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Financing

McDonald’s and Subway close units and increase sales

The Bottom Line: Two of the three biggest chains combined closed more than 1,400 restaurants last year. But their individual locations make more money.

Emerging Brands

Why a small sandwich concept is breaking out of the fast-casual box

Zunzi’s was doing well as a traditional fast casual, its CEO said, but then it added a bar and sales soared. Now, it’s changed its franchising plans.

Oklahoma City-based HumanKind Hospitality is still trying to figure out how to balance soaring costs with how much its customers will bear.

Reality Check: There is a model out there of how to stop a store-by-store unionization effort. Starbucks' defender in chief should take a hard look.

Sweet & Sour: Brick-and-mortarless delivery concepts are growing at a head-turning clip. But that sort of expansion usually brings challenges, too.

Tech Check: Despite operators’ efforts, the apps are proving to be a tough habit for customers to break.

The Bottom Line: As more chains like Chipotle and Shake Shack add drive-thrus and focus on takeout, they look more like the fast-food restaurants from which they tried to differentiate themselves.

Proponents say the autonomous vehicles could ease the driver shortage while also making deliveries more efficiently.

Flexibility is the new mantra, as restaurants are forced to make last-minute switches when products don’t show up at the back door or prices go through the roof.

The pandemic has intensified a long-brewing shortage of truck drivers, often leaving restaurants scrambling to get what they need. But some argue there is no shortage at all, just a lack of pay.

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