Financing

Why restaurants are still having challenges this year

A Deeper Dive: Rich Shank, senior principal with Technomic, joins the Restaurant Business podcast to talk about the state of the industry so far in 2025.

Why are restaurant chains still having challenges in 2025?

This week’s episode of the Restaurant Business podcast A Deeper Dive features Rich Shank, the senior principal with sister company Technomic. 

We wanted to talk with Shank because of the uncertain state of the restaurant business so far in 2025. A lot of people thought that things would improve this year after a difficult 2024. But so far that hasn’t quite happened. Many chains have reported weak sales beyond just weather concerns, saying that consumers are still cutting back. 

We talk about why that is. We also talk about the uncertainty surrounding the economy, particularly with the threat of tariffs. We also talk about the potential impact of immigration restrictions. 

In addition, Rich talks about how the restaurant business has changed since the pandemic started five years ago.

We’re talking about the state of the industry so check it out. 

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts.

Subscribe on Spotify.

Members help make our journalism possible. Become a Restaurant Business member today and unlock exclusive benefits, including unlimited access to all of our content. Sign up here.

Multimedia

Exclusive Content

Technology

The tech buzz at RLC was all about personalization

Tech Check: Restaurants clearly want to make their digital customers feel seen, judging by conversations at the Restaurant Leadership Conference this week. It’s what consumers say they want, too, but will it work?

Financing

Franchising can put brands at a disadvantage in a market like this

The Bottom Line: Restaurant chains like &pizza and MOD Pizza continue to turn to franchising to reinvigorate growth or save dying concepts. But there are huge disadvantages when consumers are cutting back.

Technology

How drive-thru AI made a believer out of Taco John's CEO Heather Neary

The leader of the fast-food chain was skeptical of the technology when she joined the company last year. Now she hopes to bring it chainwide.

Trending

More from our partners