Restaurants

Restaurant operators should prepare for due diligence 12-18 months before a sale to ensure a smooth transaction, a managing director advises.

A university has seen a tenfold increase in sales by replacing a vending machine with a robotic hot-meal kiosk that serves local restaurant meals.

Restaurant brands face a tighter market for new sites than the national vacancy rate suggests, with usable vacancy in growth markets estimated to be 2-3%.

Burger King, Jersey Mike's, and El Pollo Loco leaders discuss the importance of value, traffic, and franchisee profitability in the QSR industry.

Burger King, Jersey Mike's, and El Pollo Loco leaders discuss the importance of value, traffic, and franchisee profitability in the QSR industry.

Over 40% of restaurant operators are taking a cautious approach to using AI, with many still evaluating the business case before committing to implementation.

Puerto Rico-based Encanto Restaurants filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy with $123.9 million in liabilities and $29.8 million in assets.

Founder-led, regional restaurant brands, such as In-N-Out Burger, are thriving due to their focus on employee care and customer lifetime value.

BJ's Restaurants focused on building a strong foundation for future growth, celebrating its ninth straight quarter of same-store sales and traffic growth.

Restaurant chains are making menu upgrades to win back increasingly selective diners, with some seeing significant increases in sales.

Sweetgreen's same-store sales fell 6.4 percent in Q3, but comps were up about 5 percent by October, driven by a 4 percent transaction increase.

Bob Wright spent two decades at Wendy's. He called its turnaround his "personal mission." | Photo: Shutterstock

Sweetgreen relaunches its Plates category on the menu, adding new items and positioning itself to capture the dinner daypart.

Brandon Coleman was named president of McAlister’s and Deli Brands, focusing on brand growth, innovation, and operations.

Smalls Sliders has opened a new location in Hammond, Louisiana, offering its signature cheeseburger sliders, fries, shakes, and queso.

Hawaiian Bros has signed a five-unit development agreement to open restaurants across the West San Fernando Valley, marking the first California development commitment for the concept.

Wayback Burgers introduces three new limited-time offerings, including the Fiesta Cheeeesy Burger, Chili Lime Fries, and Fruity Protein Shake.

Snooze is strengthening its leadership and operations to support its next stage of growth, including opening six new restaurants in 2027.

Bubbakoo’s Burritos has opened its first restaurant in the Charlotte, North Carolina, area and signed a deal to expand into Greensboro and High Point.

McDonald’s and Uber have announced a multi-year expansion of their partnership that adds delivery and loyalty features in 14 markets.

Delays in commercial build-outs can cost restaurants revenue and damage their reputation, with common mistakes including starting the permit process too late.

Military installations offer new growth opportunities for restaurant franchises with established communities of service members and families.

Tyler Wheatley, a Houston native and University of Houston graduate, signed a three‑store development agreement to open Donatos Pizza’s first unit on Nov. 14 in Humble, Texas.

NakedMD has expanded to over 50 locations nationwide, bypassing franchising in favor of a corporate-owned model for direct control over operations and pricing.