Tariffs are taking a bite out of the restaurant business.
In this week’s episode of the Restaurant Business podcast The Week in Restaurants, we look at the most recent slate of industry earnings.
There were some fascinating results from Chipotle, Starbucks, Shake Shack and Restaurant Brands International. We discuss those earnings.
In addition, we look at Greg Flynn’s agreement to develop 7 Brew locations. Joe Guszkowski discusses the AWS outage on Tech Check.
But we also talk beef costs and tariffs, and how they’re impacting industry profits.
The third quarter ended with a whimper for restaurant chains.
This week’s episode of the Restaurant Business podcast The Week in Restaurants looks at what we’re expecting to hear from the various segments within the industry as third-quarter reports are revealed.
We also talk about the Trump Administration’s aggressive deportation efforts and how that has impacted the industry nationwide.
And Joe Guszkowski talks tipping on Tech Check.
Del Taco is getting a new owner.
This week’s episode of the Restaurant Business podcast The Week in Restaurants looks at the $115 million sale of Del Taco by Jack in the Box, just four years after Jack bought the Mexican chain for a lot more than that.
In addition, Waymo is getting into delivery. We discuss what this means for the restaurant industry and the future of delivery.
Domino’s had some fascinating things to say this week about the restaurant industry. Get ready for more depressing news.
In addition, Joe Guszkowski has Tech Check.
Here comes more restaurant rebrands.
This week’s episode of the Restaurant Business podcast The Week in Restaurants looks at the rebrands at Domino’s and Long John Silver’s, and what those rebrands mean for the companies.
Senior Tech Editor Joe Guszkowski also talks about rebrands later in the podcast on Tech Check.
Speaking of marketing, Wendy’s hired a consulting firm run by a very interesting former industry executive.
You can now get delivery from ChatGPT. That is a particularly notable event in the restaurant industry.
And some thoughts on Chi-Chi’s.
A slowing economy is adding to the restaurant industry’s woes.
This week’s episode of the Restaurant Business podcast The Week in Restaurants examines the state of the economy, with a weakening labor market and heavy deal-seeking by consumers.
We also look again at Starbucks’ closures, and what they say about the state of the chain right now.
In addition, we discuss the evolving strategy of the delivery provider DoorDash, which is getting into the in-store business for restaurants. Is the company getting too powerful?
All that and Senior Tech Editor Joe Guszkowski talks POS system.
Starbucks is closing stores and cutting more jobs.
On this episode of The Week in Restaurants, Restaurant Business Senior Editor Joe Guszkowski and Executive Editor Lisa Jennings break down some juicy news, including those latest Starbucks moves.
They also discuss a stealthy new beverage concept from Chick-fil-A, and give a quick review of some of the new drinks at McDonald's.
Also, they dig into why Portillo’s made a change at CEO.
On Tech Check, Joe talks about tech, hospitality and Starbucks.
Another growth chain is de-growing.
This week’s episode of the Restaurant Businss podcast The Week in Restaurants looks at the 41 restaurant closures of Salad and Go, which is more than a quarter of the drive-thru chain’s locations. We discuss why the chain is closing those locations.
We also talk Cracker Barrel, which gave us a peek at the fallout from their rebranding blowup.
US Foods and Performance Food Group may well try a merger. We talk about whether that has any real chance.
All that plus an FSTEC wrapup on this week’s Tech Check.
On this week’s episode of The Week in Restaurants, we discuss the surprising sale of Potbelly to RaceTrac, and why it is a sign of the growing competition between restaurants and c-stores.
We also talk about Portillo’s, which is slowing development plans and ditching breakfast as it looks to focus on the fundamentals at its restaurants.
And we get into some new data on restaurant delivery, prepared exclusively for Restaurant Business by Intouch Insight. In short, restaurants may be losing their pricing power over third-party delivery apps.
On Tech Check, it’s a preview of what to look for at the FSTEC conference next week.
Anybody want to buy some Noodles?
This week’s episode of the Restaurant Business podcast The Week in Restaurants looks at the potential sale process at Noodles & Company, which has not quite fulfilled the promise it had when it went public more than a decade ago.
We also talk about closures at Smokey Bones and what that says about the chain, and about the barbecue sector.
In addition, we talk about McDonald’s value war. In addition, Senior Tech Editor Joe Guszkowski talks AI.
Is this Cracker Barrel logo saga finally over?
This week’s episode of the Restaurant Business news discussion podcast The Week in Restaurants examines the apparent resolution of the Cracker Barrel branding issue. The family-dining chain opted to go back to the old logo. Will it quell the firestorm?
We also look at “slop bowls,” and whether the bowl boom is over. Or whether it’s just beginning. And what is a slop bowl, anyway.
We also talk about Taco Bell and its marketing, and why it works so well.
On Tech Check, Senior Technology Editor Joe Guszkowski talks mergers and acquisitions.
Expect the value wars to last a few more months.
This week’s episode of the Restaurant Business podcast The Week in Restaurants looks at McDonald’s plan to cut the prices of its bundled meals to 15% off the cost of the items individually. We talk about why that will lengthen the value wars.
Bravo Brio filed for bankruptcy. Why are some full-service chains going bankrupt and others are reporting 30% comps?
Cracker Barrel is in hot water with conservatives over its logo. We’ll talk about what all that means.
