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Financing

El Pollo Loco's private equity investor finally heads for the exits, after 18 years

 By Jonathan Maze on Apr. 03, 2023

Trimaran Capital Partners, which first invested in the chicken chain in 2005 and took it public in 2014, is liquidating its holdings in the chain.

Financing

Burger King and its struggling franchisees have a long way to go

 By Jonathan Maze on Mar. 31, 2023

The Bottom Line: The closure of 26 restaurants in Michigan is another demonstration that the fast-food burger chain has a lot of work to do in its comeback effort. And its issues date back more than 15 years.

Financing

One of the bankrupt Burger King franchisees is on the verge of a sale

By Jonathan Maze on Mar. 30, 2023

Burger King is among a trio of approved buyers of most of the 90 units owned by Toms King Holdings, which declared bankruptcy in January. A court has yet to approve the deal.

Financing

Yum Brands has a $50M deal to help finance underserved franchisees

By Jonathan Maze on Mar. 30, 2023

The program with the investment firm Lafayette Square, called Franchise Fast Start, is designed to provide access to capital for underrepresented franchisees of KFC, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell and Habit Burger.

Technology

Presto to double down on drive-thru AI under new leadership

By Joe Guszkowski on Mar. 30, 2023

Interim CEO Krishna Gupta plans to continue what he helped his college buddy Rajat Suri start back in 2008. Suri stepped down as CEO this week.

Financing

Focus Brands CEO Jim Holthouser on the future of the company's concepts

By Jonathan Maze on Mar. 29, 2023

A Deeper Dive: The head of the company that owns Auntie Anne’s, Cinnabon, Carvel, McAlister’s Deli, Schlotzsky’s, Jamba and Moe’s discusses the brands’ growth strategies on this week’s podcast. Also: IPOs, franchisee optimism and tipping.

Financing

Burger King is closing 26 locations in Michigan

By Jonathan Maze on Mar. 28, 2023

EYM King, a Texas-based operator who the brand sued in February for not paying royalties, is closing the locations over the next few weeks.

Financing

Let's put the Starbucks union pay request into some context

By Jonathan Maze on Mar. 27, 2023

The Bottom Line: A labor proposal would mean a full-time worker would earn about $48,000 after tips, about the same as health technologists and more than bus drivers. What would that do to prices?

Leadership

Starbucks' new CEO vows to work monthly inside the chain's coffee shops

By Jonathan Maze on Mar. 24, 2023

Laxman Narasimhan, who took over for Howard Schultz this week, promised to work a half-day shift as a barista inside one of its coffee shops each month "to keep us close to the culture and our customers."

Technology

McDonald's will start preparing orders before customers arrive

By Jonathan Maze on Mar. 23, 2023

The fast-food burger giant is adding new functionality on mobile orders that uses geofencing technology to help teams start orders while customers are on their way.

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