Subway Launches $5 Value Menu, Adding Subs and Protein Pockets
Subway is joining the value menu trend. The sandwich chain, which has been trying to strike the right balance on value for roughly ever, will feature 15 items under $5, mostly 6-inch subs and "Protein Pockets." The menu will include four six-inch subs: Spicy Pepperoni (new) Ham & Salami (also new) BLT Cold Cut Combo Four Protein Pockets (meat and veggies wrapped in a tortilla): Baja Chicken; Peppercorn Ranch Chicken; Italian Trio; Turkey Ham. And then a selection of $4.99 "Sub of the Day": Meatball Monday; Tuna Tuesday; Sweet Onion Teriyaki Wednesday; Turkey Thursday; Forest Ham Friday; BMT Saturday; Spicy Italian Sunday. That was fun to write until they lost the alliteration.
McDonald's Debuts New Refreshers and Dirty Sodas May 6
And here it is, McDonald's new beverage lineup featuring Refreshers and dirty sodas and whatnot, including a dirty soda using Hi-C Orange Lavaburst. It alo comes out on May 6. They include: Strawberry Watermelon Refresher Mango Pineapple Refresher Blackberry Passionfruit Refresher Sprite Berry Blast...
Jack in the Box Franchisee Files Sweeping Lawsuit Against Brand
A Jack in the Box franchisee is suing the brand over, roughly, everything, including excessive rent charges, cannibalization, marketing issues, third-party delivery and, you guessed it, a sewer repair. https://t.co/JI5lpL2LO7
Discounts Exacerbate Competitors' Thin Store Margins, Says Domino's
Domino's view on competitors' financial weakness on a per-store basis and the impact of heavy discount marketing on that weakness is probably correct. When you layer more discounts onto already-thin margins that's really tough.
Domino's Sees Growth Despite Macro Pressures, Doubts Rivals' Pace
"Significant macro and competitive pressures" starting in March, per Domino's on this earnings call. They say that the QSR pizza category grew. But they don't believe their competitors can keep up. $DPZ
Domino's Predicts Competitor Closures Amid Discount War
Domino's believes that the intense value environment could lead to more closures by competitors as more discounts will pressure already weak profitability at Pizza Hut and Papa Johns. $DPZ
Domino's Same-Store Sales Miss Forecast Amid Weak Demand
After a strong start to 2026, Domino's same-store sales "did not meet our expectations," citing weather, low consumer confidence and heavy discount marketing by competitors. $DPZ
Domino's Misses Comps, Shares Slide 5%
Domino’s US comps 0.9%. International down 0.4%. Both lower than expected. Revenue up 3.5% EPS -4.6%. Shares down 5% premarket. $DPZ
Company-Run Stores Outperform Fr
I looked at sales results at @technomic Top 500 chains based on whether they operated franchised locations or not and the results are pretty clear: Company-run operations had a far better 2025 than did franchises. https://t.co/hF7t25Dh5v https://t.co/W5faPFlogk
Pizza Hut’s Sales Slump: Half Quarters Negative Since 2008
Some notable insight, particularly that Yum believes that the new owner might have to own some locations but that's not something Yum wants to do, which probably makes sense. Here's something, however: Since 2008, 47.5% of Pizza Hut's quarterly same-store...
Unit Count Misleads; McDonald's Outsells Yum per Location
And while we're comparing companies, one of the things that Yum Brands likes to say is that it's the biggest restaurant company in the world, which is based on unit count. Its brands combined have more than 63k locations. By...
McDonald's Outsells Burger King by $110 Billion
I can answer this question ... In 2025 McDonald's generated $139.4 billion in global system sales. Burger King $29.4 billion. So the difference between the two is exactly $110 billion. You're welcome.
P.F. Chang's Plans IPO Within Two Years
Jim Mazany, CEO of P.F. Chang's, said at the Restaurant Leadership Conference that the company is planning an IPO in two years. The Asian chain went private in 2012.
Starbucks Nashville Hub Signals Shifting US Corporate Map
Great thread helping to explain why Starbucks is opening a support center in Nashville. We've seen these types of things in a lot of restaurant companies.
Starbucks Pours $100M Into Nashville Hub for 2,000 Staff
Starbucks will invest $100M in its new Nashville office, which will open next year and is ultimately expected to house 2,000 workers, a combination of new and relocated employees, or "partners." $SBUX https://t.co/LJ4nwj6ZnZ
Chain Restaurant Sales Slow to 3%, Coffee, Chicken Defy Trend
Chain restaurant sales slowed last year, growing 3%, the lowest rate of growth (non-pandemic) since the Great Recession. Weakening sales are pressuring unit economics. But there were some strong pockets of growth, like coffee and chicken. https://t.co/SbjC4xYbLk https://t.co/vkjYWyxlvf
McDonald’s Hits 25‑year High in U.S. Openings
McDonald’s opened the most new U.S. locations in a quarter century. Why that period has been really good for the brand and its franchisees. https://t.co/r50QTfHQpF
Restaurant Spending Rises While Profits and Locations Fall
Consumers spend more at restaurants as a percentage of their total retail and food spending than ever. And yet per-restaurant profitability is down, big chains are closing locations. And bankruptcies are common. https://t.co/pSx8JKgQII https://t.co/20E9hd71pf
Delivery Apps Undermine Restaurant Economics, Rival Sysco's Power
A decade after the emergence of third-party delivery, the services have damaged restaurant industry economics. Also, while everybody is complaining about how powerful Sysco is there is little attention at how powerful delivery companies have become. https://t.co/9CxUbZLrQ1
Starbucks' ChatGPT App Suggests
So Starbucks has a new app on ChatGPT that will help you pick your drinks based on mood, weather, etc. So I started messing with it this morning and now I think the robot wants to call the authorities… https://t.co/KTdElSn26i https://t.co/IZTjtQrS0c
Biglari's Mouthpiece Claims Credit for Planned Board Exit
Sardar Biglari's apparent social media mouthpiece is taking credit for David Goebel's departure from the Jack in the Box board. He lost the proxy. JIB already named Mark King chairman and David had been planning to step down at the end...
Corporate Jargon: Naming Transformations Like a Game
Project Grand Slam? How do companies name these transformation ideas? Focus groups? Darts at a board?
People Are Baffled by the Vague “Refresher” Label
What the damn hell is a "Refresher" anyway? They're suddenly all over the place and nobody really can definite what it is.
California Carl's Jr. Franchise Blames Wages, Corporate for Bankruptcy
The Carl's Jr. franchisee out of California that filed for bankruptcy late last week blamed its financial distress on two issues: The state's fast-food wage and Carl's Jr. management. https://t.co/HdZ8TzblsJ
Domino's Pairs New Slice Sauce with Shinola Accessories
Domino's is unveiling Slice Sauce, which will come with the chain's Handmade Pan or Parmesan Stuffed Crust Pizza. And customers who buy either of those pizzas between now and May 7 will get special access to buy special edition Shinola...
Mall Chick-Fil-A Units Gain Sales as Stand‑Alones Slip
Chick-fil-A's FDD is out. Stand-alone locations average $9.2 million in sales a year, down 1.7%. But mall location average-unit volumes were up 1.4% to $4.6 million. Highest volume CFA now does > $20 million. Company added 178 U.S. locations last year and now...