Nearly half of U.S. adults now order kids’ meals, driven by inflation, smaller appetites, and a craving for comfort. Restaurants are responding with nostalgic offerings, downsized portions, and delivery deals to match.
In 2025, restaurants are battling inflation and labor woes with smarter tech and sharper marketing. Toast’s latest survey shows operators leaning into AI, efficiency, and guest experience to protect profitability.
The Chi-Chi’s restaurant chain is back, revived by the founder’s son with scratch-made Tex-Mex and a nostalgia-fueled equity campaign. With sold-out reservations and $2.3M raised, expansion plans are already in motion.
IHOP tops the list of slowest chains, exposing breakfast service bottlenecks that frustrate time-sensitive morning diners. Experts say understaffed models and flawed labor assumptions are costing chains millions in lost loyalty.
Restaurants are redefining delivery with “hospitality beyond the four walls,” using personal touches like handwritten notes and smart packaging to boost satisfaction. The payoff? A warmer brand experience and repeat business.
Coffee, chicken, and Mexican restaurant chains sizzled early in 2025, but per-store traffic is cooling fast according to Placer.ai data. With coffee prices spiking, QSRs may be brewing a recipe for over-saturation.
Breakfast is losing its sizzle for many restaurants, as diners skip morning meals amid shifting habits. But with smart value strategies, restaurant brands still have a shot at reclaiming the morning crowd.
This fall, the Gen Z food trends are smoky, global, and TikTok-approved, according to Chartwells’ 2025 campus dining forecast. From ube brunch items to Monster Matcha, flavor innovations are meeting students where they scroll.
As budget-conscious diners trade down, QSRs face a traffic slump while casual-dining chains surge with value bundles. The winners? Brands that nail the value equation in a fiercely discerning dining economy.
Pinstripes’ Chapter 11 filing underscores the eatertainment sector’s struggle with rising costs, weak food offerings, and shifting consumer habits. Experts say the concept needs reinvention – or risk becoming yesterday’s novelty.
Restaurant menu prices are climbing, with burgers, wings, and burritos leading the charge amid rising ingredient costs. New data reveals inflation’s bite is hitting both entrees and profits.
AI is already transforming foodservice, from smarter supply chains to real-time menu innovation. Industry leaders reveal how even small operators can harness data-driven tools to boost efficiency, agility, and competitive edge.
Logan’s Roadhouse is red hot as of late, using $11.99 value meals and a top-ranked customer experience to outpace competitors. The steak chain’s comeback proves that consistency and affordability beat flash in the eyes of modern consumers.
Taco Bell is revamping last year’s Decades Menu with a Y2K spin, featuring iconic menu items from 2001-2010. The overt play for nostalgia has been effective for the QSR chain in the past, and this year it’s doing more to support the initiative.
Cracker Barrel’s recent logo revamp sparked a $100M backlash, forcing a swift return to its nostalgic “Old Timer.” The fiasco highlights the high stakes of brand identity in an era of cultural sensitivity.
Dutch Bros is brewing up explosive growth by doubling down on culture. With 1,000 stores and soaring stock, it’s outpacing rivals by staying unique.
Sweetgreen’s stock nosedived after dismal Q2 results, reigniting doubts about its scalability and consumer appeal. Management blames execution and macro headwinds – but investors may be losing faith in the salad chain’s long-term promise.
Taylor Swift’s sourdough obsession sparked Panera’s “Loaf Story Meal” and reignited consumer interest in fermented breads. With gut health and clean-label trends rising, sourdough’s pandemic-born momentum is evolving into a retail innovation boom.
Fast-casual giants Chipotle and Cava are losing investor confidence after steep post-earnings stock drops. Rising costs, flat traffic, and pricing fatigue signal deeper concerns about the fast-casual segment as a whole.
According to a new report, among sit-down restaurant chains, Outback leads in experience, Cheesecake Factory impresses with its menu, and Chili’s wins on value. Yet, few chains excel across the board. Olive Garden’s comeback proves that simplicity, smart promos, and operational focus drive success.
Once untouchable, Domino’s now finds itself battling market stagnation and an identity crisis in a delivery world reshaped by apps. Even winning in pizza no longer guarantees growth, according to FI’s resident stock expert.
McDonald’s stock has fared well lately, though its value edge has fizzled. Consumers are hungry for more than just $5 deals. History suggests resilience, but can the golden arches glitter amid rising costs and shrinking sales?
Chinese café disruptors Luckin and Cotti are muscling into the U.S. market with tech-driven formats and inventive drinks, challenging Starbucks’ experience-first playbook. Can hyper-local pricing and automation rewrite America’s morning routine?
KFC’s Saucy spinoff flips fast food on its head, making sauce the star with various flavor combos and a vibe-forward experience. Gen Z diners, after all, are chasing chicken these days.
Facing record-high beef prices, restaurants are reworking menus and investing in vertical supply chains to stay afloat. Some are rebranding leaner protein choices as “wellness-driven,” while giants like Walmart cut out the middleman entirely.
US Foods is eyeing a blockbuster merger with Performance Food Group, aiming to dominate the independent restaurant channel and outpace Sysco. But with steep costs and FTC hurdles, the deal’s anything but a sure thing.
Cracker Barrel is attempting to modernize its brand with sleeker decor, streamlined retail, and booze on the menu. CEO Julie Felss Masino faces the challenge of evolution without eroding identity.
Banana milk is swinging into the coffee scene, turning nostalgic flavor into a retail phenomenon. Fueled by K-pop, global influence, and social media buzz, it’s reshaping what “comfort coffee” means for consumers.
Minimum wage hikes took effect starting today across the U.S., leaving restaurants and grocers bracing for ripple effects. Business leaders warn of closures, while advocates say fair pay is overdue in a shifting labor landscape.
The penny’s swan song – likely to occur next year – may save millions, but it won’t shake 99-cent psychology in retail pricing.
Legacy chains like Chick-fil-A are seeing customer satisfaction scores hold even as growth slows, opening doors for challenger QSRs. Meanwhile, full-service dining has largely stumbled amid rising prices.
