Finance & Economics
Financial analyst focused on restaurant industry economics. Previously covered QSR for institutional investors. Expert in unit economics, franchise finance, and real estate.
Primary Coverage
McDonald's is writing its biggest capital check in years. Where the money goes — and where it doesn't — tells you everything about corporate priorities vs. franchisee needs.
Yum Brands partnered with NVIDIA to put cameras in every kitchen. The technology can catch food safety violations in real time — but it also raises questions operators need to answer before deploying.
The US halal food market alone is worth $20 billion and growing double digits. Most QSR chains are leaving the money on the table — and the ones that aren't are outperforming expectations.
The chicken fingers chain that stayed company-owned, stayed simple, and stayed patient is now executing one of the most ambitious expansion plans in QSR history
The pandemic's favorite ordering channel is quietly dying — and the chains that bet big on curbside infrastructure are now ripping it out
Domino's isn't just making pizza faster — it's rebuilding the entire operational model around speed, and forcing every competitor to respond
After years of splashy plant-based launches, the industry's quiet retreat tells a more honest story about consumer demand and unit economics
Royalties are just the beginning — the real cost of being a franchisee is buried in marketing funds, tech fees, and line items most operators never question
The apocalypse predictions didn't pan out — but the real impact is more nuanced than either side admits
From material inflation to labor shortages, franchisees face unprecedented barriers to expansion as build-out costs surge past historical norms
Private equity dry powder, aging franchisees, and a consolidation arms race are pushing QSR resale valuations to unprecedented heights — and reshaping who owns America's fast food.
Everything first-time QSR franchise buyers need to know about SBA 7(a) and 504 loans — from current rates and equity injection rules to the reinstated Franchise Directory and common deal-killers
With Chick-fil-A properties trading at sub-4.5% cap rates and institutional capital pouring into drive-thru assets, quick-service restaurant real estate has cemented its status as the bond market's cooler cousin.
From nuclear verdicts to carrier exits, the forces reshaping restaurant insurance — and the strategies operators are deploying to survive the hard market
From Roark's $9.6 billion Subway deal to Bain's billion-dollar franchisee plays, PE firms are reshaping the quick-service landscape—with profound implications for operators caught in the middle.
Inside the commission structures, margin pressures, and strategic choices defining the future of restaurant profitability
Data analytics, billion-dollar unit volumes, and drive-thru-only formats are transforming the battle for prime restaurant locations
While operators obsess over labor costs and food prices, the payment processing industry quietly siphons billions from an already thin-margin business
A data-driven look at the three structural forces that permanently reset quick-service pricing — and what operators and investors need to understand about the new baseline
The single financial document every franchisee must master — and the math that separates thriving operators from those who quietly close their doors