FI Fast Break audio news: Nov. 19, 2025
The latest FI Fast Break news podcast touches on the growing list of restaurant chains and operating groups that have filed for bankruptcy.
Tag: Value Meals
McDonald’s Looks Backwards to Move Forward
McDonald’s is betting on nostalgia to reignite value leadership, reviving Snack Wraps and Extra Value Meals. But the real play is digital: boosting app usage to drive traffic and reshape consumer perception.
Fast-Food Chains Feeling Pain in ‘Two-Tier Economy’
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.
Ranking the Highest-Rising Restaurant Menu Prices
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.
For McDonald’s, Investors Believe History Will Repeat
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?
Brinker’s Spectacular Turnaround Isn’t Over Yet
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.
How Foodservice is Contending with Home-Centricity
Circana senior vice president David Portalatin discussed the makeup of the current restaurant customer amid inflationary headwinds.
Top 4 Value Meals of 2024
Fast food used to be enticing because it offered comfort food at cheap prices. Today, that’s not necessarily the case. Inflation has hit every industry – with restaurant chains being no exception. As a result, …
FI Fast Break audio news: May 30, 2024
The latest Food Institute Fast Break news podcast touches on the decline in Americans’ coffee consumption.
How Will Fast-Food Value Deals Look Different This Year?
Fast-food value deals are back, but they’re not quite the same as before. Over the past several weeks, brands such as McDonald’s have returned to value messaging for the first time in several years, noted …
UPDATE: QSRs Rethinking Value Meals as Costs Rise
Fast-food chains, such as McDonald’s and KFC, appear to be cutting discounts and pushing more expensive meals post-pandemic. QSRs are cutting back on $5-and-under “value” menu items in favor of $10-$30 meal combinations in order …