Also, casual dining and takeout on Tech Check, and an FSTEC preview.
What has happened to the fast-casual sector?
This week’s episode of the Restaurant Business podcast The Week in Restaurants looks at the suddenly weaker state of the fast-casual sector. Several chains have reported slowing sales, including stalwarts like Cava, Chipotle and Wingstop. What’s going on?
Chili’s, meanwhile, continues to thrive and extended its incredible run. We look at what’s driving that chain’s success.
And a look at Subway, which is sending cash to its franchisees, a group that really needs it.
Casual-dining restaurants are outpacing fast-food chains again.
This week’s episode of the Restaurant Business podcast The Week in Restaurants looks at the differing directions that casual-dining and fast-food chains are going in.
This has been a big earnings week. A bunch of limited-service restaurants have reported weak results, including KFC, Pizza Hut, Jack in the Box and Del Taco. McDonald’s sales were good until its Minecraft promotion ended. And Wendy’s and Sweetgreen just reported weak results.
On the other hand, chains like Applebee’s, Olive Garden and BJ’s Restaurants, not to mention Chili’s, are doing well.
We discuss why that is. In addition, Senior Tech Editor Joe Guszkowski talks ghost kitchens on Tech Check.
Starbucks appears to be making some progress.
This episode of the Restaurant Business podcast The Week in Restaurants features a discussion on Starbucks fiscal third-quarter earnings, in which its sales declined again but which included some “green shoots” pointing at a turnaround.
Tesla has a new restaurant in Los Angeles. And Wingstop reported something it hasn’t done all that often in its life as a public company.
And Senior Tech Editor Joe Guszkowski with Tech Check.
Earnings season is upon us, and the early returns from Chipotle weren’t great.
On this edition of The Week in Restaurants, we discuss the burrito chain’s tough second quarter, and why it may need to do more to prove it’s a good value.
We also talk about an attack on Cracker Barrel’s diversity, equity and inclusion policies by a pro-Trump legal group. It’s the first restaurant chain to become a target over DEI in Trump’s second term.
And we examine McDonald’s new beverage lineup, which has been adapted from the now-defunct CosMc’s. The drinks are colorful and on-trend, but will they muck up operations?
Then on Tech Check, Joe Guszkowski discusses the loyalty program boom and whether the programs are actually working.
A potential deal could shake up food distribution.
This week’s episode of the Restaurant Business podcast The Week in Restaurants features a discussion on a potential big deal between distributors US Foods and Performance Food Group. US Foods, the nation’s third-largest distributor, may buy PFG, the second-biggest.
In addition, Red Robin has a new CEO and a new management plan. We talk about that, as well as the risks for restaurant chains that change their strategies frequently.
And a Del Taco franchisee files for bankruptcy, raising questions about the brand and the state of the restaurant industry.
And on Tech Check, Joe Guszkowski talks about how AI is changing how people discover restaurants online.
Worried about what no tax on tips means for your restaurant? Don’t sweat it, because we have you covered on this edition of The Week in Restaurants.
We discuss how the new Trump administration policy could create some headaches for restaurant operators. We also look at how a wave of bankruptcies last year impacted the full-service segment, before touching on some surprising CEO news from Wendy's.
And on Tech Check, Senior Editor Joe Guszkowski gives his perspective on the impending sale of Olo.
How are fast-casual chains dealing with consumer frustration over prices?
This week’s episode of the Restaurant Business podcast The Week in Restaurants features a look at pressure on fast-casual chains over value. Sweetgreen is working to beat back concerns over the price of its salads. We look at that issue.
McDonald’s and Krispy Kreme are ending their partnership long before it is complete. We discuss what that means for the two chains.
And deportation policy may be hurting restaurant sales in Hispanic markets.
Meanwhile, Senior Tech Editor Joe Guszkowski talks about AI on his weekly Tech Check feature.
Hulkamania is coming for Hooters, or at least it’s trying to.
In this week’s episode of the Restaurant Business podcast The Week in Restaurants, we discuss news that Hulk Hogan’s Real American Beer Brand is making a play to buy Hooters out of bankruptcy. We discuss whether this is real or a stunt and whether it has a chance at success.
Yum Brands, the owner of Taco Bell, KFC and Pizza Hut, named Chris Turner its new CEO. We talk about that move and what it means for the company.
Convenience stores, meanwhile, are making real inroads into the fast-food world with their menu offerings and value deals. We talk about whether this is a cause in the sector’s sales weakness.
In addition, this week’s Tech Check Segment focuses on the growing power of DoorDash.
How is a 16-unit soup dumpling chain generating the industry’s highest average unit volumes?
In this week’s episode of The Week in Restaurants, we discuss the surprising performance of Din Tai Fung, a fast-growing casual-dining brand from Taiwan that does $27.4 million per location.
We also cover the news from Starbucks’ leadership summit in Las Vegas, where it unveiled some new plans for staffing and operations. And we consider the merits of its Back to Starbucks turnaround strategy.
And we talk about our recent visit to Dine Brands, where executives unveiled a new “fast-casual plus” format for Fuzzy’s Taco Shop. We also discuss why the company has such high hopes for its co-branded Applebee's-IHOP restaurants.
Tech editor Joe Guszkowski also talks about the latest big move by DoorDash.