Restaurant Daily

Starbucks is revving up its marketing with free coffee for everybody the day after the Super Bowl. Franchising growth is outpacing the broader economy. And Chipotle says it’s prepared, even if the price of Mexican avocados shoots up.

McDonald’s is bringing back a character who disappeared in the ’80s. Waffle House has added an egg surcharge. And another chain has gone seed-oil free. Welcome to Restaurant Daily, a quick look at the industry’s top stories from the editors of Nation’s Restaurant News and Restaurant Business. I’m NRN Managing Editor Leigh Anne Zinsmeister.

How will proposed tariffs impact the restaurant industry? Here’s how one Pizza Hut franchisee lost his 142-store empire. And Applebee’s is laying off some of its corporate staff.

77 Pizza Hut restaurants have been bought out of bankruptcy. Menu price inflation may be normalizing. And Starbucks and its union are going to mediation.

TGI Fridays continues to dwindle. Twin Peaks is now a publicly traded restaurant company. And Chuck E. Cheese is undergoing a rebirth.

An unlikely turnaround at Chili’s is now complete. Who is Alyssa Buetikofer (BUTTE-i-cougher), McDonald’s U.S.’s new CMO? And the Trump administration has frozen - and unfrozen - federal grants and loans that don’t align with the new president’s priorities.

Starbucks’ executive ranks are getting pretty Taco Bell heavy. McDonald’s is also making some leadership moves. And Pizza Hut is launching a new app.

Starbucks is paying the two men who served as CEO last year a lot of money. Red Robin is starting to hit its stride. And a doughnut-chain CEO has resigned amid layoffs at headquarters.

Taco Bell has a new leader for its North America division. Dutch Bros is outperforming Starbucks. And Qdoba is gunning to reach a big milestone.

A combination of factors will likely lead to higher costs for restaurants this year. Denny’s hit the reset button and is preparing for growth. And a traditionally Japanese menu style is finding its way into all sorts of concepts.

A clearer picture of how consumers are feeling in the new year is starting to emerge. One of the country’s largest multi-concept restaurant groups has a new CEO. And McDonald’s is going all-in on Pokemon.

Layoffs may be coming to Starbucks. Hy-Vee is closing 79 Wahlburgers units. And Charles Phan, the chef and restaurateur behind San Francisco’s Slanted Door, has died. 

Panera is going through a major transformative period. P.F. Chang’s has big plans for its fast-casual spinoff. And Dutch Bros is targeting a surprising daypart.

ICR Conference attendees report they’re cautiously optimistic about their businesses after a rocky year. Restaurant sales ended the year down, according to new Census data. And Steak ‘n Shake is making a meaty change to its fries.

Papa Johns’ CEO is hoping to course correct the company. The price gap between groceries and restaurants continues to narrow. And Portillo’s outlined a robust plan to bolster traffic, margins, and returns.

If you want to use the Starbucks bathroom, you’re going to have to buy some coffee. McDonald’s has a significant economic impact in the U.S. And Dave & Buster’s has some significant problems to solve.

Shake Shack wants to quadruple its domestic unit count. Papa Johns is adding new restaurants itself, despite slowing sales. And fast-food restaurants had a good fourth quarter… if you don’t count December.

McDonald’s is making some big changes to its beverage-focused concept. Hiring at restaurants and bars is surging. And Portillo’s has added a surprising name to its board.

Fires continue to rage across Los Angeles as operators and workers continue to lose homes and jobs. Outback Steakhouse has a new leader. And more changes are coming to Panera.

Fires are raging in Los Angeles, with some iconic restaurants among the devastation. KFC is working on a transformation plan. And Uber Eats has a new, high-flying partnership.

Panera’s CEO has stepped down. The McValue menu is officially here. And Taco Bell refuses to be outdone.

McDonald’s is changing its diversity and inclusion strategy. New York City restaurants are fretting over congestion pricing. And a 20-unit casual-dining concept has been acquired.

Welcome to a very special edition of Restaurant Daily, as we round up some of our favorite gaffes of 2024. The podcast is taking a holiday break but will return with a new (blooper-free) episode on Jan. 7. Happy holidays and thank you for listening. 

Chefs are getting creative when it comes to work-life balance. Olive Garden got a boost from all-you-can-eat pasta. Plus, it’s been a big year for Jersey Mike’s.

Traffic finally turned positive for QSRs this fall. The union drive has come home to Starbucks. And why are so many legacy brands spinning off new concepts?