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Emerging Brands

Why a bundt cake concept sees booming growth ahead

 By Joe Guszkowski on Jan. 15, 2026

Nothing Bundt Cakes has found success with one menu item and a simple operating model. Most people still haven’t heard of it, but the chain is working to change that.

Financing

Pollo Tropical owner hints at long-term IPO plans

 By Joe Guszkowski on Jan. 14, 2026

Authentic Restaurant Brands, which also owns Primanti Bros, P.J. Whelihan’s and other regional chains, suggested that it could go public in three to five years. It also wants to acquire more brands.

Operations

Drive-thru coffee giant Dutch Bros to acquire 20-unit Clutch Coffee Bar

By Lisa Jennings on Jan. 14, 2026

The move will give the rapidly growing Dutch Bros more of a foothold in the Carolinas as it pushes to reach 2,029 units by 2029.

Financing

Lessons in investing from David Rubenstein

By Jonathan Maze on Jan. 13, 2026

The Bottom Line: The cofounder of The Carlyle Group, an active investor in the restaurant space, revealed the private-equity firm’s return on its McDonald’s China investment and dished out wisdom.

Operations

Noodles & Company to double its planned restaurant closures in 2026

By Lisa Jennings on Jan. 12, 2026

The fast-casual chain showed continued momentum in the fourth quarter. But the company said it plans to cull more underperforming units this year to focus on those with the strongest performance.

Financing

Kura Sushi sees signs of a thawing consumer

By Joe Guszkowski on Jan. 08, 2026

Traffic is improving at the conveyor-belt sushi chain despite a recent price increase that was larger than usual. Bacon sushi helped.

Technology

Presto raises $10M to fuel its AI drive-thru system

By Joe Guszkowski on Jan. 08, 2026

The technology company now works with 12 restaurant brands and wants to establish itself as the clear market leader this year, said co-founder Krishna Gupta.

Leadership

Clay Dover named CEO of Savory Fund

By Jonathan Maze on Jan. 07, 2026

The private-equity firm’s cofounder, Shauna Smith, was named managing director. Dover had previously been chief executive of the fast-casual chain Velvet Taco.

Financing

Denny's shareholders are suing the company over its proposed sale

By Joe Guszkowski on Jan. 06, 2026

Two lawsuits argue that the diner chain did not provide a full picture of what led up to the $620 million deal. Denny’s responded this week with more information.

Financing

Good riddance to a tough year

By Jonathan Maze on Jan. 05, 2026

The Bottom Line: This week’s edition of the weekly restaurant finance newsletter looks at the dramatic underperformance of restaurant company stocks in 2025.

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