This story was originally published on Restaurant Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Restaurant Dive newsletter. Dive Brief: &pizza has acquired Tijuana Flats, a fast casual Tex-Mex chain with 95 units, the company said Thursday in an emailed press release. The acquisition includes the chain’s headquarters in Maitland, Florida. Terms and purchase price were not disclosed.  Alongside the deal, &pizza launched Latitude Food Group, a holding company that will oversee and ...

Chinese lenders are nearing a deal to help finance Boyu's acquisition of a 60% stake in Starbucks' China retail business — shutting foreign banks out https://t.co/qzRKF4Z8aj ...

Core Insights - McDonald's reported a 2.4% growth in US same-store sales for Q3, but CEO Chris Kempczinski warned of reduced spending from low-income customers despite value meal offerings accounting for 30% of transactions [1] - Cava has lowered its same-store sales growth forecast to 3-4% from 4-6%, citing decreased visits from younger diners aged 25-34 due to economic pressures [2] Company Performance - Cava's same restaurant sales accelerated from 16.5% to 20% on a two-year basis, but saw a slight decline of 1.9% year-over-year [7] - Cava opened 17 new restaurants in the quarter, bringing the total to 415, marking an 18% year-over-year increase [9] - Cava maintains guidance for 68-70 net new restaurants this year and projects a compound annual unit growth rate of at least 16% for next year [11] Market Trends - The fast-casual dining sector is experiencing intense discounting, with 30% of restaurant transactions tied to discounts in the past year [12] - Cava has taken less than half the aggregate price increase compared to industry peers, with a 17% increase versus an average of 34% in the industry [13] Consumer Behavior - Younger diners are facing economic challenges such as student loan repayments and increased living costs, leading to reduced restaurant visits [8] - Cava has managed to grow its market share within the younger demographic despite a decrease in visit frequency [9]

Starbucks union members say they're ready for a walk out next week unless they get a contract. They want better labor practices, more staffing, more money. The strike would start on the same day the chain plans to start distributing those free reusable red cups.Only a couple hundred of Starbucks 10,000 stores are unionized. Starbucks says the union is just a small portion of the workforce, saying they're disappointed in the vote to strike. ...

如果你逛商场，可能会发现一个怪现象，商场人山人海，但餐厅门口排队的场面越来越少。 曾经一到周末，电梯口全是等号的食客；如今，不少餐厅的店员比客人还多。 有人说是消费降级，也有人说是租金太贵了。 但真正压垮商场餐饮的，或许是那股越来越浓的预制味儿。 当消费者开始怀疑这锅菜是不是加热出来的，商场餐饮的黄金时代，也就走到了尽头。 而那些还在死撑的品牌，也在想尽办法逃离，搬到地下层、进社区、入高校、转夜宵场。 每一次迁徙，都是对"无烟厨房"与"无锅气"现实的无声抗议。 商场餐饮，正在经历一次结构性的退潮。 一场从高光到冷场的转变，背后藏着中国餐饮的残酷进化历史。 国庆期间，全国商圈人气爆棚，北京、上海、杭州等地的核心商场客流量连创新高，看似一片欣欣向荣。 可走近一看，热闹只属于头部品牌。 像费大厨、烤匠、寿司郎这样的现象级门店，门口永远是排长龙。 而旁边那些曾经风光无限的烘焙铺、主题餐厅、地方菜馆，却门可罗雀。 这种冷热两极的背后，其实反映出商场餐饮的分化，头部品牌靠流量续命，中小餐厅被成本吞噬。 北京大悦城、颐堤港等地，一个又一个餐饮老店选择关门。 法式烘焙Gontran Cherrier、西餐厅、火锅连锁、甚至经 ...

Core Insights - Dutch Bros reported revenue of $423.58 million for the quarter ended September 2025, reflecting a 25.2% increase year-over-year and a surprise of +3.03% over the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $411.13 million [1] - The earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter was $0.19, up from $0.16 in the same quarter last year, with an EPS surprise of +11.76% compared to the consensus estimate of $0.17 [1] Financial Performance Metrics - Dutch Bros' shares have returned +15.8% over the past month, outperforming the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +1% change, and the stock currently holds a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy) [3] - The total shop count at the end of the period was 1,081, slightly below the five-analyst average estimate of 1,084 [4] - Company-operated shops generated revenues of $392.83 million, exceeding the average estimate of $378.56 million by five analysts, representing a +27.4% change year-over-year [4] - System same shop sales and transactions increased by 5.7%, surpassing the average estimate of 4.2% by four analysts [4] - Franchising and other revenues were reported at $30.75 million, below the average estimate of $32.68 million, but still reflecting a +2.8% change compared to the year-ago quarter [4]

