RB Daily

FAT Brands has bankruptcy financing. CloudKitchens CEO has something new in the works. And Wonder appears to be making IPO preparations.

Andy Wiederhorn is out at FAT Brands. Darden continues to outperform the casual-dining segment. And a Midwest buffet chain is shrinking its footprint.

Maggiano's is looking for big eaters. Chipotle has another new sauce. And El Pollo Loco is upgrading its rewards program.

Small businesses affected by ICE crackdowns could get relief, Applebee's is shifting its marketing strategy, and agentic AI is cropping up more in restaurants

Burger King wins the Oscars, Fat Brands is headed toward a sale, and a Popeyes franchisee is closing more restaurants.

Some Kona Grills will soon be converted to other brands. El Pollo Loco is ready to grow again. And Sweetgreen wants to be a lifestyle brand again.

Papa Johns is staying mum on takeover rumors. The big bite taken by Burger King's president has juiced traffic. And the co-founder of Noma stepped down. 

Papa Johns is apparently weighing yet another offer. McDonald's is introducing a new value offer.  And rising gas prices are likely to impact restaurant spending. 

Taco Bell is finally unveiling its menu lineup for 2026. Jimmy John's has a new brand president. And the Noma popup in Los Angeles could be in trouble.

Applebee's is focusing on its off-premises business with its latest promotion. A Taiwanese-style boba tea chain is gunning for 1,000 U.S. locations. And California Pizza Kitchen is expanding its retail business for the first time ever.

February's jobs report paints a gloomy picture for the restaurant industry. Texas Roadhouse added a high-profile new board member. And full-service restaurants could be in trouble, according to a new report.

Cracker Barrel's recovery is inching forward. Del Taco's new owners want the old Del Taco back. And Chick-fil-A is launching its spring menu next week.

The fast-food burger wars are getting a whole new life on social media. Starbucks is planning a new corporate office. And a large Freddy's franchisee is getting even bigger.

Jack in the Box staves off a board proxy fight. Olo has debuted its first consumer-facing app, and Slutty Vegan's founder has declared bankruptcy.

Fat Brands is starting to close restaurants after declaring bankruptcy. Is Restaurant Brands International undervalued? And Domino's appears to be winning the pizza wars.

Fat Brands' lenders were aware of the company's financial state, the restaurant operator says. Wienerschnitzel is jumping on the beef tallow bandwagon. And the beverage boom is a boon to equipment makers.

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.