More Salad and Go locations are Salad and Gone.
This week’s episode of the Restaurant Business podcast The Week in Restaurants examines the drive-thru salad chain, which closed its remaining locations in Texas and Oklahoma. We discuss why that concept has struggled.
We also talk about protein. A dozen restaurant chains have introduced new protein items this week. What’s behind that trend and is it a fad?
Some notable Fat Brands executives just got some retention bonuses and raises we’ll examine that particular bit of news.
Later on in Tech Check, Joe talks about a fake Reddit post.
What were the biggest stories of 2025?
This week’s episode of the Restaurant Business podcast The Week in Restaurants should probably be renamed The Year in Restaurants.
We discuss the biggest stories of the year. We talk about the industry’s value war. Challenges in the fast-casual sector. The Hooters bankruptcy. And the impact of immigration on the industry.
And as always, Senior Technology Editor Joe Guszkowski talks technology on Tech Check.
Cracker Barrel’s tough quarter has resulted in some layoffs.
This week’s episode of the Restaurant Business podcast The Week in Restaurants examines the family-dining chain’s tough quarter and its corporate restructuring, which is resulting in layoffs.
In addition, we discuss the bankruptcy filing of Pieology and what it says about the state of fast-casual pizza chains.
Meanwhile, Hardee’s sued another big franchisee. Why is the burger chain having challenges?
And on Tech Check, Joe talks about his 2026 predictions.
Subway has a new loyalty program, but it is too generous?
This week’s episode of the Restaurant Business podcast The Week in Restaurants looks at Subway’s new Sub Club loyalty program, which gives users one free footlong sandwich with the purchase of three. Franchisees say it’s too generous and piles on too many discounts.
We also look at Noodles & Company, which has taken numerous steps to right its ship but is still being pushed to sell company restaurants.
Fat Brands, meanwhile, continues to struggle under the weight of heavy debt and received another demand for full payment of its debt.
And on Tech Check this week, Senior Tech Editor Joe Guszkowski discusses Black Friday.
Panera Bread is hoping better food and service will help it rise again.
On this episode of The Week in Restaurants, the weekly news discussion podcast from Restaurant Business, we talk about the new turnaround plan at the fast-casual bakery/cafe chain after years of declines.
We also discuss the latest developments at Cracker Barrel, where shareholders backed CEO Julie Masino but ousted a board member over its recent logo debacle.
And we dig into Sweetgreen’s new protein-packed Power Max Protein Bowl and its shocking price tag.
On Tech Check, Senior Editor Joe Guszkowski talks about how restaurants can ease customer concerns over AI.
This week’s episode of the restaurant news discussion podcast looks at challenges in the fast-casual sector, Starbucks’ holiday sales and takeaways from RFDC.
Denny’s is getting taken private and Pizza Hut could be next.
This week’s episode of the Restaurant Business podcast The Week in Restaurants looks at the sale of Denny’s to a group of investors this week and what that deal means.
We also talk about Yum Brands putting Pizza Hut on the market, what it says about the brand and the pizza market in general.
It was a huge week of earnings so we also sort all that out. In addition, Senior Tech Editor Joe Guszkowski talks delivery on Tech Check.
Tariffs are taking a bite out of the restaurant business.
In this week’s episode of the Restaurant Business podcast The Week in Restaurants, we look at the most recent slate of industry earnings.
There were some fascinating results from Chipotle, Starbucks, Shake Shack and Restaurant Brands International. We discuss those earnings.
In addition, we look at Greg Flynn’s agreement to develop 7 Brew locations. Joe Guszkowski discusses the AWS outage on Tech Check.
But we also talk beef costs and tariffs, and how they’re impacting industry profits.
The third quarter ended with a whimper for restaurant chains.
This week’s episode of the Restaurant Business podcast The Week in Restaurants looks at what we’re expecting to hear from the various segments within the industry as third-quarter reports are revealed.
We also talk about the Trump Administration’s aggressive deportation efforts and how that has impacted the industry nationwide.
And Joe Guszkowski talks tipping on Tech Check.
Del Taco is getting a new owner.
This week’s episode of the Restaurant Business podcast The Week in Restaurants looks at the $115 million sale of Del Taco by Jack in the Box, just four years after Jack bought the Mexican chain for a lot more than that.
In addition, Waymo is getting into delivery. We discuss what this means for the restaurant industry and the future of delivery.
Domino’s had some fascinating things to say this week about the restaurant industry. Get ready for more depressing news.
In addition, Joe Guszkowski has Tech Check.
Here comes more restaurant rebrands.
This week’s episode of the Restaurant Business podcast The Week in Restaurants looks at the rebrands at Domino’s and Long John Silver’s, and what those rebrands mean for the companies.
Senior Tech Editor Joe Guszkowski also talks about rebrands later in the podcast on Tech Check.
