Finance

Finance, Growth, News, Story

Krispy Kreme Eyes Better 2026 as Initiatives Come to Fruition

After a year defined by tough decisions—including an exit from McDonald’s and corporate layoffs—Krispy Kreme believes it’s emerging from 2025 with renewed momentum. CEO Josh Charlesworth said the doughnut chain has made “meaningful progress” on its four-part turnaround plan involving refranchising, improving returns on capital, expanding margins, and driving sustainable U.S. growth. READ MORE: Krispy […]

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Burgers, Fast Casual, Finance, Growth, News, Story

Shake Shack Doubles Down on Operations to Power Next Phase of Growth

Shake Shack, known for its premium menu selection and brand appeal, has spent the past year refining the less visible parts of the business. That means operations, labor deployment, kitchen design, and supply chain. All have become central to how the brand is thinking about growth. Improvements across the board helped the chain grow corporate […]

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Fast Food, Finance, Menu Innovations, News, Story

A Revitalized Steak ‘n Shake, Owner Says, Becomes Relatable to a New Generation

Excluding 2022, when Steak ‘n Shake rebounded off a COVID floor that was futile to measure against, this past year marked the best same-store sales performance in 33 years, dating to 1992, not long after the Cold War formally ended. Its same-store sales grew 10.2 percent and was, Biglari Holdings chairman Sardar Biglari said, the […]

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Finance, News, Technology

Slang AI Receives $36M in Growth Funding

Slang AI, the first and leading AI platform purpose-built for hospitality, announced that it has secured $36 million in Series B funding led by US Venture Partners (USVP), bringing the company’s total funding to $68 million. The round includes $28M of equity and $8M of debt. Thayer Investment Partners and former Stripe COO Claire Hughes […]

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Fast Casual, Finance, Food, Marketing & Promotions, Menu Innovations, News, Story

Sweetgreen Looks to Value Ladders and Entry-Level Prices to Win Back Guests

With sales falling in the double digits, Sweetgreen is seriously rethinking how much customers are paying for its menu items. One strategy is testing a new, transparent pricing structure for its make-your-own-bowls platform, which represents about 25 percent of systemwide sales. “It does maybe feel like you’re getting nickeled and dimed down the line,” said […]

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Fast Food, Finance, Franchising, News, pizza, Story

Papa Johns Plans 300 Store Closures, Corporate Layoffs Amid Turnaround Efforts

As part of its turnaround, Papa Johns is making major cuts across the business. The chain announced Thursday that it plans to close 300 North America restaurants—200 in 2026 and 100 in 2027—and that it laid off about 7 percent of its corporate workforce. The brand also decided it will remove Papadias and Papa Bites […]

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Fast Casual, Finance, Growth, News, Story

How CAVA Reached $1 Billion in Revenue Without Chasing Discounts

CAVA surpassed $1 billion in revenue for the first time in fiscal 2025, proving how much the brand stands apart from peers during a challenging macroeconomic environment. The 2025 restaurant class—a record 72 net new restaurants—is hitting AUVs around $3 million, above the system average. Existing restaurants are performing well too. CAVA delivered 4 percent […]

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Fast Casual, Finance, News, Story

Portillo’s Remains Committed to ‘Crack the Code’ in Texas

Texas continues to be a thorn in the side of Portillo’s top line sales. The fast casual’s same-store sales decreased 3.3 percent in Q4. Transactions fell 3.3 percent. Average check was flat due to a 2.3 percent increase in menu prices, offset by a 2.3 percent decrease in product mix. In fiscal 2025, comps slipped […]

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Finance, Franchising, News, pizza

Mr Gatti’s Pizza Announces New Owners for Restaurants in Shepherdsville and Brandenburg, Kentucky

Mr Gatti’s Pizza, the iconic Texas-born pizza and entertainment brand, announced the acquisition of its Shepherdsville and Brandenburg, Kentucky restaurants by experienced local entrepreneurs committed to preserving and strengthening the brand’s long-standing presence in each community. Multi-unit franchisee Aftab Siddiqui has purchased the Mr Gatti’s restaurant at 162 Joe B. Hall Ave. in Shepherdsville, marking […]

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Fast Food, Finance, Franchising, Growth, News, Story

1,100-Unit Operator KBP Brands Continues Rapid Expansion with Multi-State Sonic Acquisition

KBP Brands, one of the largest franchisee organizations in the U.S., just became even bigger. The 1,100-plus-unit group announced Monday that it acquired 78 more Sonic restaurants across Ohio, Kentucky, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. KBP now has 164 Sonic stores in eight states, making it the fourth-largest Sonic franchisee in the world. It marks […]

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