The Big Shift: Transition to 'delivery only' tough, but potentially lifesaving

by S.A. Whitehead — Food Editor, Net World Media Group

The pandemic that has now got the U.S. restaurant industry in a stranglehold is forcing many brands to delivery-only operations, which not only is requiring…

Del Taco delivers lackluster Q4, FY 2019 results

March 12, 2020

California-based Del Taco Restaurants Inc. turned in a disappointing Q4 financial performance as well as lackluster fiscal year 2019 results this week for the…

El Pollo Loco posts 3.9% Q4 comp sales gain

March 6, 2020

El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. said its Q4 financial results for the 13 weeks that ended Dec. 25, 2019 showed marked improvement over the numbers from a year…

Biggest McDonald's independent franchisor declares 11-cent FY2020 dividend

March 5, 2020

Latin America's biggest restaurant chain and the world's largest independent McDonald's franchisee, Arcos Dorados Holdings Inc., announced that on March 3, its…

National Restaurant Association report projects 4% industry-wide sales growth this year

February 27, 2020

The National Restaurant Association projected 4% restaurant industry sales growth this year across service categories to a total national of a record $89…

Wendy's Q4 total revenues up 7.4%

February 26, 2020

Better sales at Wendy's company-operated stores is credited mostly with the brand's increase in revenue last year, though higher labor and commodity costs and…

Jack in the Box Q1 earnings fall short

February 21, 2020

Jack in the Box Inc. failed to meet analysts' Q1 earnings estimates, with the brand's net income down to $7.9 million, or 33 cents a share after first quarter…

Wendy's announces quarterly dividend

February 20, 2020

The Wendy's Company (Nasdaq: WEN) today declared a 12-cent per share quarterly dividend, payable March 16 to shareholders of record as of March 2, according to…

Taco John's hires former 7-Eleven exec as brand's CFO

February 17, 2020

Taco John's franchisor, Taco John's International, Inc., has named former 7-Eleven and Yum Brands executive Kelly Hopper as its new chief financial officer, a…

Askar Brands adds doughnuts with 47-unit Florida Dunkin' acquisition

February 11, 2020

Southeast Enterprise Holdings Inc., or SEH, has acquired 47 Florida-based stores in the Miami, Ft. Lauderdale and West Palm Beach markets, a news release said.

A&W announces 8 straight years of same-store sales growth

February 11, 2020

A&W said its same-store sales grew 2.7% last year, the eighth consecutive year of growth for the Lexington, Kentucky-based brand, according to a news…

Subway lets 300 corporate workers go

February 6, 2020

Subway said it is letting 300 corporate employees go as the brand moves to simplify operations, Subway Senior Director of Public Relations Alan Marcus told…

Dunkin' Brands say espresso fueled highest Q4 comp sales in 6 years

February 6, 2020

Dunkin' Brands credited that human accelerator of espresso for also helping to accelerate its Q4 comp store sales at Dunkin' U.S. by 2.8%, which it said is the…

Yum China FY19 results rosy, but 2020 coronavirus pulls business back

February 6, 2020

After watching its stock soar 43% last year, Yum China's latest financials are already sending investors to the sell column as the company makes clear that the…

US restaurants vs coronavirus: The very real things US brands can do now

by S.A. Whitehead — Food Editor, Net World Media Group

No, the coronavirus is not a major health threat in the U.S. at this time. But the fact is, that could quickly change, and there are some very real…

Leveraging technology to manage restaurant labor costs

Labor can make or break a restaurant, being the one variable that exists in all facets of a restaurant’s core functionality and a top concern among managers…

McDonald's FY19 comp sales highest 10 years

January 29, 2020

McDonald's global comparable sales grew 5.9% — the most they have in more than a decade, while systemwide sales surpassed $100 billion and consolidated…

Yum China closes Wuhan stores due to virus, Yum Brands declares dividend

January 27, 2020

Yum China confirmed that it has temporarily closed some of its KFC and Pizza Hut stores in Wuhan, China due to the well-publicized coronavirus outbreak there…

Krystal files for bankruptcy blaming 'shifting consumer tastes,' increased costs

by S.A. Whitehead — Food Editor, Net World Media Group

The nation's second-oldest QSR, Krystal, is now under bankruptcy protection as it struggles to pay as much as $100 million in debt and find a new path forward.

Arby's open Tarboro, North Carolina store

January 15, 2020

Arby's is opening Monday in Tarboro, North Carolina. Under the ownership of Mosaic Red Hat Group, which also has 41 other locations of the chain in Florida…