Speaking of marketing, Wendy’s hired a consulting firm run by a very interesting former industry executive.
You can now get delivery from ChatGPT. That is a particularly notable event in the restaurant industry.
And some thoughts on Chi-Chi’s.
A slowing economy is adding to the restaurant industry’s woes.
This week’s episode of the Restaurant Business podcast The Week in Restaurants examines the state of the economy, with a weakening labor market and heavy deal-seeking by consumers.
We also look again at Starbucks’ closures, and what they say about the state of the chain right now.
In addition, we discuss the evolving strategy of the delivery provider DoorDash, which is getting into the in-store business for restaurants. Is the company getting too powerful?
All that and Senior Tech Editor Joe Guszkowski talks POS system.
Starbucks is closing stores and cutting more jobs.
On this episode of The Week in Restaurants, Restaurant Business Senior Editor Joe Guszkowski and Executive Editor Lisa Jennings break down some juicy news, including those latest Starbucks moves.
They also discuss a stealthy new beverage concept from Chick-fil-A, and give a quick review of some of the new drinks at McDonald's.
Also, they dig into why Portillo’s made a change at CEO.
On Tech Check, Joe talks about tech, hospitality and Starbucks.
Another growth chain is de-growing.
This week’s episode of the Restaurant Businss podcast The Week in Restaurants looks at the 41 restaurant closures of Salad and Go, which is more than a quarter of the drive-thru chain’s locations. We discuss why the chain is closing those locations.
We also talk Cracker Barrel, which gave us a peek at the fallout from their rebranding blowup.
US Foods and Performance Food Group may well try a merger. We talk about whether that has any real chance.
All that plus an FSTEC wrapup on this week’s Tech Check.
On this week’s episode of The Week in Restaurants, we discuss the surprising sale of Potbelly to RaceTrac, and why it is a sign of the growing competition between restaurants and c-stores.
We also talk about Portillo’s, which is slowing development plans and ditching breakfast as it looks to focus on the fundamentals at its restaurants.
And we get into some new data on restaurant delivery, prepared exclusively for Restaurant Business by Intouch Insight. In short, restaurants may be losing their pricing power over third-party delivery apps.
On Tech Check, it’s a preview of what to look for at the FSTEC conference next week.
Anybody want to buy some Noodles?
This week’s episode of the Restaurant Business podcast The Week in Restaurants looks at the potential sale process at Noodles & Company, which has not quite fulfilled the promise it had when it went public more than a decade ago.
We also talk about closures at Smokey Bones and what that says about the chain, and about the barbecue sector.
In addition, we talk about McDonald’s value war. In addition, Senior Tech Editor Joe Guszkowski talks AI.
Is this Cracker Barrel logo saga finally over?
This week’s episode of the Restaurant Business news discussion podcast The Week in Restaurants examines the apparent resolution of the Cracker Barrel branding issue. The family-dining chain opted to go back to the old logo. Will it quell the firestorm?
We also look at “slop bowls,” and whether the bowl boom is over. Or whether it’s just beginning. And what is a slop bowl, anyway.
We also talk about Taco Bell and its marketing, and why it works so well.
On Tech Check, Senior Technology Editor Joe Guszkowski talks mergers and acquisitions.
Expect the value wars to last a few more months.
This week’s episode of the Restaurant Business podcast The Week in Restaurants looks at McDonald’s plan to cut the prices of its bundled meals to 15% off the cost of the items individually. We talk about why that will lengthen the value wars.
Bravo Brio filed for bankruptcy. Why are some full-service chains going bankrupt and others are reporting 30% comps?
Cracker Barrel is in hot water with conservatives over its logo. We’ll talk about what all that means.
Also, casual dining and takeout on Tech Check, and an FSTEC preview.
What has happened to the fast-casual sector?
This week’s episode of the Restaurant Business podcast The Week in Restaurants looks at the suddenly weaker state of the fast-casual sector. Several chains have reported slowing sales, including stalwarts like Cava, Chipotle and Wingstop. What’s going on?
Chili’s, meanwhile, continues to thrive and extended its incredible run. We look at what’s driving that chain’s success.
And a look at Subway, which is sending cash to its franchisees, a group that really needs it.
Casual-dining restaurants are outpacing fast-food chains again.
This week’s episode of the Restaurant Business podcast The Week in Restaurants looks at the differing directions that casual-dining and fast-food chains are going in.
This has been a big earnings week. A bunch of limited-service restaurants have reported weak results, including KFC, Pizza Hut, Jack in the Box and Del Taco. McDonald’s sales were good until its Minecraft promotion ended. And Wendy’s and Sweetgreen just reported weak results.
On the other hand, chains like Applebee’s, Olive Garden and BJ’s Restaurants, not to mention Chili’s, are doing well.
We discuss why that is. In addition, Senior Tech Editor Joe Guszkowski talks ghost kitchens on Tech Check.