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Fast_Casual

Operations

Cava is ready to bring its bowls to the Midwest

 By Heather Lalley on Apr. 25, 2024

The Mediterranean fast casual will debut Friday in Chicago, and the chain’s co-founder said it plans to open “a bunch” of restaurants to the Windy City and its suburbs.

Financing

Despite their complaints, customers keep flocking to Chipotle

 By Jonathan Maze on Apr. 25, 2024

The Bottom Line: The chain continued to be a juggernaut last quarter, with strong sales and traffic growth, despite frequent social media complaints about shrinkflation or other challenges.

Financing

Fast-growing Tropical Smoothie is being sold to Blackstone

By Jonathan Maze on Apr. 24, 2024

The Atlanta-based fast-casual smoothie chain, which has thrived in recent years, is being sold to the private-equity giant for $2 billion.

Operations

Chipotle's first international franchised location officially opens in Kuwait

By Lisa Jennings on Apr. 22, 2024

Franchisee Alshaya Group plans to open four Chipotle units in the Middle East this year.

Financing

In the fast-casual sector, Chipotle laps Panera Bread

By Jonathan Maze on Apr. 19, 2024

The Bottom Line: The two fast-casual restaurant pioneers have diverged over the past five years, as the burrito chain has thrived while Panera hit a wall. Here's why.

Financing

Tijuana Flats declares bankruptcy and closes restaurants

By Jonathan Maze on Apr. 19, 2024

The Maitland, Florida-based Tex-Mex chain filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection after closing 40 restaurants this year. It has an agreement to sell the company.

Financing

Guernsey Holdings buys 20 Zaxby's restaurants

By Jonathan Maze on Apr. 17, 2024

The operator of franchised brands like Sonic Drive-In and Little Caesars is working with the franchisee’s management to acquire the locations in South Carolina.

Financing

Higher prices and more locations drove chain restaurant sales last year

By Jonathan Maze on Apr. 16, 2024

Technomic Top 500: Chain restaurants continued to record strong growth last year, but mostly without higher traffic. And there were wide variations in performance throughout the ranking.

Emerging Brands

P.F. Chang's opens a fast-casual Asian bowl concept

By Peter Romeo on Apr. 16, 2024

A Pagoda by P.F. Chang's is operating in a suburban New York shopping mall. It's the chain's third crack at a fast-casual spinoff.

Leadership

The 2024 Pacesetter Award goes to: Cava

By Lisa Jennings on Apr. 14, 2024

The newly public fast-casual chain Cava has carved out a sweet spot with a fresh and healthful Mediterranean menu with broad appeal. The brand was honored at the Restaurant Leadership Conference in Phoenix on Sunday.

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