C3 brands include Umami Burger, Krispy Rice and Sam's Crispy Chicken. / Photograph courtesy of C3
Restaurant Business Exclusive Content
Operations
Hitting resistance elsewhere, ghost kitchens and virtual concepts find a happy home in family dining
Reality Check: Old-guard chains are finding the alternative operations to be persistently effective side hustles.
Financing
The Tijuana Flats bankruptcy highlights the dangers of menu miscues
The Bottom Line: The fast-casual chain’s problems following new menu debuts in 2021 and 2022 show that adding new items isn’t always the right idea.
Financing
For Papa Johns, the CEO departure came at the wrong time
The Bottom Line: The pizza chain worked to convince franchisees to buy into a massive marketing shift. And then the brand’s CEO left.