Story

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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Beverage, Fast Food, Marketing & Promotions, News, Outside Insights, Story, Technology

Is Starbucks’ New Loyalty Program the Hit it Needs to Be? 

Starbucks’ recent overhaul of its loyalty program marks a significant shift for what has long been considered the benchmark in beverage-based rewards. The previous structure was intentionally simple: customers earned stars based on payment type, with Starbucks Card users receiving double the rate, two stars per dollar compared with one star per dollar for all other transactions. […]

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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 Food, Menu Innovations, News, Story

Burger King is Elevating the Whopper for the First Time in a Decade

Burger King has spent the better part of three years considering how it could elevate the Whopper. And two of those, brand president Tom Curtis says, were figuring out what it better not do. The Whopper is a burger with nearly 70 years of equity, having entered the arena in 1957 for 37 cents. So, […]

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Fast Casual, Fast Food, News, Story

Registration Now Open for QSR Evolution Conference, with Chick-fil-A, Inspire Brands Execs, and More

WTWH Media, LLC, has announced registration is now open for the fourth year of the QSR Evolution Conference. The event will take place September 8–10, 2026 at the Hyatt Regency Atlanta, with a special welcome reception held on the evening of September 8. New for 2026, QSR Evolution, in partnership with the NextGen Restaurant Summit, […]

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Fast Casual, Franchising, News, Sandwiches, Story

Schlotzsky’s Drops Fresh Prototype and Updated Branding 

Schlotzsky’s is going back to where it started, and it’s trying to tackle some very 2020s challenges along the way. The Austin-born sandwich chain, one of seven brands within the GoTo Foods portfolio, is reclaiming its original “deli” identity and rolling out a next-generation prototype designed to be smaller and cheaper to operate. The new […]

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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, Food, Marketing & Promotions, News, Story

Panera Expands Value with New $4.99 Mix & Match Lineup

Panera is officially part of the value wars. On Wednesday, the fast casual announced a new Mix & Match platform in which customers can purchase certain half sandwiches, half salads, or cups of soup for $4.99 each, along with a free side (baguette, chips or an apple). From these options, guests can choose between two […]

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