On this week’s Extra Serving, NRN editor in chief Sam Oches and executive editor Alicia Kelso try to dissect 2025’s bizarre second quarter and the flashing warning signs that the industry sees in consumer behavior. First up is an analysis of CAVA, which was once a sure-fire success but which experienced a more or less flat quarter, sending its stock price plummeting. Combined with the struggles at Chipotle and Sweetgreen, fast casual is suddenly showing signs of weakness — but why? Sam and Alicia discuss. Next they drill deeper into consumer behavior and the “choppiness” that restaurant executives see in their performance. What exactly do consumers seem to want in their restaurant experiences today? And what other headwinds should operators expect in 2025? Oh and then there’s Chili’s, the runaway success story of 2025; Sam and Alicia talk about yet another huge quarter at the Brinker brand, which is proving to be a case study in successfully revamping a company’s operations and marketing. Finally, tune in to a conversation between senior food and beverage editor Bret Thorn and John Karangis, vice president of culinary at Shake Shack.

For more on these stories:  

CAVA struggles to compete with its beef launch from 2024

Restaurant companies sound the alarm on consumer behavior

Chili’s ends third year of turnaround with 23.7% same-store sales growth in 4Q