Many consumers now associate clean ingredients—those free of preservatives, additives and artificial colors or flavors—with better-for-you menu options, as they continue to seek out healthier foods as well as menu transparency.
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The Bottom Line: Crumbl is the latest franchised restaurant chain to reportedly explore a sale after big 2024 deals for Tropical Smoothie and Jersey Mike’s. But the acquisitions market remains mixed.
The Bottom Line: The fast-casual burger chain’s plan to build 1,500 locations, not 450, will fundamentally change what the brand is all about.
The Bottom Line: The industry had too many locations in 2019. The pandemic led to a lot of closures. But the industry has been aggressively opening restaurants since 2020.