First Bite

By Nation's Restaurant News

What's First Bite about?

First Bite, hosted by Nation’s Restaurant News digital editor Holly Petre, highlights the top restaurant industry headlines of each day followed by a short conversation on one of the day’s trending stories. Published early every weekday morning, First Bite is the perfect way to get a brief recap of the daily foodservice news alongside your first cup of coffee.

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First Bite episodes:

06.14.2024
Restaurant Daily preview: Starbucks' legal win, Dave & Buster's, Bob Evans
The Supreme Court delivers a win for Starbucks. The economy comes for Dave & Buster's. And yet another chain launches a meal bundle. First Bite is becoming Restaurant Daily! Don't forget to subscribe at Apple Podcasts here and Spotify...
06.13.2024
Restaurant Daily preview: Alamo Drafthouse, menu prices, Starbucks combos
Alamo Drafthouse has been sold. There's good news and bad news on the menu price inflation front. And Starbucks is joining the value wars. First Bite is becoming Restaurant Daily! Don't forget to subscribe at Apple Podcasts here and Spotify...
06.12.2024
A note from First Bite
Today’s episode is bittersweet, as it is the last episode of First Bite — but with an exciting twist.
06.10.2024
Will Starbucks' new delivery partner help with the restaurant's wait time issues?
Starbucks and Grubhub announced a partnership on Thursday that would allow customers to order Starbucks delivery via the Grubhub app for the first time ever. The delivery partnership will roll out to select markets in Pennsylvania, Colorado, and Illinois in June, and...
06.07.2024
If you want to be like Chipotle, you should increase employee benefits
Chipotle was one of very few winners from Q1’s financial reports and the company’s momentum certainly didn’t start there. In fact, you’d have to go back to the second quarter of 2020 – the pandemic quarter, if you will –...
06.06.2024
What Rubio's bankruptcy could mean for restaurant finance for the rest of the year
Less than a week after abruptly closing nearly 50 California locations, Rubio’s has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The company said it is pursuing this action to facilitate the sale of the 41-year-old business, adding that its remaining 86 locations...
06.05.2024
Why specialty beverages are the future of foodservice
Utah-based dirty soda chain Swig announced Monday the appointment of former Dutch Bros executive, Daniel Batty, as the fast-growing concept’s first chief development officer. In jumping from one fast-growing beverage chain to another, Batty will help Swig to achieve its...
06.04.2024
Can Julie Felss-Masino figure out how make Cracker Barrel profitable in a modern world?
Cracker Barrel Old Country Store – the brand best known for rocking chairs out front, a gift shop of tchotchkes inside, and for being the restaurant of choice for road tripping families — has been struggling for a long time....
06.03.2024
Why Domino's may be winning the pricing wars
While pricing continues to be a hot topic and challenging conundrum for restaurant operators in 2024, Domino’s Pizza is confident in its firm stance on the pizza delivery value equation. The Ann Arbor-based company purposefully did not raise prices last...
05.31.2024
Why chicken sandwiches are here to stay
BurgerFi announced that it would be rebranding to ChickenFi as it introduces new chicken sandwiches. There is no indication if this is a permanent rebrand or a temporary marketing move. The Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based fast-casual restaurant brand debuted a fried-chicken...
05.30.2024
Are consumers changing their tune on the value of QSRs?
A recent CNN study of earnings calls and analyst notes finds that the word of the summer – on Wall Street, at least – is “bifurcation,” or the division of something into two parts. In this specific instance, bifurcation means that high-income...
05.29.2024
Why this restaurant segment is seeing traffic gains amid industry declines
The fast-casual category first became a thing in the 1990s (about the time Chipotle emerged) and came of age in the 2010s following the Great Recession, when consumers wanted more bang for their buck in the form of value, speed,...
05.28.2024
What does growth mean for restaurants in these economic times?
No matter how it’s defined, growth in any capacity requires capital and capital remains expensive; the Fed raised interest rates 11 times between March 2022 and July 2023 to combat relentlessly high inflation. A cooldown has yet to happen, which...
05.24.2024
Why invisible technology continues to be the most important thing for restaurants
The most popular technology tool on display at the 2024 National Restaurant Association Show in Chicago was mostly invisible. What do the robotic arms, POS systems, back of house analytics tools, and more booth gadgets have in common? Most of...
05.23.2024
Employees want more now, so it's time to invest
The restaurant industry has a labor shortage problem. That is certainly not breaking news. Employee engagement is at an 11-year low. That might surprise some folks. Gusto founder/CEO Nate Hybl said this conversation about employees is long overdue. The bigger...
05.22.2024
Here's how eatertainment is evolving and sticking around for a long time
There have been many iterations of eatertainment over the years. It began with stalwart chains like Chuck E. Cheese and Dave & Buster’s, places to play arcade games and win tokens that would lead to prizes. Over the past 10...
05.21.2024
