sales

By Jonathan Maze on Jun. 24, 2024

The Bottom Line: Same-store sales have slowed markedly for the past year as customers shifted to other options. And now operators are furiously working to get them back.

Operations

In a tough year for casual dining, Asian concepts were clear winners

By Joe Guszkowski on Jun. 17, 2024

Sushi and Korean barbecue were on fire in 2023. Full-service pizza, meanwhile, came up cold.

Financing

Citing weak industry traffic, Technomic cuts its 2024 restaurant sales forecast

By Jonathan Maze on Jun. 10, 2024

The data firm, a sister company of Restaurant Business, has revised down its sales expectations by 1.5 percentage points. Can a value war bring some of that traffic back?

Operations

Batten down the hatches for more severe weather ahead

By Peter Romeo on Jun. 04, 2024

The storms that dampened restaurant traffic during Q1 were a preview of what the industry can expect through the remainder of 2024, though with more heat, wind and rain, according to forecasters.

Operations

Casual-dining chains had a difficult year

By Joe Guszkowski on Jun. 03, 2024

Price-conscious consumers began to shift away from sit-down restaurants in 2023 after embracing them a year earlier. That made growth difficult to come by.

Premium

Marketing

Where are Simone Biles fans going to eat this Olympics?

By Peter Romeo on Jun. 03, 2024

Reality Check: Restaurants will be competing for attention this year with the Summer Games and political advertising. It could be a test of whether digital marketing, and loyalty programs in particular, can deliver on their promise.

Premium

Financing

Here's a business tool to keep restaurant executives employed after a tough Q1

By Peter Romeo on May 10, 2024

Reality Check: The first three months of 2024 weren’t easy on restaurant chains, but spin-doctoring proved to be. Indeed, there must have been a run on shovels.

Operations