RB Daily
Your quick morning dose of the restaurant news you need, every weekday, from the editors of Restaurant Business.
Restaurants may be losing business to Walmart. McDonald’s new dessert was inspired by grandmas. And has Chipotle changed its portion sizes?
Red Lobster is said to be filing for bankruptcy protection very soon. Expect to be able to order a $5 McDonald’s value meal next month. And restaurant inflation continues to outpace grocery stores.
Red Lobster closes dozens of locations. Twin Peaks is preparing to go public. And Pizza Hut puts its spin on a cheeseburger.
A prominent McDonald’s franchisee is suing the chain. A revered New England chef has died. And technology will be a key focus of this year’s National Restaurant Association Show, which kicks off this weekend.
Fat Brands’ Chairman Andy Wiederhorn is in trouble with the SEC. McDonald’s is planning a new $5 value meal. And why Sweetgreen’s stock is skyrocketing.
McDonald’s is readying a big investment in digital marketing. Red Lobster, meanwhile, is getting closer to being sold. And sales have been slow at Papa Johns, despite a marketing boost.
Dutch Bros gets a sales boost from boba. A cookie concept raises some money. And can $1 margaritas save Applebee’s?
Bloomin’ Brands’ CEO is retiring. Did social media pressure hurt Starbucks’ sales? And Panera Bread is axing a controversial menu item.
Howard Schultz weighs in on Starbucks’ tough quarter. Burgerville gets some growth-minded new investors. And Pizza Hut has a new president in the U.S. Welcome to RB Daily, a quick look at the industry’s top stories from the editors of Restaurant Business. I’m Joe Guszkowski, senior editor at RB.
The president has vetoed a bill that would end the NLRB’s expanded joint employer effort. Clean Juice is struggling as it prepares to be sold. And Texas Roadhouse is bucking casual-dining trends with a very successful first quarter.
Wendy’s profits are improving. Bad weather hurt Shake Shack last quarter. And the owner of Panda Express was hit with a cyberattack.
Traffic is way down at Starbucks and KFC. But business is booming at Wingstop. Plus, Denny’s sees opportunity in an unexpected menu addition.
McDonald’s has lost ground on value, but it plans to change that. Roark Capital officially owns Subway. And Burger King is doing more remodels
Chili’s is lobbing another grenade at fast-food chains. Subway continues to shrink. And Domino’s had a big first quarter.
Clean Juice is sold. Full-service shows some signs of life. And Restaurant Business wins some awards.
Chipotle stays red hot. Another chain declares bankruptcy. And Domino’s will pay you to tip your delivery driver.
Tropical Smoothie Cafe is reportedly getting a new owner. Cava is ready for its Midwest expansion. And a once buzzed-about restaurant concept that went bankrupt is ready for its second act.
Restaurants are losing traffic to retailers. A growing retail-restaurant hybrid suddenly closes its doors. And if you’re like me and think Crumbl’s cookies are too damn big, you’re in luck.
There appears to be some movement in the case of Starbucks and its employees’ union. Tijuana Flats is filing for bankruptcy and closing many restaurants. And mega-franchisee Greg Flynn is deepening his relationship with Applebee’s
Chipotle and Panera are no longer neck and neck. Inside TGI Fridays’ potential merger with its UK franchisee. And what will a move to national marketing do for Papa Johns?
Red Lobster is falling behind on its bills. The Oberweis ice cream chain files for bankruptcy. And Starbucks makes a change to its cups.
California operators are still optimistic about the future. That at least is based on a panel at the Restaurant Leadership Conference on Wednesday. Struggling seafood chain Red Lobster is considering filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection to restructure its debt. And Martha Stewart on her first restaurant, The Bedford by Martha Stewart.
Chain restaurants are growing – but that growth might not be coming from the most-desireable sources. Is Jersey Mike’s on the market? And TGI Friday’s largest franchisee has plans to buy the company.
Restaurant Leadership Conference is off and running with a pair of industry leaders winning some hardware. Full-service restaurants commiserated on challenges for the sector. And Momofuku backs down on its chili-crunch offensive
Fast-food traffic suffered in Q1. A look at what makes a great loyalty program. And drum roll please: Restaurant Business revealed the winners of two annual industry awards.