Why most restaurants aren't turning to discounting to show value to customers now
Restaurant value used to be a much simpler calculation: Discount-driven customers would seek out dollar meals at quick-service restaurants, call for pizza delivery on Friday nights (sans delivery fees), and then splurge on full-service meals on rarer occasions. But in...
05.20.2024
Amid Red Lobster's downfall, what can the restaurant do?
Red Lobster abruptly closed some 87 restaurants on Monday as the chain faces apparent cash-flow issues and loss of confidence from its largest owner. USA Today compiled a list of all of the shuttered restaurants listed on the chain’s web site. The...
05.17.2024
Why Chipotle's extreme focus on this one thing has paid off
Since we’re officially more than halfway through Q1 earnings reports, it’s fair game to derive some of the winners from the start of 2024. Unquestionably among them is Chipotle, which experienced a 7% increase in same-store sales driven in large...
05.16.2024
What's going to happen to FAT Brands with Andy Wiederhorn's charges
Andy Wiederhorn — former CEO and current chairman of FAT Brands — has been accused by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission of misappropriating $27 million of company money and using it to “fund his lavish lifestyle,” a complaint filed...
05.15.2024
Why you should stay nimble with your restaurant's social media
TikToker “MiriTheSiren” was known for posting her creative Chick-fil-A meals, videos that were meant to inspire consumers to think of innovative ways to eat fast food. The TikToker, whose real name is Miri, was a Chick-fil-A employee, sharing how she...
05.14.2024
How Sweetgreen has benefitted from its recent success
Los Angeles-based Sweetgreen is besting many of its restaurant competitors in the first quarter. The fast-casual chain reported 5% same-store sales increases and a 26% revenue increase year-over-year. Sweetgreen CEO Jonathan Neman stated that while January was tough with weather,...
05.13.2024
Why Papa Johns may be losing its competitive edge in the pizza segment
Papa Johns’ customers are spending less than they had previously, and when they do spend money on pizza, they are more likely to choose third-party aggregators over the company’s first-party delivery channels. This shift in mix balance was a primary driver...
05.10.2024
How Applebee's is planning to turn things around
Dine Brands’ first quarter results included same-store sales declines at both Applebee’s (-4.6%) and, for the first time in 11 quarters, IHOP (-1.7%), highlighting a continuing narrative across the industry about increasing consumer sensitivity. Despite a few exceptions, that narrative...
05.09.2024
How Dutch Bros pulled ahead of its biggest competition this quarter
At a time when many restaurant companies are struggling to get customers in the door, Dutch Bros is one of the better success stories for the first quarter of 2024. In Q1, the Oregon-based coffee chain saw 10% same-store sales...
05.08.2024
Where can FAT Brands go from here after failing to turn a profit?
During the first quarter of 2024, FAT Brands continued its journey toward profitability and revenue growth through continued acquisition and physical expansion. The company reported skyrocketing revenues of 43.8%, primarily attributable to the acquisition of Smokey Bones in Sept. 2023. Despite a...
05.07.2024
How big restaurant chains are trying to get in on the growing coffee segment
Whataburger is upgrading its coffee offerings with new hot and iced coffee, a new sweet cream, and a limited-time shake to promote the change. They’re being rolled out on May 7. The same blend of Arabica coffee beans from Colombia, Nicaragua,...
05.06.2024
How this underused vegetable can be on your menu
Squash doesn’t seem like the most charismatic of vegetables. Even the name sounds like a failure. But many chefs are into them. They say each one has its own unique qualities, with summer varieties offering fresh, clean tastes and winter...
05.03.2024
Why Starbucks is financially shaky right now
Starbucks reported a same-store sales decline for the second quarter of 2024, for the first time in almost three years since the peak of the pandemic, as shares of the Seattle-based coffee chain plummeted 16% over the past day. According...
05.02.2024
Why Yum Brands had its first negative quarter since the pandemic
During Yum Brands’ earnings call Wednesday morning, executives were somewhat upbeat, touting the resiliency of the company’s brands in a challenging operating environment and pointing to core operating profit gains and digital sales increases as reasons for their optimism. Additionally,...
05.01.2024
How Domino's is benefitting from this big change
Domino’s Pizza is starting the fiscal year off strong with Q1 earnings highlights that include 5.6% same-store sales growth driven by transaction growth from the company’s new loyalty program. In a Q1 earnings call, Domino’s CEO Russell Weiner discussed how the...
04.30.2024
How Chipotle is bucking industry trends
Chipotle reported first quarter results after market close Wednesday and the company once again bucked the industry’s declining traffic trends, turning in a plus-5% increase in transactions. Credit Chicken Al Pastor, barbacoa, and improved throughput to meet demand for both....
04.29.2024
How third-party delivery could possibly be legislated federally
As food delivery becomes synonymous with the restaurant experience — data from McKinsey and Company shows that the value of the food delivery industry has more than tripled since 2017 — the need for guardrails around the still-budding segment of the restaurant industry...
