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By Jonathan Maze on May 01, 2024

The Bottom Line: Early earnings from major restaurant chains suggest the consumer has taken a distinct turn for the worse so far in 2024.

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Financing

For Starbucks, 2 years of change hasn't yielded promised results

By Jonathan Maze on May 01, 2024

The Bottom Line: The coffee shop giant’s sales struggles worsened earlier this year, despite a flurry of efforts to improve operations and employee satisfaction.

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Food

Nando's Americanizes its menu a bit as U.S. expansion continues

By Patricia Cobe on May 01, 2024

Behind the Menu: Favorites like mac and cheese, bowls and salads join the fast casual’s Afro-Portuguese-rooted dishes, including the signature peri-peri chicken.

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Financing

Why are so many restaurant chains filing for bankruptcy?

By Jonathan Maze on Apr. 29, 2024

The Bottom Line: A combination of rising costs and weakening sales, and more expensive debt, has caused real problems for restaurant chains. But the industry is also really difficult.

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Marketing

Meet the restaurant industry's new government adversary

By Peter Romeo on Apr. 29, 2024

Reality Check: The FTC wants the business to change several longstanding operating conventions. Has it heard why that's a bad idea?

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Financing

Malls are quietly making a comeback

By Jonathan Maze on Apr. 25, 2024

Once left for dead as shoppers moved online and then the pandemic hit, malls are regaining lost traffic. And that has been a boon for restaurant chains like Auntie Anne's, Cinnabon and Chick-fil-A.

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Financing

Despite their complaints, customers keep flocking to Chipotle

By Jonathan Maze on Apr. 25, 2024

The Bottom Line: The chain continued to be a juggernaut last quarter, with strong sales and traffic growth, despite frequent social media complaints about shrinkflation or other challenges.

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Operations