RB Daily

Burger King is upgrading the Whopper. Papa Johns sales took a hit late last year. And Schlotzsky's is bringing back the Deli.

Outback is growing traffic again. Panera is getting aggressive with value. And an activist investor has made peace with Noodles & Company.

McDonald's is ready to put its new Big Arch burger to its biggest test yet. Domino's wants its largest franchisee to get back on track. And Portillo's continues to face consequences from its previous development strategy.

Domino's is winning pizza. Panera Bread is facing lawsuits after yet another data breach. And Noble 33 is also embroiled in an ugly court battle after firing its general counsel.

Texas Roadhouse has proven itself once again. The Supreme Court struck down President Trump's tariffs, only for Trump to immediately levy new ones. And Del Taco has reportedly closed all of its Georgia locations.

Subway is already backpedaling on its newest loyalty offer. Cheesecake Factory is hoping for a sales warm-up. And Jack in the Box is working to get back on track.

Wingstop isn't worried about its same-store sales declines. Wendy's interim CEO Ken Cook has made a lot of references to the chain losing its relevance. And Habit Burger & Grill is making several changes to its menu.

The president of Burger King wants you to have his phone number. The Dave's Hot Chicken team has a new emerging brand. And Burgerville has a new CEO.

Wendy's had a very rough quarter, Dutch Bros is open to acquisitions, and the National Restaurant Association feels cautiously optimistic about the industry.

The Grinch did wonders for McDonald's, Spongebob did wonders for Burger King, and nothing did wonders for Popeyes.

Jobs numbers were unexpectedly rosy in January. Is Red Lobster continuing to close restaurants? And Chili's is launching a margarita club.

No, Chipotle is not raising prices because it's seeing an uptick in higher-income consumers. Wonder is making its first restaurant acquisition. And Jack in the Box is accusing an activist investor of “volatile behavior.”

Minneapolis restaurants are struggling amid a federal immigration enforcement action in the city. Restaurant delivery keeps growing. And Fat Brands lenders want a new CEO.

Bob Evans has a new owner. Fogo has some AI. And Starbucks is going on offense.

Jack in the Box is playing defense in another proxy battle with activist investor Sardar Biglari. Noodles & Company is attempting to get back into compliance with Nasdaq. And Zaxbys has surpassed the 1,000-restaurant milestone.

Chipotle's same-store sales continue to dip. For Yum Brands, Taco Bell soared while Pizza Hut keeps struggling. And Cracker Barrel is making headlines again.

Darden Restaurants is shutting down Bahama Breeze.  Starbucks picks strawberries to flavor its newest beverages. And two chains have appointed new chief executives.

A Subway franchisee with dozens of locations has filed for bankruptcy. Burger King is getting ready to grow in China. And new research sees some positive signs for Chipotle.

FAT Brands is about to lose its stock listing. Starbucks is introducing several back-of-house updates. And operators want to do less third-party delivery — but consumers still gravitate toward it.

Starbucks is shaking up its loyalty program. Will Jersey Mike's go public? And Chili's wants to give managers a bigger stake in its restaurants.

Is Brian Niccol's long-term Back to Starbucks plan paying off? Chili's just keeps chugging along. And Dunkin' is focused on non-coffee drinks for Valentine's Day.

A struggling brand collector has filed for bankruptcy. Torchy's Tacos is shrinking its store count. And McDonald's franchisees have drafted a bill of rights.

Franchisees are resisting Subway's loyalty program. Jersey Mike's promises it won't change under private equity. And one of FAT Brands' largest bondholders is suing the company.

Some third-party delivery platforms will need to change their tipping policies in New York City. Taco Bell is bullish about its Live Mas Cafe concept. And is there success ahead for fast-casual pizza?

Kelli Valade has found a new job shortly after Denny's sale was finalized. McDonald's and Taco Bell both have new sauces. And Nathan's Famous has been acquired by a pork processor.

A California-based coffee chain is closing dozens of locations. Mr. Gatti's Pizza has a new owner. And Red Robin is pushing a new value offer.

Starbucks is already changing its assistant store manager program. There's another departure at Sweetgreen. And Five Guys is opening a Vegas flagship with a full bar.

A Popeyes franchisee declares bankruptcy. Olo has M&A plans. And what prognosticators say the industry can expect in 2026.

We've got lots of takeaways from this week's ICR Conference. A New York City group has brought a Chicago chain into its fold. And KFC wants to stave off the Sunday Scaries.

Dutch Bros is buying a small coffee chain. Pollo Tropical would like to go public. And restaurant operators in Minnesota are pushing back against the ICE crackdown there.