04.26.2024
Chipotle, Starbucks workers are citing burnout. Why?
While restaurant operators continue to struggle with both labor costs and employee retention, the foodservice industry may very well have deeper employee-side problems. According to a study of Glassdoor reviews just released from BBADegree.org (an organization that provides resources for prospective business...
04.25.2024
Digging deeper into the Starbucks Supreme Court case and its implications
Starbucks and the National Labor Relations Board faced off Tuesday at the U.S. Supreme Court hearing of Starbucks vs. McKinney, which will determine the scope of the National Labor Relations Board’s power in stepping in to resolve labor disputes. Starbucks argued before...
04.24.2024
Digging into all the latest restaurant bankruptcy news
Bankruptcy filings, no matter the industry, are the result of a thousand cuts. This month has produced filings and rumors of more to come in the pandemic-shaken restaurant industry. Maitland, Fla.-based Tijuana Flats Restaurants filed for Chapter 11 protection in...
04.23.2024
Why you should tap into influencers for your restaurant marketing
Who has power in the restaurant industry? What does power really mean when it relates to one of the largest industries in the country, one that employs more than 12 million Americans this year and will achieve roughly $1 trillion...
04.22.2024
Restaurants are reacting to AB1228 with labor changes
Last week, we talked about the tech takeaways from the Restaurant Leadership Conference. Today, executive editor Alicia Kelso is joining us to talk about her takeaways. The main takeaway is labor. There was a lot of discussion about labor and...
04.19.2024
Why tech is still a major theme at restaurant conferences
This week, several editors here at Nation’s Restaurant News attended the Restaurant Leadership Conference or RLC in Arizona. The conference gathers top leadership at restaurant companies for discussions, networking, and sessions. Senior editor Joanna Fantozzi was there are had some...
04.18.2024
Adding this to your restaurant menu can boost sales with Gen Z
Menu innovation never stops, but at times of rising costs and diminished labor, finding relatively easy ways to create menu news is especially appealing. It’s operationally straightforward to swap one sauce for another, but quite impactful in terms of flavor....
04.17.2024
How Pizza Hut is leading the future of restaurant marketing
Pizza Hut, the division of Yum Brands Inc., is partnering with online influencer Keith Lee for a new benefit pie, the company said Tuesday. Plano, Texas-based Pizza Hut is teaming with the NAACP Outstanding Social Media Personality winner to support...
04.16.2024
Analyzing the 'swicy' trend on restaurant menus
Starbucks’ newest dual lineup of beverages takes on the “swicy” trend (that’s “sweet and spicy”) that has been popular with younger generations as of late. On April 14 at Coachella, Starbucks unveiled the new Spicy Lemonade Refreshers in three flavors...
04.15.2024
How one growing restaurant chain is capitalizing on a large menu
Growing taco concept Velvet Taco has big plans for the next few years. Recently, Alicia Kelso went to the chain’s Dallas headquarters to tour the place and, more importantly, try the tacos. While other brands have simplified and paired down...
04.12.2024
What do teens' favorite restaurants say about the future of the industry?
Teens continue to love Chick-fil-A and, as demonstrated by the chain’s recently reported 2023 AUVs — up almost 10% over 2022 — they’re not alone. The semi-annual Piper Sandler survey “Taking Stock with Teens” identified the top five restaurant chains favored...
04.11.2024
How Panera is trying to rehab its image
As Panera Bread is in the midst of a major brand transformation, traffic for the St. Louis-based company is up 5.2% year-over-year, according to recent data from Placer.AI — it’s biggest traffic growth spurt in almost a year, since a 10.8%...
04.10.2024
Analyzing the shakeup among top casual-dining restaurants
Texas Roadhouse has been on a roll for the past several years now, churning out record sales and average unit volumes and managing astonishingly high demand as it enters its 12th consecutive year of traffic gains. Such momentum hasn’t necessarily been...
04.09.2024
Why Chick-fil-A's only competitor is McDonald's
Chick-fil-A generated $21.58 billion in sales in 2023, a 14.7% increase over 2022’s $18.81 billion and over 43% over 2021’s $15 billion. According to new data from Technomic Ignite, the chain has essentially doubled its total sales volume since 2018....
04.08.2024
How one of the restaurant industry's most prestigious awards has changed
The James Beard Foundation on Wednesday announced the nominees for its Restaurant and Chef Awards. For decades, we knew what we were getting from the awards: Mostly well-established chefs from fine-dining restaurants in major cities. Yes, they were usually white...
04.05.2024
How restaurants are reacting to the California $20 minimum wage
In light of California’s new $20 minimum wage bill for fast-food workers, which went into effect on April 1, restaurant chains and franchisees are already taking action, in some cases by raising prices by as much as 7-8% for select menu items...
04.04.2024
What the ASAP/Waitr bankruptcy says about the future of restaurant tech
ASAP, the food delivery service formerly known as Waitr, has shut down after the company filed for Ch. 7 bankruptcy, according to an 8-K form filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on April 2. Waitr was founded in 2013 as...

