Recent Posts
News•Feb 24, 2026
After Solid Year, First Watch Approaches 2026 with Caution
First Watch posted a solid 2025, achieving 3.6% same‑store sales growth and opening a record 64 restaurants despite a modest traffic dip. The chain projects 2026 same‑store sales growth of 1%‑3% and will temper expansion to 59‑63 new sites while closing three underperformers. It will hold menu prices steady through the first half of the year, citing modest commodity inflation and anticipated deflation in eggs and avocados. A system‑wide digital marketing program and a refreshed core menu are intended to sustain traffic and spend.
By Restaurant Business
News•Feb 24, 2026
McDonald's Is Bringing Its Big Arch Burger to the U.S.
McDonald’s will roll out its half‑pound Big Arch burger in the United States on March 3 as a limited‑time offering. The sandwich, already a permanent menu item in the UK and sold in France and Canada, layers two quarter‑pound patties, white cheddar,...
By Restaurant Business
Deals•Feb 24, 2026
Resy and Tock Merge Under American Express to Form Reservations Superpower
American Express announced that its two reservation platforms, Resy and Tock, will merge into a single service under the Resy brand this summer, doubling the inventory to over 25,000 venues. The merger will see Tock’s website and app go dark...
Restaurant Business
News•Feb 23, 2026
Domino's Gained More Market Share Last Year
Domino’s reported a stronger‑than‑expected 2025, with U.S. same‑store sales climbing 3.7% and a one‑point gain in market share that lifted its pizza‑category share to 30%. The earnings beat sent the stock up about 5% in pre‑market trading. The company added...
By Restaurant Business
Video•Feb 20, 2026
Subway Pulls Back on Its Free Sub Offer
Subway announced it will discontinue the three‑buy‑one‑free foot‑long sub promotion on April 1, ending a short‑lived loyalty incentive that granted a free sandwich after purchasing three. The change follows a heated backlash from franchise owners who called the deal "financial suicide"...
By Restaurant Business
News•Feb 20, 2026
Why DoorDash Isn't Afraid of AI Shopping Agents
DoorDash CEO Tony Xu says AI ordering agents won’t replace delivery apps because DoorDash controls the end‑to‑end experience, from driver dispatch to issue resolution. AI agents may handle search, ordering and payment, but fulfillment and logistics remain platform‑specific. DoorDash posted 32%...
By Restaurant Business
News•Feb 20, 2026
In the Social Media Era, Be Careful What You Wish For
Five Guys launched an anniversary promotion that dramatically outperformed its internal forecasts, driven by a wave of social‑media buzz. The unexpected surge highlighted how digital platforms can amplify marketing offers far beyond traditional channels. Companies across sectors are now grappling with...
By Restaurant Business
News•Feb 20, 2026
Southern Grounds Aims to Be a Bridge Between Starbucks and First Watch
Southern Grounds is launching as an all‑day café that fuses high‑end specialty coffee with chef‑driven, brunch‑style food. The concept positions itself between the mass‑market appeal of Starbucks and the upscale, menu‑focused experience of First Watch. With a funky, community‑centric vibe and...
By Restaurant Business
News•Feb 20, 2026
The Restaurant Industry Gets 2 Big Wins
Federal judges delivered two significant rulings affecting restaurants. In Illinois, a judge held Visa, Mastercard and banks not preempted, allowing states to pursue swipe‑fee reforms. In Oregon, a judge found the state's extended producer responsibility law likely unconstitutional, halting the...
By Restaurant Business
News•Feb 20, 2026
Subway Pulls Back on Its Free Sub Offer
Subway announced it will discontinue the free fourth‑footlong offer that was a key component of its Sub Club loyalty program. The move comes amid stagnant same‑store sales and mounting pressure on margins from rising ingredient costs. By transitioning to a...
By Restaurant Business
News•Feb 19, 2026
RaceTrac: Don't Expect a Potbelly in Every Convenience Store
RaceTrac bought Potbelly for $566 million but will not install a sandwich shop in every convenience store. Senior vice‑president Jennifer Durham says the rollout will be selective, starting with a pilot company‑owned location in Atlanta. The acquisition’s core purpose is to...
By Restaurant Business
Video•Feb 18, 2026
How the Restaurant Industry Will Fare in 2026
The podcast episode features Jonathan Mays speaking with Michelle Cororsmo, president and CEO of the National Restaurant Association, about the industry’s outlook for 2026. Cororsmo cites the association’s State of the Industry report, which projects $1.55 trillion in food‑service sales...
By Restaurant Business
Video•Feb 17, 2026
The Chef Behind the only Turkish Restaurant in Hawaii
The Menu Talk podcast features Au Hedma, a Turkish‑born chef‑owner who transformed personal immigration setbacks into Honolulu’s only Turkish restaurant, Istanbul Hawaii. After studying art, animation, and psychology in California, she and her mother turned homesick cooking into a farmers‑market...
By Restaurant Business
Video•Feb 17, 2026
Why Red Lobster May Close More Restaurants
Red Lobster’s CEO Deola Amolan told the Wall Street Journal the chain will likely shutter more restaurants, extending the closures that began during its 2024 bankruptcy filing. The company eliminated about 130 sites—roughly one‑fifth of its footprint—in 2024 and is now...
By Restaurant Business
Video•Feb 11, 2026
How Starbucks Is Changing Its Coffee Shops
Starbucks is undertaking a sweeping redesign of its coffee shops, emphasizing more seating, a unified service standard, and greater store‑level autonomy. Chief Operating Officer Mike Grahams explained that the company has re‑introduced roughly 25,000 seats across locations, turning former...
By Restaurant Business
Video•Feb 11, 2026
How Will Chipotle Lift Itself Out of Its Sales Slump?
Chipotle Mexican Grill closed its most challenging fiscal year in a decade, posting a full‑year same‑store sales decline of 1.7% and a roughly 3% dip in customer traffic – the first negative year‑over‑year result since 2016. The slowdown mirrors a...
By Restaurant Business