sales and profits

Financing

Kiosks and higher prices drive McDonald’s sales

By Jonathan Maze on Oct. 22, 2019

U.S. same-store sales rose 4.8% as customers made larger orders, but traffic remains challenged.

Financing

Retail shops keep shutting their doors

Sep. 24, 2019

Closures by retail chains like Fred’s and GameStop continue a brutal pattern in 2019, says RB’s The Bottom Line.

Financing

Investor presses Outback’s parent for a sale or breakup

By Peter Romeo on Sep. 03, 2019

Jana Partners is resuming its call for a strategic redirection two years after a truce was struck.

Financing

A possible recession isn’t spooking restaurant CEOs just yet

By Jonathan Maze on Aug. 28, 2019

Chief executives of Domino’s and Starbucks both say the consumer is strong, even as economic concerns worry investors.

Marketing

Red Robin’s Q2 traffic falls 6.4% as bargains are downplayed

By Peter Romeo on Aug. 23, 2019

Management is focusing on higher-priced menu options to help margins while aiming to please value-hunters with improved operations.

Financing

Restaurant sales improve, but signs of weakness abound

By Jonathan Maze on Aug. 22, 2019

Investment in the industry is up, along with same-store sales, but bankruptcies and store closures are more common. RB’s The Bottom Line tries to make sense of it.

Financing

Small-company earnings roundup: Fat Brands, Diversified Restaurant Holdings, Ark Restaurants, Freshii

By Peter Romeo on Aug. 15, 2019

Size didn't seem to matter for this mixed bag of operators during their most recent quarters. Labor and traffic proved as much of a challenge for them as it did for chains of scale.

Financing

Takeout counters a drop-off in visits at Famous Dave’s

By Peter Romeo on Aug. 13, 2019

The barbecue chain says to-go comps at company stores rose 6.8%, holding the decline in overall same-store sales to 0.8%. Franchisees' domestic comps rose 0.7%.

Financing