Restaurant Daily

We’ve got lots of takeaways from this week’s ICR Conference. A New York City group has brought a Chicago chain into its fold. And KFC wants to stave off the Sunday Scaries.

Dutch Bros is buying a small coffee chain. Pollo Tropical would like to go public. And restaurant operators in Minnesota are pushing back against the ICE crackdown there.

Fat Brands has a big debt problem. Chipotle is looking for a new chief brand officer. And Jersey Mike’s is heading to Europe.

Noodles & Company is closing more locations than planned. TGI Fridays, meanwhile, has big opening plans. And Darden is on the hunt for more brands.

New dietary guidelines are good news for steakhouses, chicken concepts, and burger spots. Another regional chain is closing its doors. And the demand for healthy menu items is even higher than in Januarys past.

Kura Sushi has some good news. A women-focused sports bar concept has a big-name strategic investor. And an AI drive-thru company just got a cash infusion.

Change is afoot at Savory Fund as it appoints new leaders.  Salad and Go is reportedly closing more units. And a couple regional chains have filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

Blaze Pizza has a new leader. Another casual-dining chain is shrinking. And here come the chain restaurant discounts.

Dave’s Hot Chicken has a new, very familiar CEO. Chick-fil-A has launched its largest marketing campaign ever. And CAVA is bringing back a fan favorite.

Sprinkles shuts its restaurants down. Noodles stock might cease trading soon. And restaurant stocks had a brutal year.

Krispy Kreme is refranchising. El Pollo Loco is bolstering its board of directors. And Taco Bell keeps adding to its beverage lineup.

One of Sweetgreen’s cofounders is retiring. Darden reported good news. And Chipotle is jumping on the high-protein trend.

Red Lobster is cutting staff. Taco Bell is bringing another product back from the dead. And Qdoba gets an interesting new franchisee.

California Pizza Kitchen has a new ownership group. Some McDonald’s franchisees are upset about the chain’s new pricing strategy. And new economic data presents a less-than-rosy view of the restaurant industry. This episode of Restaurant Daily is sponsored by O'Keeffe's Working Hands Hand Cream. Visit ⁠⁠⁠https://www.okeeffescompany.com/restaurantdaily⁠⁠⁠ and use code NRN for 15% off your f...

Sweet Tomatoes is alive and growing again. Noodles and Company is planning a potential reverse stock split. And Firehouse Subs is in “high growth mode.” This episode of Restaurant Daily is sponsored by O'Keeffe's Working Hands Hand Cream. Visit ⁠⁠⁠https://www.okeeffescompany.com/restaurantdaily⁠⁠⁠ and use code NRN for 15% off your first order.

Third-party delivery players are suing New York City over tipping. Chipotle marks a growth milestone. And consumers aren’t necessarily drinking less, they’re just drinking differently. This episode of Restaurant Daily is sponsored by O'Keeffe's Working Hands Hand Cream. Visit ⁠⁠⁠https://www.okeeffescompany.com/restaurantdaily⁠⁠⁠ and use code NRN for 15% off your first order.

Recent McDonald’s and Burger King promotions drove a material lift in traffic. Tourism has fallen this year and it seems to be having a pretty big impact on restaurant businesses.  And restaurants are feeling short-changed by the federal government’s decision to stop printing the penny. This episode of Restaurant Daily is sponsored by O'Keeffe's Working Hands Hand Cream. Visit ⁠⁠⁠https://w...

Cracker Barrel is laying off corporate staff. A fast-casual pizza chain declared bankruptcy. And Shake Shack is growing traffic. This episode of Restaurant Daily is sponsored by O'Keeffe's Working Hands Hand Cream. Visit ⁠⁠⁠https://www.okeeffescompany.com/restaurantdaily⁠⁠⁠ and use code NRN for 15% off your first order.

In-N-Out Burger is officially debuting in Tennessee this week. Hardee’s is at war with another franchisee. And Wendy’s is leaning into a viral TikTok trend. This episode of Restaurant Daily is sponsored by O'Keeffe's Working Hands Hand Cream. Visit ⁠⁠https://www.okeeffescompany.com/restaurantdaily⁠⁠ and use code NRN for 15% off your first order.

McDonald’s is beefing up its franchising standards around value. The Grinch, meanwhile, appears to be saving the burger giant’s Christmas. And Sweetgreen has come out with a major value play. This episode of Restaurant Daily is sponsored by O'Keeffe's Working Hands Hand Cream. Visit ⁠⁠https://www.okeeffescompany.com/restaurantdaily⁠⁠ and use code NRN for 15% off your first order.

The fast-casual category is thriving in one specific area. Brands that have strayed too far from their core menus are returning to their origins. And Razzoo’s Cajun Cafe may have a buyer. This episode of Restaurant Daily is sponsored by O'Keeffe's Working Hands Hand Cream. Visit ⁠⁠⁠https://www.okeeffescompany.com/restaurantdaily⁠⁠⁠ and use code NRN for 15% off your first order.

California’s Fast Food Council has gone dormant. Here come the 2026 restaurant industry predictions. And a 10-unit wood-fired pizza concept is getting some growth funding. This episode of Restaurant Daily is sponsored by O'Keeffe's Working Hands Hand Cream. Visit ⁠⁠⁠https://www.okeeffescompany.com/restaurantdaily⁠⁠⁠ and use code NRN for 15% off your first order.

Chick-fil-A is making a major strategic change to its non-traditional restaurant portfolio. Velvet Taco has named a new CEO. And KFC’s Saucy concept will add three new locations in the next several weeks. This episode of Restaurant Daily is sponsored by O'Keeffe's Working Hands Hand Cream. Visit ⁠⁠https://www.okeeffescompany.com/restaurantdaily⁠⁠ and use code NRN for 15% off your first ord...

Starbucks is paying millions to settle labor scheduling violation allegations. Romano’s Macaroni Grill is dwindling. And a big restaurant holding company has a new CEO. This episode of Restaurant Daily is sponsored by O'Keeffe's Working Hands Hand Cream. Visit ⁠https://www.okeeffescompany.com/restaurantdaily⁠ and use code NRN for 15% off your first order.

Subway franchisees are not loving the chain’s new loyalty program. The parent company of Cinnabon, Auntie Anne’s and more is getting a new CEO. And the fast-casual sector is facing some headwinds. This episode of Restaurant Daily is sponsored by O'Keeffe's Working Hands Hand Cream. Visit ⁠https://www.okeeffescompany.com/restaurantdaily⁠ and use code NRN for 15% off your first order.