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How your restaurant sales and profits compare to competitors' and what you can do to improve financial performance

Starbucks U.S. sales recovered last quarter

By Jonathan Maze on Apr. 27, 2021

The chain’s same-store sales grew over 2019 levels thanks entirely to higher check averages as customers ordered more items per visit.

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Tropical Smoothie Café works to keep its momentum

By Jonathan Maze on Apr. 26, 2021

The smoothie-and-food chain has been a strong grower for years and turned on the jets so far in 2021. It hopes to keep all its new customers.

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Fast-food chains start pricing for convenience

By Jonathan Maze on Apr. 25, 2021

Quick-service concepts have raised prices aggressively and largely abandoned value amid a spike in demand. That strategy carries some risks coming out of the pandemic.

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The long, sad decline of a buffet behemoth

By Jonathan Maze on Apr. 23, 2021

The owner of Old Country Buffet merged with Ryan’s in 2006. The company’s bankruptcy-laden history in the years since is a lesson in the dangers of debt and the persistence of zombie chains, says RB’s The Bottom Line.

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8 ways the franchise relationship hurts franchisees

By Jonathan Maze on Apr. 23, 2021

A recent report by U.S. Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto highlighted several problems in franchising and how it hurts operators. RB’s The Bottom Line looks at eight of them.

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Los Angeles eyes an aid package for its restaurants

By Peter Romeo on Apr. 22, 2021

Qualifying operations would get $5,000 grants and a cut in fees.

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The Lost Cajun declares bankruptcy

By Heather Lalley on Apr. 22, 2021

The Lost Cajun declares bankruptcy. The casual dining chain joins a growing list of restaurants seeking Chapter 11 protection amid the pandemic.

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The SPAC party is coming to an end

By Jonathan Maze on Apr. 22, 2021

The number of blank-check companies has slowed dramatically amid SEC attention and concern about the unprecedented popularity of the investment vehicles, says RB’s The Bottom Line.

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