All Special Reports

Earnings Report

Mid-year earnings serve up a mixed bag for restaurant operators

It's an unusual operating environment, one that's sparking some chains to declare bankruptcy while others see double-digit growth.

Restaurant Bankruptcies

SPECIAL REPORT: RESTAURANT BANKRUPTCIES

The restaurant industry has witnessed a rash of restaurant bankruptcies in recent months, a marker of a difficult operating environment that began with Red Lobster’s Chapter 11 filing in May and has extended to include a number of smaller chains and franchisees, as well as several chains that appear poised to submit their own filings soon.

Times are tough in the restaurant industry, as operators face pressures from all sides: Falling traffic, increased labor costs, uncertainty over technology, high food costs, the list goes on.

Technomic's annual ranking of the country's 500 biggest restaurant chains reveals some winners, losers and plenty of surprises.

As restaurants bleed customers to Walmart, chains are battling it out to see who can win over inflation-weary diners with low-priced offerings. Welcome to the summer value war.

Inflation-weary consumers appear to be pulling back on both quick-service and casual-dining visits. But some chains have found a way to buck that trend.

Desperate to draw and retain workers, operators are providing perks that were once unimaginable, like giving weekends off or offering access to babysitters.

On April 1, California's fast-food chain restaurants will be overseen by a new council and will be required to pay workers at least $20 per hour—a 25% boost from the current minimum. The landmark change could have wide-reaching effects that go beyond the state's restaurants. Here, Restaurant Business takes an in-depth look at the new fast-food wage law and its potential impacts.

RB's coverage and analysis of the latest results from publicly traded restaurant chains.

Unlike a couple of years ago, restaurants are now likely to be fully staffed. But that workforce is getting increasingly expensive and complex. Restaurant Business examined how the current labor situation is impacting all segments of the industry.

Burger King franchisees struggled coming out of the pandemic, so much so that the company is pumping $400 million into marketing and remodels. That effort has yielded fruit, as sales and profitability for franchisees increase. Yet three major franchisees filed for bankruptcy this year and hundreds of stores have closed as the chain works through some of its issues. Here is a look at a crucial year for Burger King.

With the pandemic distantly in the rear-view mirror, independent restaurants saw a return to normalcy in 2022, even as they battled commodity inflation and higher labor costs. Many embraced the changing landscape and proved their resiliency as customers came out to dine. This year's Restaurant Business Top 100 ranking shows considerable sales growth among the top operators. They served 30.2 million meals and recorded $1.95 billion in sales. And there were some notable newcomers. Here's a look at the top independent restaurants across the country and how they grew year over year.

Entrepreneurs are creating and growing concepts around almost any kind of sport, game or entertainment option, from puzzles to golf to cricket to pickleball. They believe that consumers are looking for experiences and they’re finding new ways to give it to them. And investors are jumping on board.

Growth chains aren't all fast-food restaurants. While limited-service concepts still make up a majority of the growth brands on the Future 50 ranking of up-and-coming concepts, the full-service sectors were well represented, including several family-dining brands. Take a look into the next generation of chains with the Restaurant Business Future 50.

Growth chains aren't all fast-food restaurants. While limited-service concepts still make up a majority of the growth brands on the Future 50 ranking of up-and-coming concepts, the full-service sectors were well represented, including several family-dining brands. Take a look into the next generation of chains with the Restaurant Business Future 50.

These days, restaurant bills no longer just include an entrée, an appetizer and a few drinks. Restaurants are adding specific charges to cover the growing cost of labor. Yet these charges anger customers and could lure regulators. This package explores this growing trend from the perspective of operators, servers and customers.

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