Portillo's Is Still Learning What Not to Do From Texas
Portillo’s reported a 3.3% decline in fourth‑quarter same‑store sales and a 0.5% drop for the full year, driven largely by weak transaction growth in Texas. The chain announced new CEO Brett Patterson, succeeding interim CEO Mike Miles, who highlighted that the aggressive Texas rollout has become a headwind, eroding margins by roughly 180 basis points. To correct course, Portillo’s is slowing its Sun Belt expansion, opening fewer locations and spacing them to avoid cannibalization, while leveraging its 2 million‑member Perks loyalty program for brand awareness. Early results from a smaller format restaurant in Georgia suggest the revised, measured entry strategy may regain momentum.
Reservation Services Resy and Tock Are Merging
American Express is consolidating its two reservation platforms, Resy and Tock, into a single service under the Resy brand this summer. The merger will double Resy's inventory to over 25,000 restaurants and wineries, adding Tock’s tiered experiences and prepaid booking...
Sweetgreen Explores a New Menu Platform: Wraps
Sweetgreen is piloting three chicken‑based wraps—Classic Chicken Caesar, Chicken Jalapeño Ranch, and Chicken Salad Bacon Club—across New York, the Midwest and select Los Angeles locations. Each wrap contains over 40 grams of protein and is priced between $10.95 and under $15, positioning it...
Consumers Are Sending a Signal on Tech. Restaurants Should Listen
Consumers are increasingly demanding technology-driven experiences in restaurants, from mobile ordering to contactless payment. Recent surveys reveal a measurable shift toward digital convenience, prompting operators to reassess the balance between tech and traditional hospitality. Restaurants that integrate intuitive tech solutions...
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,...
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...
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"...
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...
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...
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%...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...