What's First Bite about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

First Bite episodes:

Restaurant Daily preview: Starbucks' legal win, Dave & Buster's, Bob Evans

Restaurant Daily preview: Alamo Drafthouse, menu prices, Starbucks combos

A note from First Bite

Will Starbucks' new delivery partner help with the restaurant's wait time issues?

If you want to be like Chipotle, you should increase employee benefits

What Rubio's bankruptcy could mean for restaurant finance for the rest of the year

Why specialty beverages are the future of foodservice

Can Julie Felss-Masino figure out how make Cracker Barrel profitable in a modern world?

Why Domino's may be winning the pricing wars

Why chicken sandwiches are here to stay

Are consumers changing their tune on the value of QSRs?

Why this restaurant segment is seeing traffic gains amid industry declines

What does growth mean for restaurants in these economic times?

Why invisible technology continues to be the most important thing for restaurants

Employees want more now, so it's time to invest

Here's how eatertainment is evolving and sticking around for a long time

Why most restaurants aren't turning to discounting to show value to customers now

Amid Red Lobster's downfall, what can the restaurant do?

Why Chipotle's extreme focus on this one thing has paid off

What's going to happen to FAT Brands with Andy Wiederhorn's charges

Why you should stay nimble with your restaurant's social media

How Sweetgreen has benefitted from its recent success

Why Papa Johns may be losing its competitive edge in the pizza segment

How Applebee's is planning to turn things around

How Dutch Bros pulled ahead of its biggest competition this quarter

Where can FAT Brands go from here after failing to turn a profit?

How big restaurant chains are trying to get in on the growing coffee segment

How this underused vegetable can be on your menu

Why Starbucks is financially shaky right now

Why Yum Brands had its first negative quarter since the pandemic

How Domino's is benefitting from this big change

How Chipotle is bucking industry trends

How third-party delivery could possibly be legislated federally

Chipotle, Starbucks workers are citing burnout. Why?

Digging deeper into the Starbucks Supreme Court case and its implications

Digging into all the latest restaurant bankruptcy news

Why you should tap into influencers for your restaurant marketing

Restaurants are reacting to AB1228 with labor changes

Why tech is still a major theme at restaurant conferences

Adding this to your restaurant menu can boost sales with Gen Z

How Pizza Hut is leading the future of restaurant marketing

Analyzing the 'swicy' trend on restaurant menus

How one growing restaurant chain is capitalizing on a large menu

What do teens' favorite restaurants say about the future of the industry?

How Panera is trying to rehab its image

Analyzing the shakeup among top casual-dining restaurants

Why Chick-fil-A's only competitor is McDonald's

How one of the restaurant industry's most prestigious awards has changed

How restaurants are reacting to the California $20 minimum wage

What the ASAP/Waitr bankruptcy says about the future of restaurant tech