On this week’s Extra Serving, NRN editor in chief Sam Oches and executive editor Alicia Kelso start by talking about Alicia’s recent trip to Atlanta, where she visited Zaxby’s headquarters and learned about how the fast-casual chain is preparing for a big growth push; stay tuned for Alicia’s story in the coming weeks. Then they discuss Yum’s partnership with Nvidia, which will fuel the restaurant company’s push into artificial intelligence. They also talk about plummeting consumer sentiment and what it could mean for restaurant chains in 2025. And in this week’s extra serving, managing editor Leigh Anne Zinsmeister joins to talk about Darden’s most recent earnings report, where the full-service giant is expressing optimism even as most casual-dining chains struggle.

For more on these stories:  

Yum Brands partners with Nvidia to accelerate AI technologies across its global system

Darden tests Uber Direct delivery at Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen

More consumers are trimming their restaurant budgets than they were last year

On this week’s Extra Serving, NRN editor in chief Sam Oches and executive editor Alicia Kelso start by talking about the 5-year anniversary of the Covid-19 pandemic and reflect on how much the restaurant industry has changed in those five years. Then they discuss McDonald’s new Restaurant Experience Team and how it’s designed to push back against rising competitors by bringing new ideas to market faster, particularly in the beef, chicken, and beverage/dessert categories. They also talk about Starbucks’ intention to reinvest in its status as a “third place,” which includes a new prototype that has more booths, couches, outdoor seating, and power outlets. And in this week’s extra serving, senior editor Bret Thorn joins to talk about some big new menu launches, including whole new menus from Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux and Noodles & Company.

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McDonald’s has created teams focused on beef, chicken, and beverage categories to better compete with ‘specialists’

Starbucks offers first look at new coffeehouse store designs 

Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux rolls out new menu

Noodles & Company rolls out long-anticipated new menu

On this week’s Extra Serving, NRN editor in chief Sam Oches and executive editor Alicia Kelso discuss Alicia’s time at Taco Bell’s Live Mas Live event in New York City, where company leaders announced that they would double their menu rollouts in 2025. Sam and Alicia discuss the rarefied air that Taco Bell occupies, where it’s built a cult-like following among younger consumers and can continue to leverage new menu items to build incredible momentum. They also talk about four companies that reported sales results this week: three that turned in a positive performance (Cracker Barrel, Potbelly, El Pollo Loco) and one that did not (Dine Brands). And they tackle Alicia’s recent story on all of the chains that are cutting SKUs from their kitchens, including Starbucks, Papa Johns, and Einstein Bros. In this week’s extra serving, senior editor Ron Ruggless joins to talk about Wendy’s announcement that it planned to add another 1,000 locations, targeting international growth in particular while also appealing to more young and Hispanic consumers. Finally, we share an interview between managing editor Leigh Anne Zinsmeister and Pizza Guys president and CEO Shapour Nejad.

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Taco Bell is doubling the pace of its menu innovations this year

Several restaurant chains are reducing the size of their pantries

Cracker Barrel’s comeback continues as same-store sales grow 4.7%

Wendy’s expects to grow to more than 8,000 units by 2028

On this week’s Extra Serving, NRN editor in chief Sam Oches and executive editor Alicia Kelso discuss sales results from several prominent restaurant companies, including Domino’s, CAVA, Sweetgreen, Jack in the Box, and more. With some outliers, both for good (CAVA) and bad (Krispy Kreme), restaurants were relatively stagnant in both sales and traffic, and many companies are reporting that customers are becoming increasingly cautious with their restaurant spend as consumer confidence plummets. Sam and Alicia discuss the factors at play and how restaurants can turn things around in the months ahead. In this week’s extra serving, managing editor Leigh Anne Zinsmeister joins to talk about the Women’s Foodservice Forum Leadership Conference, which she and Alicia just attended in Dallas. Find out why this event is so helpful for restaurant leaders of all walks. Finally, we share an interview between Alicia and Einstein Bros Bagels CEO Jessica DePetro on how the brand plans to conquer the breakfast daypart.

Relevant links:

NRN’s Women in Foodservice content

Women’s Foodservice Forum

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CAVA’s traffic grew by nearly 16% in the fourth quarter

Red Robin plans to close dozens of underperforming restaurants

Domino’s looks to expand 3rd-party delivery

Einstein Bros Bagels is ready to conquer the breakfast daypart

On this week’s Extra Serving, NRN editor in chief Sam Oches and executive editor Alicia Kelso discuss KFC’s announcement that it would move its U.S. headquarters from Louisville, Ky., to Plano, Texas. The news is personal for Louisville-based Alicia, who shares the dismay of many from around the industry who think it’s a mistake to take Kentucky Fried Chicken out of Kentucky. Plus they talk about recent earnings reports from brands like Texas Roadhouse, Shake Shack, Wingstop, and The Cheesecake Factory, all of whom enjoyed positive sales — but with some caveats. In this week’s extra serving, senior F&B editor Bret Thorn joins to talk about new menu items from around the industry, including Taco Bell’s Birthday Cake Churro and the mash-up menu at the first hybrid IHOP/Applebee’s. Finally, we share an interview between senior F&B editor Bret Thorn and TOUS les JOURS beverage specialist Alex Hager.

For more on these stories:  

What happens when Kentucky Fried Chicken leaves Kentucky?

