Inspire Brands is taking a step toward the public markets. The multi-brand operator said it has confidentially submitted a draft registration statement on Form S-1 with the SEC for a proposed IPO of its common stock. Details around the number of shares and expected price range have not yet been disclosed. Inspire Brands said it […]
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Papa Johns reported another quarter of negative same-store sales in the first quarter, but CEO Todd Penegor and his team aren’t panicking. The brand knows it’s navigating a complicated macroeconomic environment and is faced with balancing near-term pressure on transactions with a longer-term transformation plan based on innovation, value, and operational discipline. And that’s regardless […]
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Wendy’s interim CEO Ken Cook told investors Friday that Q1 results were mostly in line with what the company expected. But still not where the chain wants to be. The brand’s U.S. comps fell 7.8 percent in the quarter, burdened by traffic declines, inclement weather, and changes to operating hours, all partially offset by higher […]
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Whether your menu communications are menuboards, kiosks, web-based, or mobile app, we all know that menu communications should be well-executed (attractively designed, easy to read, informative). That’s a given. And while these basics are very important, they don’t make the difference between getting improved results and getting superior business results. It’s critical that you first […]
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McDonald’s is not happy with the performance of its company-owned footprint. During its Q1 earnings call, CFO Ian Borden said U.S. company-operated margins “were not acceptable,” adding that the company is actively reviewing whether certain restaurants are better suited in the hands of franchisees. The burger giant finished the quarter with 13,728 U.S. restaurants, consisting […]
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Dutch Bros, despite being founded in 1992, often feels like an emerging story. That’s because it took 33 years to open 1,000 stores and much of that unfurled post-pandemic. The brand nearly doubled from September 2021 (the year it went public) to August 2025. And it’s opened 30 or more restaurants for 19 consecutive quarters. […]
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McDonald’s entered 2026 with a clear message that amid a challenging environment, disciplined execution—not sweeping reinvention—is what wins. In the U.S., that philosophy is showing up across value, marketing, and menu innovation. In the first quarter, U.S. same-store sales rose 3.9 percent, with the brand maintaining market share and outperforming many of its closest competitors. […]
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Brett Patterson made his first Portillo’s trip two-plus decades ago. Those were, naturally, different times for the 1963-founded Chicago staple. It’s since gone public (2021), spread into Texas, faced rocky development trends, and begun, more recently, to grapple with value gaps as the brand tries to stabilize its experience amid growth. For Patterson, who joined […]
The post Under New CEO, Portillo’s Begins to Play the Long Game Again appeared first on QSR Magazine.
Popeyes remains in a slump. In Q1, the chicken chain saw same-store sales drop 6.5 percent, marking the fifth straight quarter of negative comps. Systemwide sales fell 3.9 percent despite modest unit growth. RBI leadership acknowledged that Popeyes’ recent performance has fallen short, even as the chicken category overall continues to expand. “While results were […]
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Burger King’s U.S. has put forth years of foundational work to turn around its business, and it’s all now translating into meaningful, and increasingly visible, top-line momentum. In the first quarter, the brand delivered 5.8 percent same-store sales growth in the U.S., outperforming the burger QSR segment by more than five percentage points. For executives, […]
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