Members help make our journalism possible. Become a Restaurant Business member today and unlock exclusive benefits, including unlimited access to all of our content. Sign up here. MultimediaExclusive ContentFinancing Why are so many restaurant chains filing for bankruptcy?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. Financing Despite their complaints, customers keep flocking to ChipotleThe 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. Operations Hitting resistance elsewhere, ghost kitchens and virtual concepts find a happy home in family diningReality Check: Old-guard chains are finding the alternative operations to be persistently effective side hustles. |