Core Points - The legislative meeting aims to establish the "Guangzhou Dim Sum Heritage Protection Regulations" to ensure the preservation and promotion of Guangzhou's dim sum culture [2][3] - Various stakeholders, including renowned chefs and tea enthusiasts, emphasized the urgency and necessity of legislative protection for Guangzhou dim sum [2][3] Group 1 - The meeting was led by Wang Yanshi, the director of the Municipal People's Congress Standing Committee, who visited the Tao Tao Ju restaurant to gather insights [2][3] - Notable dim sum chefs and representatives from the restaurant industry expressed their views on the need for regulations to protect and promote dim sum culture [2][3] - Suggestions included enhancing research on dim sum culture, evaluating dim sum businesses, training chefs, differentiating production methods, and improving service quality [2][3] Group 2 - Wang Yanshi highlighted that Guangzhou dim sum culture is an important part of the city's charm and a carrier of local memories, emphasizing the need for its transmission and development [3] - The feedback from those knowledgeable about dim sum will be incorporated into the legislative draft to ensure it is practical and beneficial for the industry [3]

Group 1 - The discussion centers around the importance of trusting the market and recognizing buying opportunities during downturns, emphasizing that discipline in growth investing is crucial for long-term success [4][19][28] - The performance of major indices such as the Dow, S&P, and NASDAQ indicates a rebound after a previous disappointing session, highlighting the volatility and potential for recovery in the market [3] - The interview with Larry Culp, CEO of GE Aerospace, showcases his leadership in revitalizing General Electric, indicating the significance of strong executive management in navigating corporate challenges [2][29] Group 2 - The analysis of specific stocks like Shopify and McDonald's illustrates the need to look beyond market sentiment and focus on company fundamentals, suggesting that perceived downturns may present buying opportunities [12][15][17] - Concerns about the concentration of economic growth in AI and semiconductor stocks raise questions about market stability and valuation, with a focus on the performance metrics of companies like Meta, Google, and Nvidia [21][22][24] - The commentary on M&A activity in the healthcare sector highlights the strategic moves of pharmaceutical companies and the challenges faced by biotech firms, indicating a dynamic landscape for investment opportunities [26][27]

Core Viewpoint - The article emphasizes using market declines as buying opportunities, highlighting that major indexes rebounded after a down session, particularly following significant losses in tech stocks like Palantir [1][2]. Market Analysis - Major indexes experienced a decline on Tuesday, primarily driven by an 8% drop in Palantir and other artificial intelligence stocks, raising concerns over inflated valuations in the tech sector [2]. - Despite Palantir's strong earnings report and positive guidance, its stock suffered due to the broader market's negative sentiment [2]. Investment Recommendations - Cramer advises investors to identify stocks that have recently reported strong quarterly results but have seen their prices drop due to market-wide declines, suggesting a gradual approach to buying rather than investing all at once [3][5]. - Two specific companies recommended for purchase during market weakness are Shopify and McDonald's. Shopify's stock decline is attributed to the overall market downturn rather than business issues, with management anticipating a robust holiday season [4]. - Cramer views McDonald's earnings miss as understandable given the challenging environment for the restaurant industry, noting the company's significant scale and efforts to reduce prices amid weakening consumer spending [4].

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Total system-wide sales for the quarter were $170.7 million, a 3.3% decrease from the previous year [13] - Total revenue was $82.3 million, down 1.6% from $83.7 million in the prior year [13] - Net loss for the quarter was $24.5 million, compared to $16.2 million in the previous year [16] - Adjusted EBITDA increased to $3 million, compared to $2.3 million in the prior year [16] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Twin Peaks revenue was $50.3 million, up 5.3% from $47.8 million in the prior year, driven by new lodge openings [13] - Smokey Bones revenue was $32 million, down 10.8% from $35.9 million in the prior year, reflecting strategic conversions and closures [14] - Twin Peaks restaurant-level contribution margin increased to 17%, up from 16.3% in the previous year [15] - Smokey Bones restaurant-level contribution margin was negative 0.3%, down from positive 0.3% in the previous year [15] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Comparable sales for Twin Peaks declined by 4.1%, influenced by immigration-related issues, particularly in the San Antonio market [13] - System-wide weekly sales averaged $11.3 million over the past 12 weeks, indicating steady performance despite challenges [7] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on operational excellence, strengthening margins, and positioning for sustained growth [3] - A strategic conversion program is underway to transform Smokey Bones locations into high-performing Twin Peaks lodges [9] - The company has identified 19 prime conversion candidates for transformation into Twin Peaks lodges [10] - A new partnership with Camp Hope supports veterans, enhancing community engagement [11] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in achieving full annual equity target range to support debt reduction and growth investments [17] - The upcoming fourth quarter is expected to benefit from a strong sports calendar, including college football playoffs [17] - Operational improvements and cost discipline initiatives are anticipated to continue driving margin expansion [17] Other Important Information - The company has strengthened its executive team with key appointments and promotions to enhance operational performance [4][5][6] - The closure of underperforming units and improved financial visibility are part of the strategic plan for Smokey Bones [11] Q&A Session Summary - No questions were taken following the prepared remarks, and the call concluded without a Q&A session [2][20]