Kelley Blue Book’s “Fork in the Road” guide spotlights the top car-friendly fast-food picks for mess-free mobile dining. Boneless bites are on the rise, highlighting shifting consumer preferences in QSR innovation.
In the latter stages of 2025, restaurant growth hinges on pairing value with innovation. From Taylor Swift tie-ins to smart nostalgia, brands that deliver memorable experiences at fair prices are winning foot traffic across formats.
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.
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.
The ripple effects of tariffs are biting the food industry. From cost pressures to shifting consumer habits, even insulated players are feeling the squeeze in a market that’s quietly turning recessionary.
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.
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.
The latest FI Fast Break podcast notes how July brings another round of U.S. minimum wage increases in states such as Alaska.
Brinker International’s unexpected turnaround has propelled Chili’s to stunning same-store sales growth of nearly 26% in fiscal 2025, defying industry trends and revitalizing a brand that seemed stagnant for decades. Chili’s transformation is rewriting the playbook for restaurant chains.
Independent restaurant operators are optimistic as they look ahead to 2025, with 63% reporting profit growth and a focus on cost management over consumer price hikes, according to a new survey. The industry anticipates further expansion, too.
Data from the Toast digital restaurant platform show eating out at quick-service restaurants (QSRs) for lunch in the second quarter got more expensive, with prices up more than 4% from last year. And though hourly …
U.S. consumers love fast food and those who follow a plant-forward diet are no exception. Which quick service restaurants (QSRs) are plant-based consumers seeking out this year?
Plant-based restaurants are experiencing a shakeout as operators recalibrate their menus to address economic challenges. FI checked in with T.K. Pillan, CEO of Veggie Grill, to explore how the vegan QSR is streamlining its offerings to meet evolving consumer demands.
A growing number of plant-based burger chains are cropping up across the country as more younger consumers flock to quick service restaurants
