The QSR Pro editorial team covers the quick service restaurant industry with in-depth analysis, data-driven reporting, and operator-first perspective.
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Showing 481–500 of 861 articles
Multi-lane configurations, mobile pickup windows, AI-powered order verification, and accuracy scales are transforming the fast food drive-thru. After 75 years with essentially the same design, the industry's most important channel is getting a complete overhaul.
Taco Bell hit $1 billion in annual operating profit, announced plans to enter nine new countries, and promised to double its menu innovation in 2025. The Yum! Brands subsidiary is executing one of the most aggressive growth strategies in QSR.
Smoothie King franchise costs range from $346,000 to $1,278,000. With 1,400+ locations, the brand focuses on functional nutrition and health-conscious consumers.
Jimmy John's franchise investment ranges from $366,200 to $728,200. Owned by Roark Capital, the brand focuses on delivery speed and operational simplicity with 2,695 locations.
Brian Niccol left Chipotle to take over Starbucks in September 2024. Eighteen months later, the former fast-casual star has delivered his first positive comparable sales quarter, announced a 1,000-store renovation plan, and outlined a strategy to turn the coffee giant around.
Complete investment breakdown for Firehouse Subs franchises in 2026. Initial costs range from $379,000 to $1,392,000, with Inspire Brands offering $100,000 development incentives.
Kernel is dead. Sweetgreen sold its robotics division. Chipotle's automated makeline is still in testing. The promise of fully automated QSR kitchens has collided with the messy realities of food production at scale.
850 locations, $881K AUV, and 16% annual growth. Can Scooter's drive-thru kiosk model compete with Dutch Bros and Starbucks?
550 locations, $1.88M AUV, and 70% of new openings from existing franchisees. How Freddy's combines burgers and custard for franchisee profitability.
Wendy's is closing 6% of its U.S. restaurants and launching a sweeping operational overhaul called Project Fresh. For the number-three burger chain, the stakes could not be higher.
270 locations, 57.7% revenue growth in 3 years, and 96% franchised. How Slim Chickens competes with Raising Cane's in the chicken tender wars.
Panda Express runs 2,200+ company-owned locations generating $6.2 billion in U.S. sales. Wingstop operates 3,056 mostly franchised restaurants with $5.3 billion in systemwide sales. Both are growing fast, but their business models could not be more different. Which one is actually better?
The FDD is 300+ pages of legal disclosure that most franchise buyers barely skim. Items 7, 19, and 20 contain the most critical financial information, and the red flags hiding in them can mean the difference between a profitable franchise and a $2 million mistake.
The average QSR operator now pays $1,500 to $3,000 per month in stacked SaaS fees before a single customer walks through the door. POS systems, delivery commissions, loyalty platforms, and scheduling tools are eating into margins that were already thin.
Culver's average unit volume hit $3.69 million in 2024, with locations near interstates generating $3.7 million. The chain grew to over 1,000 locations while keeping its franchise model uniquely operator-focused. Here is how butter burgers built a billion-dollar system.
The restaurant industry lost 29,700 jobs in February 2026 alone. Turnover still exceeds 100% annually at many chains. Wages rose 6.3% in 2024 and keep climbing. Here is what the BLS data and industry reports actually show about the QSR workforce.
McDonald's generates roughly 30% of its U.S. sales from breakfast. Wendy's is targeting a 50% bump in morning revenue. Taco Bell is pushing hard into the daypart. The morning meal is the most profitable, most competitive fight in QSR.
Shake Shack reported $1.45 billion in total revenue for 2025 and opened 85 new Shacks system-wide, all while keeping its domestic restaurants company-owned. The strategy defies conventional QSR wisdom, and the numbers show why it works.
Average drive-thru service times have climbed past 370 seconds at many major chains, according to Intouch Insight and SeeLevel HX studies. Despite billions spent on technology, the line is moving slower. Here is why.
A Taco Bell franchise requires between $575,600 and $3.37 million in total investment, plus a $45,000 franchise fee and $1.5 million in liquid capital. Here is what the FDD actually says about costs, earnings, and the realistic path to ROI.