It’s not clear what sort of macroeconomic climate the new year will bring, but big-name restaurateurs are busy with new projects in the works. Many are looking to 2025 with a mix of anticipation and dread. It has been a rough 2024 for most, especially independent restaurants, with consumers keeping a tight grip on their… read more

It’s still too early to get a sense of properties and jobs lost. But industry advisors recommend taking steps now to prepare for a difficult recovery ahead. Dog Haus co-founder André Vener’s home in Pasadena is still standing—sadly, unlike many whose homes were reduced to little more than ashes after fires whipped through the region… read more

Cancun-based Mera Corp. outbid former Fridays’ CEO Ray Blanchette for a group of nine locations, including five at the Dallas-Fort Worth airport, according to reports. TGI Fridays will sell nine of its U.S. corporate locations to an airport restaurant operator after a bankruptcy judge approved the deal on Thursday, according to various media reports. Cancun-based… read more

Professional wrestler and actor John Cena is helping promote the new value platform. McDonald’s new McValue platform has officially arrived in restaurants nationwide as customers search for favorable deals after heavy holiday shopping. The platform houses all of the burger chain’s value offers in one place, including meal deals—like the current $5 Meal Deal—in-app offers,… read more

The Third Circuit Court upheld the NLRB’s 2021 ruling, finding that Starbucks illegally terminated two employees in Philadelphia Starbucks Corp. has lost its appeal of a 2022 unfair labor practices ruling by the National Labor Board. At the end of December, the 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the NLRB’s initial decision that Starbucks illegally… read more

The long-time industry executive most recently served the company as CFO. Panera Brands has a new interim CEO in Paul Carbone. He most recently served the company, which includes Panera Bread, Caribou Coffee and Einstein Bros., as CFO. Carbone steps into the role following José Alberto Dueñas’ decision to step down as CEO. He will… read more

In-store card purchases outstrip digital sales in 2024, reversing trends and indicating post-COVID confidence Restaurant gift card sales peaked earlier in the 2024 Thanksgiving weekend with shoppers buying 13.2% more in dollars per card on Black Friday and 17.7% more spent over the weekend, while Cyber Monday sales remained flat vs. those same days in… read more

New items and limited-time offers flooded restaurant menus in 2024, but these winners surged to the top in more ways than one. Menu innovation accelerated in 2024, as chains competed to tempt customers with food and drink offerings. Restaurant Business sister company, Technomic, reports that menu launches have been steadily increasing year over year, reaching… read more

The chain hopes to reach around 275 restaurants by the end of 2029. For basketball legend Shaquille O’Neal, chicken is personal. Many chains wanted him to do endorsements and it never felt right. “It felt unauthentic, and he’s one of the most authentic human beings you’ll ever meet,” said Josh Halpern, CEO of Big Chicken,… read more

The walkout would affect a host of restaurants in the market, including local units of The Cheesecake Factory, Jersey Mike’s, Jimmy John’s, Pappas Restaurants and the Buc-ee’s c-store chain, according to the local Teamsters chapter planning the strike. Restaurants in the Houston area could see a disruption in supplies over the holidays if employees of… read more