RB Daily

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.

Starbucks is paying millions to settle labor scheduling violation allegations. Romano's Macaroni Grill is dwindling. And a big restaurant holding company has a new CEO.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.

Subway franchisees are not loving the chain's new loyalty program. The parent company of Cinnabon, Auntie Anne's and more is getting a new CEO. And the fast-casual sector is facing some headwinds. 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.

Papa Johns has kicked off its refranchising effort. Wingstop is quickly inching closer to its goal of becoming a top 10 restaurant brand. And  franchisees are suing Round Table Pizza over marketing.

P.F. Chang's wants to be an everyday option. Shake Shack is looking for a new CFO and restaurant sales are up, but fast food sales are not.

FAT Brands lenders want their money. Noodles & Company has announced retention bonuses in case of a sale. And US Foods and Performance Food Group have ended talks that would have created the country's largest broadline food distributor by revenue.

Looks like a struggling pizza chain might soon have a new owner. Starbucks had a very big Red Cup Day this year. And international expansion can be tricky business for restaurants.

Jack in the Box had a tough fourth quarter. Cracker Barrel's logo fallout has led to the loss of a board member. And jobs in restaurants and bars continued to trend upward in September.

Chicken's popularity doesn't concern the biggest chicken chain in the world. Consumers' dine-out preferences are changing. And emerging chain Luna Grill has started to figure out a good cost equation for its business.

Panera Bread wants to return to its glory days. Topgolf has a new owner. And the parent company of Papa Murphy's may be for sale.

A Freddy's Frozen Custard franchisee has filed for bankruptcy. Velvet Taco's CEO is leaving after 8 years with the brand. And Popeyes has launched an exclusive collaboration with a horror film.

Luckin Coffee could go public, again. Menu price inflation is moderating. And why restaurant lenders are being more picky right now.

Starbucks is enjoying some holiday cheer. Pura Vida Miami has won a private equity investment. And Shakey's wants to be your neighborhood pizza parlor again.

Carl's Jr is taking a swipe at McDonald's. Congress is trying to pressure Starbucks to move forward with a union contract. And will the IPO market make a comeback?

P.F. Chang's has its second new CEO this year. Bifurcated consumers are impacting sales results. And Red Robin's executives are optimistic, despite falling revenue.

Sweetgreen is looking to capitalize on the current protein craze. Sardar Biglari is getting an assist in his fight against Cracker Barrel. And Burger King has big plans in China.

Wendy's will close hundreds of U.S. restaurants in the coming months. Sweetgreen is selling its Spyce technology to Wonder. And beef inflation is putting pressure on Texas Roadhouse.

An Outback Steakhouse turnaround plan is in the works. Tijuana Flats has a new owner. And Papa Johns is not for sale.

The Snack Wrap and value helped McDonald's last quarter. Wingstop is developing its first loyalty program. And Taco Bell is innovating on its signature Baja Blast flavor.

Pizza Hut appears to be on the hunt for a buyer. Denny's is going private for the first time in decades. And Wingstop is feeling the impacts of consumer anxiety.

Starbucks is going on offense. Wendy's sees a silver lining in its Frosty program. And TGI Fridays' U.S. manager has acquired its counterpart across the pond.

Popeyes is working through a slump. El Pollo Loco is improving profitability, and New York's Waldorf Astoria is back and better than ever.

Chipotle downgraded expectations for the year – again – after a disappointing third quarter. The world's largest franchise group is adding a new brand to its portfolio.  And Burger King's focus on its signature Whopper is paying off.

It was another big quarter for Chili's. Get ready for a Cheesecake Factory app. And a pub chain has a new owner.

Chili's is bringing back its Skillet Queso following a swift outcry on social media. 7 Brew is leading the coffee segment in traffic as bigger coffee chains struggle. And Taco Bell continues to expand its Live Mas Cafe beverage concept.

Yet another ghost kitchen operator appears to be shrinking. An investment gadfly is speaking out against Cracker Barrel. And here's why technological redundancies just may be a good thing.

Cracker Barrel's CEO has spoken out about “logo-gate” for the first time. Dunkin' is getting ready to run in the afternoons. And The Consumer Price Index was published Friday after a 10-day delay.

Potbelly is now officially owned by a convenience-store chain. Perkins has a new CEO. And there are some looming questions as we approach third-quarter earnings.

A turf war between Big Boy operators appears to be over for now. FAT Brands has moved to settle one of the lawsuits filed against the company. And traffic remains negative, despite another year of record-breaking LTOs.