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Operations

Minnesota State Fair vendors cash in during a 12-day food frenzy

 By Jonathan Maze on Aug. 21, 2025

The Minnesota State Fair can bring in 2 million visitors over a 12-day period. For the food vendors, it can be big business, where a cookie stand can make as much as an In-N-Out restaurant does in a year.

Financing

The newest key restaurant metric: Consumer confidence

 By Jonathan Maze on Aug. 21, 2025

With gas prices and job numbers stable over the past couple of years, consumer confidence in the economy is the metric driving your traffic results, or lack thereof.

Financing

The early returns on McDonald's Snack Wrap are apparently good

By Jonathan Maze on Jul. 16, 2025

The fast-food giant generated strong traffic last week after bringing back the product, according to data from Placer.ai. Social media reports also suggest it’s popular.

Financing

In the 10 largest restaurant chains, signs of the industry’s evolution

By Jonathan Maze on Jul. 09, 2025

The Bottom Line: Only 14 chains have been on the list of the 10 largest concepts over the past two decades. But that doesn’t mean that it hasn’t changed with consumer demand.

Financing

Welcome to the world of extreme sales results

By Jonathan Maze on Jun. 30, 2025

The Bottom Line: Before the pandemic, double-digit same-store sales results were rare and 20% increases were almost unheard of. Not anymore. Why social media is changing the possibilities of quarterly restaurant results.

Financing

In Hispanic communities, restaurant traffic has weakened since the election

By Jonathan Maze on Jun. 25, 2025

Data from Black Box Intelligence shows weaker traffic to restaurants in areas with a heavy population of people with a Mexican heritage since the 2024 presidential election.

Financing

Fast-food prices are slowing, but consumers have yet to respond

By Jonathan Maze on Jun. 16, 2025

Industry and government data suggest that quick-service restaurants have cut back on price hikes. But it has yet to show up in the form of consistent traffic.

Financing

Dave & Buster's goes back to basics and its sales improve

By Jonathan Maze on Jun. 11, 2025

The food-and-games chain, which struggled with steep sales declines for more than two years, saw sales improve in recent months thanks to better value, marketing and operations.

Financing

Some interesting restaurant chains dropped off the Top 500 this year

By Jonathan Maze on May 29, 2025

Some struggling and bankrupt brands, like Au Bon Pain, Macaroni Grill and Fuddruckers are among the most notable concepts that fell off the ranking of the largest restaurant chains in the U.S.

Financing

Fitch Ratings lowers its U.S. restaurant industry outlook to 'deteriorating'

By Jonathan Maze on May 09, 2025

The credit ratings agency cited softening consumer sentiment while persistent inflation eats into discretionary spending. It’s the latest indication of what has been a challenging year thus far.

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