Fat Brands has a big debt problem. Chipotle is looking for a new chief brand officer. And Jersey Mike's is heading to Europe.

Noodles & Company is closing more locations than planned. TGI Fridays, meanwhile, has big opening plans. And Darden is on the hunt for more brands.

New dietary guidelines are good news for steakhouses, chicken concepts, and burger spots. Another regional chain is closing its doors. And the demand for healthy menu items is even higher than in Januarys past.

Kura Sushi has some good news. A women-focused sports bar concept has a big-name strategic investor. And an AI drive-thru company just got a cash infusion.

Change is afoot at Savory Fund as it appoints new leaders.  Salad and Go is reportedly closing more units. And a couple regional chains have filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

Blaze Pizza has a new leader. Another casual-dining chain is shrinking. And here come the chain restaurant discounts.

Dave's Hot Chicken has a new, very familiar CEO. Chick-fil-A has launched its largest marketing campaign ever. And CAVA is bringing back a fan favorite.

Sprinkles shuts its restaurants down. Noodles stock might cease trading soon. And restaurant stocks had a brutal year.

Krispy Kreme is refranchising. El Pollo Loco is bolstering its board of directors. And Taco Bell keeps adding to its beverage lineup.

One of Sweetgreen's cofounders is retiring. Darden reported good news. And Chipotle is jumping on the high-protein trend.

Red Lobster is cutting staff. Taco Bell is bringing another product back from the dead. And Qdoba gets an interesting new franchisee.

California Pizza Kitchen has a new ownership group. Some McDonald's franchisees are upset about the chain's new pricing strategy. And new economic data presents a less-than-rosy view of the restaurant industry. This episode of Restaurant Daily is sponsored by O'Keeffe's Working Hands Hand Cream. Visit ⁠⁠⁠https://www.okeeffescompany.com/restaurantdaily⁠⁠⁠ and use code NRN for 15% off your first order.

Sweet Tomatoes is alive and growing again. Noodles and Company is planning a potential reverse stock split. And Firehouse Subs is in “high growth mode.” This episode of Restaurant Daily is sponsored by O'Keeffe's Working Hands Hand Cream. Visit ⁠⁠⁠https://www.okeeffescompany.com/restaurantdaily⁠⁠⁠ and use code NRN for 15% off your first order.

Third-party delivery players are suing New York City over tipping. Chipotle marks a growth milestone. And consumers aren't necessarily drinking less, they're just drinking differently.This episode of Restaurant Daily is sponsored by O'Keeffe's Working Hands Hand Cream. Visit ⁠⁠⁠https://www.okeeffescompany.com/restaurantdaily⁠⁠⁠ and use code NRN for 15% off your first order.

Recent McDonald's and Burger King promotions drove a material lift in traffic. Tourism has fallen this year and it seems to be having a pretty big impact on restaurant businesses.  And restaurants are feeling short-changed by the federal government's decision to stop printing the penny.

Cracker Barrel is laying off corporate staff. A fast-casual pizza chain declared bankruptcy. And Shake Shack is growing traffic.

In-N-Out Burger is officially debuting in Tennessee this week. Hardee's is at war with another franchisee. And Wendy's is leaning into a viral TikTok trend.This episode of Restaurant Daily is sponsored by O'Keeffe's Working Hands Hand Cream. Visit ⁠⁠https://www.okeeffescompany.com/restaurantdaily⁠⁠ and use code NRN for 15% off your first order.

McDonald's is beefing up its franchising standards around value. The Grinch, meanwhile, appears to be saving the burger giant's Christmas. And Sweetgreen has come out with a major value play.This episode of Restaurant Daily is sponsored by O'Keeffe's Working Hands Hand Cream. Visit ⁠⁠https://www.okeeffescompany.com/restaurantdaily⁠⁠ and use code NRN for 15% off your first order.

The fast-casual category is thriving in one specific area. Brands that have strayed too far from their core menus are returning to their origins. And Razzoo's Cajun Cafe may have a buyer.

California's Fast Food Council has gone dormant. Here come the 2026 restaurant industry predictions. And a 10-unit wood-fired pizza concept is getting some growth funding.

Chick-fil-A is making a major strategic change to its non-traditional restaurant portfolio. Velvet Taco has named a new CEO. And KFC's Saucy concept will add three new locations in the next several weeks.This episode of Restaurant Daily is sponsored by O'Keeffe's Working Hands Hand Cream. Visit ⁠⁠https://www.okeeffescompany.com/restaurantdaily⁠⁠ and use code NRN for 15% off your first order.