prices

Non-discount chains are getting pulled into the value wars anyway

By Joe Guszkowski on Jun. 13, 2024

The industry's preoccupation with price is forcing brands to change tactics in marketing and on the menu, even if they refuse to discount.

Financing

Restaurants continue raising prices faster than grocers

By Jonathan Maze on Jun. 12, 2024

Menu price inflation slowed at fast-food restaurants last month. But prices throughout the industry continue to increase faster than at supermarkets.

Financing

3 fast-casual CEOs on the high cost of fast food

By Lisa Jennings on Jun. 10, 2024

There's been a lot of talk lately about high QSR pricing, and the leaders of Portillo's, Sweetgreen and Cava are pretty happy with that. It makes the fast-casual space look good.

Financing

Citing weak industry traffic, Technomic cuts its 2024 restaurant sales forecast

By Jonathan Maze on Jun. 10, 2024

The data firm, a sister company of Restaurant Business, has revised down its sales expectations by 1.5 percentage points. Can a value war bring some of that traffic back?

Premium

Financing

McDonald's value perception problem is with its lighter users

By Jonathan Maze on May 30, 2024

The Bottom Line: The fast-food giant took the extraordinary step of publicizing average prices this week. It was speaking to its less-frequent customers, who are a lot less likely to say the chain is a good value.

Financing

McDonald's hits back about its prices

By Jonathan Maze on May 29, 2024

Seeking to combat what it calls "inaccurate" information, the company issued a rare comment featuring the average cost of a Big Mac and other menu items. And no, prices have not doubled since 2019.

Financing

Is fast food now a luxury? Most Americans think so

By Jonathan Maze on May 28, 2024

Nearly 80% of Americans now view fast food as a “luxury” as rising restaurant menu prices force most of them to cut back on dining out.

Financing

Restaurants get dragged into The Misinformation Age

By Jonathan Maze on May 24, 2024

The Bottom Line: Big Mac prices, corporate views on Israel-Palestine and even store closures have been subject to misinformation and outright lies. Blame the presidential election.

Operations