Financing

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

Financing

Viral secret menu item gives BJ's Restaurants a boost

Sales of the off-menu Pizookie Platter spiked 17x after the shareable dish went viral on TikTok. It contributed to a 2.7% traffic increase at the casual-dining chain last quarter.

Financing

On a mostly tough set of restaurant chain earnings

The Week in Restaurants: This week’s episode of the restaurant news discussion podcast includes a look at weak earnings, Taco Bell and Chili’s results and Panera Bread’s facility closures.

The fast-food chicken chain plans 10 new restaurants this year, which would be its most since 2022. The company is looking to second-generation locations to expand at lower costs.

The Bottom Line: Restaurant chains Del Taco, Fuzzy’s Taco Shop and Habit Burger have all struggled since their acquisitions by strategic buyers.

PB Restaurants, the owner of two shuttered locations of the movie-themed casual-dining restaurant, has a net worth of negative $46 million and was facing claims from a former lender.

The fast-food giant’s same-store sales declined 3.6% in the U.S., and 1% globally, despite McDonald's value menu initiatives. CEO Chris Kempczinski said consumers are “grappling with economic uncertainty.”

The Bottom Line: Consumer sentiment hit the fast-food giant harder than expected. But comments from the company, and results from other chains, suggest a broadening economic malaise.

The casual-dining chain said that while the business is stable, demand has not been as robust as it was a few months ago.

McDonald's and Yum Brands report resilient international sales despite rising anti-American sentiment, with both companies seeing steady growth in global markets amid trade war concerns. Leading U.S. restaurant chains maintain strong performance overseas, particularly in developing markets.

The fast-casual chain upped guidance on restaurant-level margin growth, despite traffic declines. CEO Rob Lynch is planning to increase menu innovation to create "new news" that will drive in guests.

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