sales

Yes, restaurants are losing traffic to grocers and convenience stores

By Jonathan Maze on Apr. 24, 2024

According to data from Placer.ai, traffic at restaurants has lagged that of grocers, superstores and convenience stores since the pandemic.

Financing

The 10 largest restaurant chains in the U.S.

By Jonathan Maze on Apr. 16, 2024

Technomic Top 500: Here are the country's 10 largest restaurant chains by sales, according to the Technomic Top 500 Chain Restaurant Report.

Financing

Quick-service restaurants had a tough first quarter

By Jonathan Maze on Apr. 12, 2024

Was it weather? Or was it prices? Either way, fast-food restaurants have started the year off on the wrong foot, according to traffic data.

Financing

Chick-fil-A's unit volumes at stand-alone restaurants hit $9M last year

By Jonathan Maze on Apr. 04, 2024

The fast-food chicken sandwich chain generated nearly $22 billion in U.S. system sales last year, according to its franchise disclosure documents, while both mall and non-mall locations thrived.

Premium

Financing

Bad weather returns as a restaurant sales problem

By Jonathan Maze on Feb. 20, 2024

The Bottom Line: Snow and cold in January kept customers from visiting restaurants. Here's why this might be a bigger influence in the future.

Premium

Operations

5 jaw-dropping facts about the state of restaurants

By Peter Romeo on Feb. 09, 2024

Reality Check: This year's mother of all industry forecasts is packed with tidbits that are likely to surprise. Here are five we found in the National Restaurant Association's State of the Restaurant Industry report.

Financing

Starbucks' U.S. sales apparently took a big hit late last year

By Jonathan Maze on Jan. 25, 2024

The coffee chain’s sales and traffic slowed from October through December, according to the research firm Earnest Insights, the latest evidence of a slowdown.

Consumer Trends

Americans are eating their fast food later in the day

By Jonathan Maze on Jan. 23, 2024

McDonald’s and Chipotle have seen a shift in business from earlier in the day toward dinner, according to data from Placer.ai. And that shift seems permanent.

Operations