Restaurant Daily
Your quick morning dose of the restaurant news you need, every weekday, from the editors of Restaurant Business and Nation's Restaurant News.
The Grinch did wonders for McDonald’s, Spongebob did wonders for Burger King, and nothing did wonders for Popeyes.
Jobs numbers were unexpectedly rosy in January. Is Red Lobster continuing to close restaurants? And Chili’s is launching a margarita club.
No, Chipotle is not raising prices because it’s seeing an uptick in higher-income consumers. Wonder is making its first restaurant acquisition. And Jack in the Box is accusing an activist investor of “volatile behavior.”
Minneapolis restaurants are struggling amid a federal immigration enforcement action in the city. Restaurant delivery keeps growing. And Fat Brands lenders want a new CEO.
Bob Evans has a new owner. Fogo has some AI. And Starbucks is going on offense.
Jack in the Box is playing defense in another proxy battle with activist investor Sardar Biglari. Noodles & Company is attempting to get back into compliance with Nasdaq. And Zaxbys has surpassed the 1,000-restaurant milestone.
Chipotle’s same-store sales continue to dip. For Yum Brands, Taco Bell soared while Pizza Hut keeps struggling. And Cracker Barrel is making headlines again.
Darden Restaurants is shutting down Bahama Breeze. Starbucks picks strawberries to flavor its newest beverages. And two chains have appointed new chief executives.
A Subway franchisee with dozens of locations has filed for bankruptcy. Burger King is getting ready to grow in China. And new research sees some positive signs for Chipotle.
FAT Brands is about to lose its stock listing. Starbucks is introducing several back-of-house updates. And operators want to do less third-party delivery — but consumers still gravitate toward it.
Starbucks is shaking up its loyalty program. Will Jersey Mike’s go public? And Chili’s wants to give managers a bigger stake in its restaurants.
Is Brian Niccol’s long-term Back to Starbucks plan paying off? Chili’s just keeps chugging along. And Dunkin’ is focused on non-coffee drinks for Valentine’s Day.
A struggling brand collector has filed for bankruptcy. Torchy’s Tacos is shrinking its store count. And McDonald’s franchisees have drafted a bill of rights.
Franchisees are resisting Subway’s loyalty program. Jersey Mike’s promises it won’t change under private equity. And one of FAT Brands’ largest bondholders is suing the company.
Some third-party delivery platforms will need to change their tipping policies in New York City. Taco Bell is bullish about its Live Mas Cafe concept. And is there success ahead for fast-casual pizza?
Kelli Valade has found a new job shortly after Denny’s sale was finalized. McDonald’s and Taco Bell both have new sauces. And Nathan’s Famous has been acquired by a pork processor.
A California-based coffee chain is closing dozens of locations. Mr. Gatti’s Pizza has a new owner. And Red Robin is pushing a new value offer.
Starbucks is already changing its assistant store manager program. There’s another departure at Sweetgreen. And Five Guys is opening a Vegas flagship with a full bar.
A Popeyes franchisee declares bankruptcy. Olo has M&A plans. And what prognosticators say the industry can expect in 2026.
We’ve got lots of takeaways from this week’s ICR Conference. A New York City group has brought a Chicago chain into its fold. And KFC wants to stave off the Sunday Scaries.
Dutch Bros is buying a small coffee chain. Pollo Tropical would like to go public. And restaurant operators in Minnesota are pushing back against the ICE crackdown there.
Fat Brands has a big debt problem. Chipotle is looking for a new chief brand officer. And Jersey Mike’s is heading to Europe.
Noodles & Company is closing more locations than planned. TGI Fridays, meanwhile, has big opening plans. And Darden is on the hunt for more brands.
New dietary guidelines are good news for steakhouses, chicken concepts, and burger spots. Another regional chain is closing its doors. And the demand for healthy menu items is even higher than in Januarys past.
Kura Sushi has some good news. A women-focused sports bar concept has a big-name strategic investor. And an AI drive-thru company just got a cash infusion.
Change is afoot at Savory Fund as it appoints new leaders. Salad and Go is reportedly closing more units. And a couple regional chains have filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.
Blaze Pizza has a new leader. Another casual-dining chain is shrinking. And here come the chain restaurant discounts.
Dave’s Hot Chicken has a new, very familiar CEO. Chick-fil-A has launched its largest marketing campaign ever. And CAVA is bringing back a fan favorite.
Sprinkles shuts its restaurants down. Noodles stock might cease trading soon. And restaurant stocks had a brutal year.
Krispy Kreme is refranchising. El Pollo Loco is bolstering its board of directors. And Taco Bell keeps adding to its beverage lineup.
One of Sweetgreen’s cofounders is retiring. Darden reported good news. And Chipotle is jumping on the high-protein trend.
Red Lobster is cutting staff. Taco Bell is bringing another product back from the dead. And Qdoba gets an interesting new franchisee.
California Pizza Kitchen has a new ownership group. Some McDonald’s franchisees are upset about the chain’s new pricing strategy. And new economic data presents a less-than-rosy view of the restaurant industry.
This episode of Restaurant Daily is sponsored by O'Keeffe's Working Hands Hand Cream. Visit https://www.okeeffescompany.com/restaurantdaily and use code NRN for 15% off your first order.
