Popular Articles

Bob Evans Gets a New Owner: 4X4 Capital's Bet on Comfort Food's Staying Power

New York PE firm 4X4 Capital acquired Bob Evans Restaurants from Golden Gate Capital in a deal announced February 5, 2026, closing the book on an unusually long 8-year hold for a private equity owner.

How Much Does a Marco's Pizza Franchise Cost in 2026?

Marco's Pizza franchise costs range from $287,000 to $807,000. With 1,100+ locations and targeting 80+ new stores in 2026, the brand focuses on quality ingredients and Roma-style pizza.

How Much Does a Church's Texas Chicken Franchise Cost in 2026?

Church's Texas Chicken franchise investment ranges from $644,366 to $1,808,972. With 1,600 global locations across 24 countries, the brand focuses on value-positioned fried chicken.

The Great Beef Squeeze: How a 75-Year Low in Cattle Supply Is Reshaping Burger Economics

The U.S. cattle herd has shrunk to its smallest size since 1951. With beef prices surging past records and no relief in sight for years, burger chains face a fundamental question about their business model.

Starbucks Q1 FY2026 Earnings: Niccol's Turnaround Is Ahead of Schedule

Starbucks posted Q1 fiscal 2026 revenue of $9.9 billion, up 6%, with global comp sales rising 4%. CEO Brian Niccol says the 'Back to Starbucks' strategy is ahead of schedule, but a union standoff and growing competition from drive-thru coffee chains add complexity to the recovery.

Brinker International's $6.25 Billion Comeback: How Chili's Big Smasher Turned a Casual Dining Chain Into QSR's Biggest Threat

Brinker International Raises FY2026 Guidance as Chili's Rewrites the Casual Dining Playbook

Brinker International lifted its fiscal 2026 revenue forecast to $5.76-$5.83 billion after Chili's posted its sixth consecutive quarter of double-digit same-store sales growth, outpacing the casual dining industry by hundreds of basis points while its fast-food rivals scrambled to respond.

The Protein Tariff Shock: How 25% Duties on Canadian Beef and Tripling Seafood Costs Are Forcing Menu Rewrites

Canadian beef now carries a 25% import duty, some seafood products have tripled in price, and the full cost wave hasn't hit yet. Here's what QSR operators need to know before the dam breaks.

Sweetgreen's Sour Turn: Same-Store Sales Crater 11.5% as the Salad Bowl Bubble Deflates

Sweetgreen's Q4 2025 same-store sales plunged 11.5%, its stock sits 89% below IPO price, and closures are mounting. With CAVA surging and Noodles & Company shrinking, the fast-casual segment is splitting into clear winners and losers. Here is what went wrong and what operators can learn.

The QSR Real Estate Arbitrage: Why Franchise Land Deals Matter More Than Food

McDonald's doesn't make money selling Big Macs. It makes money leasing land to franchisees. Ground leases, NNN deals, sale-leasebacks - the real money in QSR is real estate, not burgers.

How Much Does a Jimmy John's Franchise Cost in 2026?

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.

Domino's Nine-Quarter Same-Store Sales Streak Reshapes the Pizza Category

Domino's posted 3.7% U.S. same-store sales growth in Q4 2025, extending a nine-quarter streak that has redrawn competitive lines across the $46 billion U.S. pizza market. As Pizza Hut sheds 250 locations and Papa John's winds down 300, the gap between the category leader and the rest of the field keeps widening.

How Much Does a Bojangles Franchise Cost in 2026?

Bojangles franchise costs range from $2,650,870 to $3,829,400. With 825 locations and $600,000 development incentives, the brand focuses on Southern chicken and made-from-scratch biscuits.

QSR Stock Performance 2026: Who's Winning on Wall Street

McDonald's, Chipotle, Yum, Wingstop, CAVA, and Shake Shack are all public QSR stocks. But they're playing entirely different games - and Wall Street is making very different bets on who wins.

Chipotle's Q4 2025: Traffic Falls for a Fourth Straight Quarter as the Post-Niccol Era Takes Shape

Chipotle's Q4 2025 results tell a split story: revenue grew 4.9% to $2.98 billion on the strength of new unit openings, but same-store sales fell 2.5% and traffic declined for a fourth consecutive quarter. The chain now projects flat comps for 2026.

The Restaurant Traffic Cliff: Why Q2 2026 Could Be the Industry's Inflection Point

New EY-Parthenon data shows one in four consumers feeling worse off financially. Circana forecasts sub-1% traffic growth for 2026. The gap between winning and losing chains is accelerating.

Trump Lifts Select Food Tariffs: What the Executive Order Means for Restaurant Operators

President Trump signed an executive order removing tariffs on select food and beverage imports, including beef, coffee, tropical fruit, and fertilizers. Operators running beef-forward menus or premium coffee programs get real relief. Chicken, pork, and dairy operators are still on their own.