How Texas Roadhouse is managing higher volumes

How Dine Brands created an Applebee’s/IHOP mashup menu

On this week’s Extra Serving, NRN editor in chief Sam Oches and executive editor Alicia Kelso discuss recent earnings reports from major restaurant companies, results of which have so far been a mixed bag. First up is Dutch Bros, which just crossed the 1,000-unit mark and enjoyed massive sales growth in 2024. Could its ceiling be even higher than the 4,000-unit goal it set for itself? On the other hand there’s McDonald’s, where sales have continued to be sluggish in the wake of its E. coli outbreak in the fall. Could the real issue be low-income consumers, who seem to be pulling back on restaurant spending in the midst of economic turmoil? Sam and Alicia discuss. In this week’s extra serving, senior editor Joanna Fantozzi joins to talk about the recent National Restaurant Association State of the Industry report, which found that operators aren’t entirely satisfied with their technology investments. Finally, we share an interview between senior F&B editor Bret Thorn and Marco’s Pizza’s director of culinary innovation, Kathleen Kennedy.

For more on these stories:  

How Dutch Bros wins with customization, connection, and speed

McDonald’s still has some work to do to recover from its E. coli outbreak

The restaurant industry’s challenge this year is to win back lower-income consumers

On this week’s Extra Serving, NRN editor in chief Sam Oches and executive editor Alicia Kelso discuss the news that Dine Brands is laying off 9% of its corporate workforce as Applebee’s and IHOP continue to languish with stagnant sales and traffic. How might these chains capture some momentum like full-service peer Chili’s? Plus, Chipotle reported positive sales and transaction growth in Q4; Sam and Alicia talk about the keys to its impressive performance and how CEO Scott Boatwright has maintained consistent growth in his first few months on the job. And the National Restaurant Association released its annual State of the Industry report, noting that foodservice establishments could cross $1.5 trillion in sales in 2025. In this week’s extra serving, Restaurant Business editor in chief Jonathan Maze joins to talk about Yum Brands, which just announced Byte by Yum, an AI-powered division aimed at achieving tech efficiencies across Taco Bell, KFC, Pizza Hut, and Habit Burger. Finally, Sam shares an interview he recently had with Roberto Espinosa, founder of Tacodeli, a taco fast casual based in Austin that has 14 locations around Texas.

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Chipotle’s priorities include modernizing the kitchen and being ‘guest obsessed’

IHOP, Applebee’s parent company confirms corporate layoffs

Yum Brands has created an AI-powered platform to house all of its technology solutions

The restaurant industry is projected to reach $1.5 trillion in sales this year

On this week’s Extra Serving, NRN editor in chief Sam Oches and executive editor Alicia Kelso discuss the never-ending news cycle that is Starbucks, where new CEO Brian Niccol has welcomed some familiar faces into the executive suite and instituted several operational changes designed to improve sales and traffic. Plus they talk about Chili’s, which announced a staggering 31.4% same-store sales increase in its most recent quarter, the direct result of massively popular campaigns like the Triple Dipper appetizer and the company’s commitment to social media influencer marketing. And Chuck E. Cheese seems to be reaping the rewards of a $350 million turnaround investment; what does this mean for the future of eatertainment? In this week’s extra serving, senior food and beverage editor Bret Thorn joins to talk about new menu items around the industry, particularly collaborations between organizations like Wendy’s and Girl Scouts with the Thin Mint Frosty. Finally, hear from more experts at the recent ICR Conference in Orlando, as senior editor Joanna Fantozzi shares some insights from executives at Dutch Bros, Shake Shack, and Cracker Barrel.

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Starbucks announces more executive changes ahead of earnings call

Chili’s 31.4% same-store sales increase in Q2 allows for investments

Chuck E. Cheese reaps the rewards of its investments

On this week’s Extra Serving, NRN editor in chief Sam Oches and executive editor Alicia Kelso discuss the news that Hot ‘n Now — a Michigan-based burger quick serve that once had 150 locations but is now down to just one — is planning to jumpstart growth again, spearheaded by a developer who plans to use modular build-outs. In the wake of the news that Chi-Chi’s and Steak & Ale would also be resurrected, could we be seeing a wave of nostalgia for once-dormant brands? Plus, they talk about new and improved loyalty programs from restaurants like Portillo’s, Potbelly, Red Robin, and Denny’s, and how loyalty plays a role in restaurant companies’ ongoing efforts to jumpstart traffic. Speaking of Denny’s, Sam and Alicia chat about the family dining chain’s announcement that it planned to return to net new unit growth in 2026 after closing 150 underperforming locations; while 150 closed locations may sound like a lot, Sam and Alicia share why they think this could be a positive move for Denny’s. And in this week’s extra serving, senior editor Joanna Fantozzi joins to talk about Starbucks’ announcement that it would lay off a number of corporate employees. Finally, hear from executives at ICR about their growth strategies in 2025. 

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Hot ‘n Now is planning a comeback this year

ICR takeaways: Efficiency, value adjustments, smaller boxes, cautious optimism

Denny’s plans to get back to net unit growth by 2026

Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol foreshadows possible layoffs

On this week’s Extra Serving, NRN editor in chief Sam Oches and executive editor Alicia Kelso discuss the biggest headlines coming out of the ICR Conference, which was held last week in Orlando. First they talk about Papa Johns, whose CEO, Todd Penegor, said the company would leverage local-store marketing, tech investments, and menu innovation to turn sales around. Next up is Shake Shack, which is aiming to nearly quadruple its store count through smaller boxes and drive thrus, according to CEO Rob Lynch. Then they talk about Portillo’s, which energized shareholders by committing to more growth in its restaurant of the future. Finally, in this week’s extra serving, senior editor Ron Rugglessjoins to talk about Twin Peaks and its plan to file its IPO on January 30. 

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Papa Johns CEO looks to address past missteps with a back-to-basics strategy

Shake Shack quadruples target footprint to 1,500 stores

Portillo’s plan to drive traffic includes computer vision, loyalty

On cusp of IPO, Twin Peaks CEO shares how sports bar chain has redefined category