Sweet Tomatoes is alive and growing again. Noodles and Company is planning a potential reverse stock split. And Firehouse Subs is in “high growth mode.”
This episode of Restaurant Daily is sponsored by O'Keeffe's Working Hands Hand Cream. Visit https://www.okeeffescompany.com/restaurantdaily and use code NRN for 15% off your first order.
Third-party delivery players are suing New York City over tipping. Chipotle marks a growth milestone. And consumers aren’t necessarily drinking less, they’re just drinking differently.
This episode of Restaurant Daily is sponsored by O'Keeffe's Working Hands Hand Cream. Visit https://www.okeeffescompany.com/restaurantdaily and use code NRN for 15% off your first order.
Recent McDonald’s and Burger King promotions drove a material lift in traffic. Tourism has fallen this year and it seems to be having a pretty big impact on restaurant businesses. And restaurants are feeling short-changed by the federal government’s decision to stop printing the penny.
This episode of Restaurant Daily is sponsored by O'Keeffe's Working Hands Hand Cream. Visit https://www.okeeffescompany.com/restaurantdaily and use code NRN for 15% off your first order.
Cracker Barrel is laying off corporate staff. A fast-casual pizza chain declared bankruptcy. And Shake Shack is growing traffic.
This episode of Restaurant Daily is sponsored by O'Keeffe's Working Hands Hand Cream. Visit https://www.okeeffescompany.com/restaurantdaily and use code NRN for 15% off your first order.
In-N-Out Burger is officially debuting in Tennessee this week. Hardee’s is at war with another franchisee. And Wendy’s is leaning into a viral TikTok trend.
This episode of Restaurant Daily is sponsored by O'Keeffe's Working Hands Hand Cream. Visit https://www.okeeffescompany.com/restaurantdaily and use code NRN for 15% off your first order.
McDonald’s is beefing up its franchising standards around value. The Grinch, meanwhile, appears to be saving the burger giant’s Christmas. And Sweetgreen has come out with a major value play.
This episode of Restaurant Daily is sponsored by O'Keeffe's Working Hands Hand Cream. Visit https://www.okeeffescompany.com/restaurantdaily and use code NRN for 15% off your first order.
The fast-casual category is thriving in one specific area. Brands that have strayed too far from their core menus are returning to their origins. And Razzoo’s Cajun Cafe may have a buyer.
This episode of Restaurant Daily is sponsored by O'Keeffe's Working Hands Hand Cream. Visit https://www.okeeffescompany.com/restaurantdaily and use code NRN for 15% off your first order.
California’s Fast Food Council has gone dormant. Here come the 2026 restaurant industry predictions. And a 10-unit wood-fired pizza concept is getting some growth funding.
This episode of Restaurant Daily is sponsored by O'Keeffe's Working Hands Hand Cream. Visit https://www.okeeffescompany.com/restaurantdaily and use code NRN for 15% off your first order.
Chick-fil-A is making a major strategic change to its non-traditional restaurant portfolio. Velvet Taco has named a new CEO. And KFC’s Saucy concept will add three new locations in the next several weeks.
This episode of Restaurant Daily is sponsored by O'Keeffe's Working Hands Hand Cream. Visit https://www.okeeffescompany.com/restaurantdaily and use code NRN for 15% off your first order.
Starbucks is paying millions to settle labor scheduling violation allegations. Romano’s Macaroni Grill is dwindling. And a big restaurant holding company has a new CEO.
This episode of Restaurant Daily is sponsored by O'Keeffe's Working Hands Hand Cream. Visit https://www.okeeffescompany.com/restaurantdaily and use code NRN for 15% off your first order.
Subway franchisees are not loving the chain’s new loyalty program. The parent company of Cinnabon, Auntie Anne’s and more is getting a new CEO. And the fast-casual sector is facing some headwinds.
This episode of Restaurant Daily is sponsored by O'Keeffe's Working Hands Hand Cream. Visit https://www.okeeffescompany.com/restaurantdaily and use code NRN for 15% off your first order.
Papa Johns has kicked off its refranchising effort. Wingstop is quickly inching closer to its goal of becoming a top 10 restaurant brand. And franchisees are suing Round Table Pizza over marketing.
This episode of Restaurant Daily is sponsored by O'Keeffe's Working Hands Hand Cream. Visit https://www.okeeffescompany.com/restaurantdaily and use code NRN for 15% off your first order.
P.F. Chang’s wants to be an everyday option. Shake Shack is looking for a new CFO and restaurant sales are up, but fast food sales are not.
FAT Brands lenders want their money. Noodles & Company has announced retention bonuses in case of a sale. And US Foods and Performance Food Group have ended talks that would have created the country’s largest broadline food distributor by revenue.
Looks like a struggling pizza chain might soon have a new owner. Starbucks had a very big Red Cup Day this year. And international expansion can be tricky business for restaurants.
Jack in the Box had a tough fourth quarter. Cracker Barrel’s logo fallout has led to the loss of a board member. And jobs in restaurants and bars continued to trend upward in September.
Chicken’s popularity doesn’t concern the biggest chicken chain in the world. Consumers’ dine-out preferences are changing. And emerging chain Luna Grill has started to figure out a good cost equation for its business.