There’s a surprising development in joint employer regulations. Crumbl cookie’s sales appear to be crumbling a bit. And Buffalo Wild Wings is quietly growing its spinoff concept. Welcome to RB Daily, a quick look at the industry’s top stories from the editors of Restaurant Business. I’m Heather Lalley, RB’s managing editor
Menu price inflation is starting to slow down. Papa Johns has a deal for more locations. And I Heart Mac and Cheese is in hot water once again.
One fast-casual pizza chain has shuttered more than two dozen locations. There’s lots of activity in tech provider funding. A controversial Florida bill that could change restaurant operations there awaits the governor’s signature.
Restaurants both large and small are rolling out new menus with one thing in common: Value. Also, Panera Bread’s tech outage appears to have been a cyberattack, and Shake Shack pokes some fun at Chick-fil-A.
Reports indicate that Jersey Mike’s may be for sale. Business at Chick-fil-A is booming. And a new chicken battle is brewing.
Avian flu hits the nation’s biggest egg supplier. McDonald’s is buying out its franchisee in Israel. And the CEO is out at a big QSR chain.
McDonald’s CEO got a pay boost. How has Red Lobster unraveled in recent years? And Dave & Buster’s is ready to focus on the food part of its food and games offering.
Seven members of Jose Andres’ aid group are killed in Gaza. A big Wendy’s franchisee buys more Wendy’s. And BurgerFi is having some financial problems.
Wall Street is smiling at fast-casual concepts. A fast-growing drinks chain is looking for a new leader. And Dave & Buster’s is heading overseas.
What ever happened to Punch Bowl Social? A mac and cheese franchise is hit with a fine in California. And a look at Gen Z’s restaurant tech preferences.
Bob Evans is apparently for sale. McDonald’s price increases are not created equally. And what CEO Denise Nelsen plans to do at Smashburger.
Credit card swipe fees are going down, so why are restaurants so unhappy? Benihana is sold for $365 million. And a group of baseball players are accused of illegally trading Del Taco stock.
McDonald’s and Krispy Kreme are expanding their partnership. Danny Meyer is offering his hospitality expertise to non-restaurant businesses. And a look at some of the biggest marketing flops in restaurant history.
Panera Bread is dealing with a digital outage. Full-service restaurants in D.C. are slashing jobs. And the pizza business has fallen on hard times.
Restaurant sales are slowing. Red Lobster has a new CEO. And how Shake Shack lured Rob Lynch away from Papa Johns.
Lower-income diners aren’t going to Olive Garden as often as they used to. California’s fast-food wage-setting process seems to be getting more and more complicated. And Shake Shack just named the second CEO in its history.
Chipotle makes New York Stock Exchange history. Why Subway’s switch to Pepsi is such a big deal. And can AI make artisanal bread?
McDonald’s CEO is adding a new title to his job description. Subway is switching soda suppliers. And Wonder lands another nine-figure funding round.
It looks like Panera Bread is not, in fact, exempt from California’s fast-food wage hike. Get to know unified commerce, the latest tech buzzword. And Virtual Dining Concepts continues to collect concepts.
Corner Bakery is bouncing back from bankruptcy. Subway franchisees just hired a high-powered attorney. And former employees of the struggling Boston Market say they’re having problems filing their taxes.
The new concept from Chipotle’s founder is looking to reimagine fast-casual dining. Digital restaurant group C3 has made another acquisition. And &Pizza has a new-ish CEO.
Get ready for bigger burgers at McDonald’s (again). Five Iron Golf gets a high-profile endorsement. And Pizza Hut tries the bagel business.
Restaurant menu prices are easing. There’s a new partnership between two delivery-focused fast casuals. And what is the Keith Lee effect?
Boston Market appears to be down to just a couple dozen locations. Is the supermarket the next restaurant bastion? And here’s how to tell if restaurant employees are looking to unionize.
Starbucks passes Subway on the list of biggest restaurant chains. Noodles has a new CEO and a new menu strategy. And Potbelly is seeing good results from a revamped loyalty program.