Welcome to Restaurant Business’ Week in Review for the week of February 17, 2025.
Uber is suing delivery rival DoorDash, alleging that the platform bullies restaurants into exclusive contracts. DoorDash said Uber’s case is without merit. My colleague Joe Guszkowski, who covers restaurant technology, breaks down some of the key issues the case raises in a column that’s worth reading.
The chain formerly known as Kentucky Fried Chicken will no longer be based in Kentucky. KFC U.S. is moving its operations from Louisville to Plano, Texas. As RB Editor-in-Chief Jonathan Maze noted in this column, it’s a head-scratching move for a fast-food chicken that has so long been associated with its namesake state.
Fast-casual salad chain Sweetgreen appears to be phasing out its subscription program. The move comes as the chain readies the launch of a new loyalty program this spring. The Sweetpass subscription program, as Executive Editor Lisa Jennings reported, is no longer listed on Sweetgreen’s website.
Tech-forward Wingstop says it is launching an AI-driven kitchen modernization effort designed to speed service, increase productivity and boost sales. The chicken wing chain had another record year in 2024, with U.S. same-store sales up nearly 20%.
About six years after The Cheesecake Factory acquired fast casual Flower Child, the brand is flourishing. Flower Child’s same-store sales jumped 11% during the fourth quarter. Cheesecake said it plans to open six to seven more Flower Child locations this year, with the potential for more than 200 restaurants nationwide someday.
It’s been a slow start to 2025, meanwhile, for Texas Roadhouse. The casual-dining chain is known for bucking slowdowns in the segment, but its same-store sales rose just 2.9% during the first seven weeks of the year, compared with the one before. Executives blamed the sleepy start to cold and snowy winter weather across much of the country.
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.