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The most-read analysis and research across QSR Pro. See what operators, franchisees, and investors are reading right now.

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843 articles|843 total published
KPOT picks Deliverect for marketplace orders and menus
Operations & Management

KPOT picks Deliverect for marketplace orders and menus

KPOT plans a network deployment. Deliverect’s general tools connect shared menus with local exceptions, editing permissions and channel publishing.

SEP 25, 2026 · 3 MIN READ
industry
Industry Analysis

Ghai’s Houston Taco Bell purchase changes its geographic mix

Ghai bought 44 Houston Taco Bells. Its CEO’s geographic rationale and Taco Bell’s beverage plans explain the appeal of expanding within a familiar brand.

MAY 21, 2026 · 3 MIN READ
finance
Finance & Economics

How to Read a QSR Earnings Call: An Investor's Guide

Earnings calls are choreographed performances. CEOs spin, obfuscate, and bury the important information. Here's how to decode the language, spot the red flags, and find the truth underneath.

MAR 20, 2026 · 9 MIN READ
finance
Finance & Economics

IFA Projects $920 Billion in Franchise Output for 2026, But QSR Growth Barely Moves the Needle

The International Franchise Association projects total franchise output to exceed $920 billion in 2026, yet QSR unit growth is stalled at just 0.5%. Here is where the money is actually flowing, and what it means for operators and investors trying to figure out what to do next.

MAR 24, 2026 · 8 MIN READ
operations
Operations & Management

No Tax on Tips: What the Federal $25,000 Exemption Means for QSR Operators

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act introduces a $25,000 federal income tax exemption on tips, triggering a cascade of state copycat bills and mandatory payroll system changes. Here is what QSR operators need to understand about compliance, worker pay, and the long game.

MAR 24, 2026 · 7 MIN READ
marketing
Marketing & Growth

March Madness 2026: How QSR Brands Turned College Basketball Into a $200M Marketing Battleground

From Pizza Hut's Space Jam box to Shake Shack's free sandwich code, QSR brands deployed precision promotional campaigns during the 2026 NCAA Tournament. Here's what operators can learn from the most competitive marketing window of the year.

MAR 24, 2026 · 8 MIN READ
finance
Finance & Economics

Cotton Patch’s Sale Brings 46 Restaurants Into Local Favorite

Local Favorite’s acquisition adds Cotton Patch’s 46-location business and gives its CEO responsibility for a combined 99-restaurant portfolio.

JUN 29, 2026 · 3 MIN READ
marketing
Marketing & Growth

DoorDash’s $8 Discount Cap Changes the Flavor Fest Economics

The summer campaign creates a window to measure customer trial, order contribution and repeat business. Its headline budget is not a merchant payout.

AUG 6, 2026 · 4 MIN READ
people
People & Culture

Chick-fil-A’s 2026 scholarships show the value of upfront funding

Chick-fil-A announced roughly $29 million for more than 16,000 restaurant workers. Award timing affects how much tuition money a recipient must arrange.

APR 7, 2026 · 3 MIN READ
industry
Industry Analysis

How Portillo's Is Scaling Its Cult Following Beyond Chicago

Portillo's reported $732 million in fiscal 2025 revenue across 102 locations, but same-restaurant sales declined 3.3% in Q4. The Chicago icon is rethinking its expansion playbook under new leadership, and the numbers tell a complicated story.

MAR 20, 2026 · 7 MIN READ
finance
Finance & Economics

First Watch grows sales as comparable visits decline

Higher sales and better restaurant margins coexist with falling comparable traffic and a wider net loss in First Watch’s first quarter.

MAY 5, 2026 · 3 MIN READ
operations
Operations & Management

Smoothie King’s Rochester plan pairs one opening with two site searches

A three-unit agreement underpins Smoothie King’s Rochester expansion, while a Penfield opening is planned and two other communities remain under consideration.

JUN 24, 2026 · 3 MIN READ
finance
Finance & Economics

QSR Franchise Disclosure Document Red Flags: What Every Buyer Needs to Know

The FDD is 200+ pages of legal text. Most franchisees skim or ignore it. That's a ,000 mistake. Here's how to read Items 7, 19, 20, and 21 - the sections that actually matter.

MAR 20, 2026 · 9 MIN READ
industry
Industry Analysis

Noodles' stronger restaurants leave its financing work unfinished

July results show stronger sales and restaurant margins, modest debt reduction, and a smaller chain still facing a July 2027 maturity.

JUL 24, 2026 · 3 MIN READ
Pizza Inn signs a 10-buffet development agreement
Finance & Economics

Pizza Inn signs a 10-buffet development agreement

The first five openings are anticipated in fiscal 2027.

SEP 25, 2026 · 2 MIN READ
marketing
Marketing & Growth

Wendy’s $1.99 nugget deal makes app access a requirement

Wendy’s nugget promotion requires another purchase and a daily-refreshing app offer. Its earlier Frosty deal allowed several ordering channels.

AUG 24, 2026 · 3 MIN READ
operations
Operations & Management

Wendy’s Opens Canada’s First Future Fresh Restaurant in North York

The 40-seat restaurant brings Wendy’s international design to Canada, with confirmed site features and room for local adaptation.

JUL 20, 2026 · 3 MIN READ
technology
Technology & Innovation

7shifts Brings Employee Training Into Its Restaurant HR Platform

Course completion still leaves managers responsible for assessing practical skills.

SEP 15, 2026 · 3 MIN READ
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