Limited-service menu prices rose 8% while full-service prices increased 7.5%, but overall inflation was just as bad . . . . Menu Price Inflation Hit a 41-Year High in February Restaurants continued to increase at historically high rates in February as operators continued using their pricing power to offset higher costs for food and labor…. read more

To better stabilize restaurants with labor struggles, Red Robin prefers to focus on hiring and training new workers before adding menu complexity. For this reason, the casual-dining concept is significantly decreasing the pace of its Donatos Pizza rollout. Red Robin planned to complete the launch in 2022 by adding pizza to roughly 200 more restaurants, but that projection has… read more

After a busy M&A season in 2021, Famous Dave’s parent BBQ Holdings has already signaled in 2022 that its not quite done buying restaurants. On March 10, the company signed a $28 million asset purchase agreement to acquire Barrio Queen, a Mexican fine-dining chain based in Phoenix. The concept has seven stores and a lease… read more

As a result, Jersey Mike’s could raise in excess of $10 million. A national television and social media campaign from the Planet Propaganda agency has launched to drive awareness and customer visits for this year’s fund-raising drive. The creative features five athletes—including Special Olympics track-and-field star and singer Destiny Gerety, who performs a rendition of… read more

For four years, Jeff Crivello has had a picture of a drive-thru on his desk in Minnesota. The CEO of Famous Dave’s parent BBQ Holdings said he tore the image from a print edition of Restaurant Business. For a while, it was taped to his office window. He wanted colleagues to see what was on… read more

The Costa Mesa, Calif.-based El Pollo Loco also said Roberts will also serve as an interim chief financial officer as the company conducts a search to appoint for the position Roberts has held since 2013. Roberts succeeds Bernard Acoca, who stepped down in October to become CEO of Athens, Ga.-based Zaxby’s Operating Co. L.P. “Larry has done… read more

It’s the first new chicken item in 29 years, giving diners another limited-time option for their favorite protein Chipotle Mexican Grill on Thursday rolled out its long-awaited Pollo Asado in the U.S. and Canada, the first new chicken menu item at the chain in 29 years. The new item was tested in Sacramento and Cincinnati… read more

Burger King announced it has halted corporate support for its 800-plus franchised restaurants in Russia. The Restaurant Brands International chain said it will refuse approvals for any investment or expansion. The suspension also includes pausing operations, marketing, and its supply chain. Burger King’s announcement comes after a flurry of other U.S. fast-food chains — including its… read more