown bag leaving a Chipotle store front.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Spencer Platt via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Tracking the same-store sales of 23 major restaurant chains

    Q2 2026 saw more evidence of a casual dining resurgence, as fast casual sales stabilized and QSRs posted mixed results.

    Updated Aug. 27, 2026
  • Overhead view of three cheeseburgers in paper trays, surrounded by golden French fries with ketchup and dipping sauce on a gray stone surface.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Simplot Global Food
    Image attribution tooltip
    Sponsored by Simplot Global Food

    The rise of mini meals: How apps and small plates are taking over the table

    Value once meant bigger portions. Today, consumers want meals that fit their appetite.

  • Four horchata based beverages Taco Bell will serve at its Live Mas Cafes.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Taco Bell
    Image attribution tooltip

    Taco Bell tests 4 horchata beverages

    Live Más Cafés will pilot the drinks ahead of a December nationwide launch as the chain pushes toward $5 billion in annual drink sales.

  • It's a restaurant.
    Image attribution tooltip
    wdstock via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Gen Restaurant Group sells 47 restaurants for $100M to Chubby Cattle Group

    The deal will strengthen Gen’s balance sheet while speeding up the growth of Chubby’s restaurant operations. 

  • A diamond sign with red and blue and a white words that say "Domino's"
    Image attribution tooltip
    Joe Raedle via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Domino’s new CEO plans on ‘getting closer to the customer’

    The company will sharpen promotions through its loyalty app and improve consistency in an effort to drive greater frequency, CEO Joe Jordan said.

  • A car drives to a drive-thru window at a Kentucky Fried Chicken storefront.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Yum! Brands
    Image attribution tooltip

    Why Yum Brands is deepening supplier relationships

    The restaurant company has built a network of suppliers that are “ready to flex with us” if disruption strikes, Chief Supply Chain Officer Eric Craft said.

  • Krispy Kreme's Times Square location in NYC
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Krispy Kreme
    Image attribution tooltip

    Krispy Kreme signs deal to open 33 units in New York metro

    Franchisee Original Entrepreneurs has worked with the brand since 2017, and has experience running donut shops in a highly competitive environment.

  • A Swig Dirty Soda location with a drive-thru.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Swig
    Image attribution tooltip

    Savory Fund raises over $200M to back emerging restaurant chains

    The private equity firm aided the early growth of Swig and Mo’ Bettahs, and its latest fund will support expanding concepts with strong brand identity.

  • An image of a a white building with Chipotle signage at night.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Chipotle
    Image attribution tooltip

    How 4 restaurant brands hit big development milestones this fall

    Cava and Dave’s Hot Chicken surpassed 500 units, while Chipotle reached 1,500 Chipotlanes.

  • A daytime image of a Domino's restaurant and sign
    Image attribution tooltip
    Joe Raedle via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Domino’s focus shifts toward driving ticket growth

    CEO Joe Jordan said the chain will improve franchisee profitability by driving order counts and ticket totals through promotions and menu innovation.

  • An image of a building with Hawaiian Bros branding
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Hawaiian Bros
    Image attribution tooltip

    Hawaiian Bros signs 52-store Florida deal

    The brand’s newest franchisee will open 24 locations in the first three years of its agreement, which spans Orlando, Jacksonsville, Gainesville and Tampa.

  • A person in a suit stands on stage surrounded by a large crowd in the stands.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Starbucks
    Image attribution tooltip
    Analysis

    Was a Starbucks buyout of Chipotle even possible?

    The coffee giant denied it was buying the burrito chain, but analysts offered an interesting view of what a mega-merger would have meant to the restaurant industry.

    M&A
  • People walking in front of a Sweetgreen on Aug.8, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois
    Image attribution tooltip
    Scott Olson via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Sweetgreen hires Starbucks vet as chief people officer

    Lauren Crowley joins the brand amid an ongoing turnaround strategy that includes new training programs for restaurant-level employees.

  • An Outback Steakhouse restaurant on Jan. 31, 2025 in Daly City, California.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Outback beefs up steak quality

    The steakhouse chain also hired a chief steak officer to serve as its authority on selection, marbling and prep.

  • A hand holds up a smartphone with Fatburger Rewards on screen
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Fatburger
    Image attribution tooltip

    Fatburger launches first rewards program

    Members earn points for every $1 spent on eligible purchases and receive $5 discounts for every 75 points accrued, a strategy that could help boost sales and frequency.

  • A rendering if a Papa Murphy's and Pinkberry restaurant
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Papa Murphy's
    Image attribution tooltip

    Papa Murphy’s to open co-branded Pinkberry restaurants

    The take-and-bake pizza chain will open three such restaurants, which are expected to provide franchisees with additional revenue streams and dayparts.

  • Customers line up in a drive-thru at a Starbucks store
    Image attribution tooltip
    Justin Sullivan / Staff via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    When the drive-thru feels fast and friendly, satisfaction grows

    Dutch Bros Coffee, Chick-fil-A and Starbucks ranked as not just the friendliest brands, but the ones with the highest overall satisfaction, a QSR and InTouch CX study found. 

  • A photograph of an empty McDonald's restaurant within a warehouse
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by McDonald's
    Image attribution tooltip

    McDonald’s navigates pushback over Next initiatives

    Franchisees were reportedly surprised by remodel costs, per Bloomberg, and McDonald’s has been sued for using a pricing tool that allegedly determined what customers would be willing to pay.

  • A Hardee's location
    Image attribution tooltip
    gsheldon via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    CKE appoints IHOP alum as Hardee’s president

    Alisa Gmelich brings over 30 years of brand experience to her new role, where she will oversee growth, guest experience improvements and menu optimization.

  • An image of a blue gray buidling with white columns. It has signage that says Sweet Tomatoes in red.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Ethan Miller via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Souplantation parent will open first CA restaurant since 2020

    The chain, which closed all of its locations during Chapter 7 liquidation six years ago, will open a Sweet Tomatoes in Fountain Valley by 2027.

  • A photograph of the inside of a car where two people are sitting. In the center there is small cups of chicken and fries.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of KFC
    Image attribution tooltip

    KFC expands into snacking with Go Buckets

    The low-cost menu item includes six varieties and is aimed at helping the chain expand its afternoon daypart.

  • A person taps on a touch screen monitor that has a chatbot on it. The person is in a restaurant and wearing an apron.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Why restaurants face pushback, risk when integrating AI tools

    Employee and consumer concerns over inaccuracy and inefficiency have proven true at some chains, so operators must slow-roll AI tools to ensure they solve more problems than they create, experts said. 

  • Several screenshots of a Kura Sushi's rewards program
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Kura Sushi
    Image attribution tooltip

    Kura Sushi adds tiers to loyalty program

    The sushi chain joins a growing list of brands, including Charleys, Panera and Tropical Smoothie Cafe, to adopt the model alongside flexible rewards. 

  • An image of a bicyclist carrying a green backpack that says Uber Eats
    Image attribution tooltip
    Ceri Breeze via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Uber Eats to buy ezCater for $2.3B

    The catering platform will expand Uber Eats' large order business, which has become a significant opportunity in recent quarters.

  • An evening photograph of a True Food Kitchen restaurant.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of True Food Kitchen
    Image attribution tooltip

    True Food Kitchen files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy

    The chain plans to sell itself to a long-term partner that shares a similar brand mindset that can set it up for long-term success.

  • Panelists on a screen.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Kelly Stroh/Restaurant Dive
    Image attribution tooltip

    How restaurants can mitigate rising fuel costs

    Evaluating delivery frequency and leveraging route optimization and scenario planning can help brands combat higher transportation expenses, experts say.