The Week in Restaurants

What has happened to the fast-casual sector?

This week’s episode of the Restaurant Business podcast The Week in Restaurants looks at the suddenly weaker state of the fast-casual sector. Several chains have reported slowing sales, including stalwarts like Cava, Chipotle and Wingstop. What’s going on?

Chili’s, meanwhile, continues to thrive and extended its incredible run. We look at what’s driving that chain’s success.

And a look at Subway, which is sending cash to its franchisees, a group that really needs it. 

Casual-dining restaurants are outpacing fast-food chains again.

This week’s episode of the Restaurant Business podcast The Week in Restaurants looks at the differing directions that casual-dining and fast-food chains are going in.

This has been a big earnings week. A bunch of limited-service restaurants have reported weak results, including KFC, Pizza Hut, Jack in the Box and Del Taco. McDonald’s sales were good until its Minecraft promotion ended. And Wendy’s and Sweetgreen just reported weak results. 

On the other hand, chains like Applebee’s, Olive Garden and BJ’s Restaurants, not to mention Chili’s, are doing well. 

We discuss why that is. In addition, Senior Tech Editor Joe Guszkowski talks ghost kitchens on Tech Check.

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts. 

Subscribe on Spotify.

Starbucks appears to be making some progress. 

This episode of the Restaurant Business podcast The Week in Restaurants features a discussion on Starbucks fiscal third-quarter earnings, in which its sales declined again but which included some “green shoots” pointing at a turnaround.

Tesla has a new restaurant in Los Angeles. And Wingstop reported something it hasn’t done all that often in its life as a public company.

And Senior Tech Editor Joe Guszkowski with Tech Check. 

Earnings season is upon us, and the early returns from Chipotle weren’t great.

On this edition of The Week in Restaurants, we discuss the burrito chain’s tough second quarter, and why it may need to do more to prove it’s a good value.

We also talk about an attack on Cracker Barrel’s diversity, equity and inclusion policies by a pro-Trump legal group. It’s the first restaurant chain to become a target over DEI in Trump’s second term.

And we examine McDonald’s new beverage lineup, which has been adapted from the now-defunct CosMc’s. The drinks are colorful and on-trend, but will they muck up operations?

Then on Tech Check, Joe Guszkowski discusses the loyalty program boom and whether the programs are actually working.

A potential deal could shake up food distribution.

This week’s episode of the Restaurant Business podcast The Week in Restaurants features a discussion on a potential big deal between distributors US Foods and Performance Food Group. US Foods, the nation’s third-largest distributor, may buy PFG, the second-biggest. 

In addition, Red Robin has a new CEO and a new management plan. We talk about that, as well as the risks for restaurant chains that change their strategies frequently.

And a Del Taco franchisee files for bankruptcy, raising questions about the brand and the state of the restaurant industry.

And on Tech Check, Joe Guszkowski talks about how AI is changing how people discover restaurants online.

Worried about what no tax on tips means for your restaurant? Don’t sweat it, because we have you covered on this edition of The Week in Restaurants.

We discuss how the new Trump administration policy could create some headaches for restaurant operators. We also look at how a wave of bankruptcies last year impacted the full-service segment, before touching on some surprising CEO news from Wendy's.

And on Tech Check, Senior Editor Joe Guszkowski  gives his perspective on the impending sale of Olo.

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts. 

Subscribe on Spotify.

How are fast-casual chains dealing with consumer frustration over prices?

This week’s episode of the Restaurant Business podcast The Week in Restaurants features a look at pressure on fast-casual chains over value. Sweetgreen is working to beat back concerns over the price of its salads. We look at that issue. 

McDonald’s and Krispy Kreme are ending their partnership long before it is complete. We discuss what that means for the two chains. 

And deportation policy may be hurting restaurant sales in Hispanic markets.

Meanwhile, Senior Tech Editor Joe Guszkowski talks about AI on his weekly Tech Check feature. 

Hulkamania is coming for Hooters, or at least it’s trying to.

In this week’s episode of the Restaurant Business podcast The Week in Restaurants, we discuss news that Hulk Hogan’s Real American Beer Brand is making a play to buy Hooters out of bankruptcy. We discuss whether this is real or a stunt and whether it has a chance at success.

Yum Brands, the owner of Taco Bell, KFC and Pizza Hut, named Chris Turner its new CEO. We talk about that move and what it means for the company.

Convenience stores, meanwhile, are making real inroads into the fast-food world with their menu offerings and value deals. We talk about whether this is a cause in the sector’s sales weakness.

In addition, this week’s Tech Check Segment focuses on the growing power of DoorDash. 

How is a 16-unit soup dumpling chain generating the industry’s highest average unit volumes?

In this week’s episode of The Week in Restaurants, we discuss the surprising performance of Din Tai Fung, a fast-growing casual-dining brand from Taiwan that does $27.4 million per location.

We also cover the news from Starbucks’ leadership summit in Las Vegas, where it unveiled some new plans for staffing and operations. And we consider the merits of its Back to Starbucks turnaround strategy.

And we talk about our recent visit to Dine Brands, where executives unveiled a new “fast-casual plus” format for Fuzzy’s Taco Shop. We also discuss why the company has such high hopes for its co-branded Applebee's-IHOP restaurants.

Tech editor Joe Guszkowski also talks about the latest big move by DoorDash. 

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts. 

Subscribe on Spotify.

How did Dave’s Hot Chicken reach a $1 billion valuation in just eight years?

In this week’s episode of the Restaurant Business podcast The Week in Restaurants, we discuss the fast-casual chicken chain’s sale to Roark Capital.

We look at the chain’s valuation, and how it was able to get that valuable, that quickly, and what it says about the modern restaurant industry. We also discuss Roark Capital’s performance and what Dave’s brings to the firm. 

We also talk McDonald’s, which is bringing back the Snack Wrap next month. 

In addition, Joe Guszkowski talks AI agents in the food business.