industryIndustry AnalysisHow International QSR Innovations Are Coming to AmericaEXCERPT:MAR 19, 2026 · 11 MIN READ
industryIndustry AnalysisThe Franchise Renewal Crisis Nobody's Talking AboutThousands of franchise agreements are expiring in the next 3-5 years. The renewal terms being offered look nothing like the original deal — and operators who aren't preparing now will face impossible choices.MAR 19, 2026 · 9 MIN READ
industryIndustry AnalysisThe Fast-Casual Plateau: When $15 Bowls Hit the Consumer CeilingFast-casual brands rode premium positioning to $15+ check averages. Now consumers are pushing back — and the segment is discovering there's a ceiling on what people will pay for a bowl with a story.MAR 19, 2026 · 8 MIN READ
industryIndustry AnalysisThe K-Shaped QSR Economy: Why McDonald's and Chipotle Are Living in Different WorldsIncome bifurcation is splitting the restaurant industry into two distinct consumer economies — and the earnings data proves itMAR 19, 2026 · 11 MIN READ
industryIndustry AnalysisCasual Dining's Fast Food Moment: How Chili's Is Eating McDonald's LunchChili's is posting 8.6% same-store sales growth while McDonald's fights traffic declines. The unlikely winner of the QSR value war might be the sit-down chain that figured out bundled pricing.MAR 19, 2026 · 8 MIN READ
industryIndustry AnalysisFranchisee Advisory Councils: Powerless Theater or Genuine Influence?Every major QSR brand has a franchisee advisory council. Most operators think they're window dressing. The reality is more complicated — and more consequential — than either side admits.MAR 19, 2026 · 9 MIN READ
industryIndustry AnalysisThe Regional Chain Playbook: How Raising Cane's Plans to Triple Unit Count by 2030The chicken fingers chain that stayed company-owned, stayed simple, and stayed patient is now executing one of the most ambitious expansion plans in QSR historyMAR 19, 2026 · 10 MIN READ
industryIndustry AnalysisBehind the Counter: Why Multi-Unit Operators Are Exiting Subway En MasseThe world's largest restaurant chain by unit count is losing its most experienced operators — and the reasons go deeper than foot trafficMAR 19, 2026 · 9 MIN READ
industryIndustry AnalysisThe 25 Fastest-Growing QSR Chains in America Right NowWhile the restaurant industry is projected to grow just over 4% in 2025, a select group of quick-service chains is crushing that benchmark. These 25 brands are expanding at breakneck speed, opening hundreds of locations, and reshaping the competitive landscape through smart strategies, loyal...MAR 19, 2026 · 6 MIN READ
industryIndustry AnalysisEvery Major QSR Chain Ranked by Customer Satisfaction in 2026Customer satisfaction drives repeat visits, and repeat visits drive profit. The American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) has been measuring how QSR chains stack up for over a decade, and the 2025-2026 data reveals clear winners, persistent losers, and a few surprises.MAR 19, 2026 · 7 MIN READ
industryIndustry AnalysisFast Casual Is Dead, Long Live Fast Casual: The Great QSR ConvergenceThe line between quick service and fast casual is disappearing — and that changes everything about how the industry competesMAR 18, 2026 · 8 MIN READ