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.
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.
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 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.
Circana senior vice president David Portalatin discussed the makeup of the current restaurant customer amid inflationary headwinds.
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, …
The latest Food Institute Fast Break news podcast touches on the decline in Americans’ coffee consumption.
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 …
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 …
