This article is based on interviews with multiple Dickey's franchisees and Denning Petersen, Dickey's senior vice president of revenue. The names of two Dickey's franchisees have been withheld to prevent possible corporate retaliation. A third franchisee, David Boisture, who is an area director with the brand, spoke with Restaurant Dive in an interview arranged by Dickey’s PR team. Restaurant Dive corroborated the information supplied by the anonymous franchisees with interviews with three other operators w ...

This story was originally published on Restaurant Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Restaurant Dive newsletter. Dive Brief: Marco’s Pizza has hired Bill Schaffler as chief financial officer and Steve Kennedy as chief marketing officer, the company said in a Wednesday press release. Schaffler succeeds Jeff Rager, who is retiring at the end of this year. Both executives have over two decades of experience in their respective fields of restaurant finance and marketing, ...

This story was originally published on Restaurant Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Restaurant Dive newsletter. Dive Brief: Inspire Brands has promoted and hired several new executives across a range of its brands, the company said in a Wednesday press release. The most significant move, from a structural perspective, is the creation of a president role at Buffalo Wild Wings Go, Inspire’s fast casual spinoff of its sports bar concept. The spinoff opened its 200th unit ...

Core Insights - Cracker Barrel is facing backlash from loyal customers who believe the quality of food has declined, particularly due to changes in preparation methods and menu items [1][2][3] Group 1: Customer Feedback - Longtime patrons have expressed dissatisfaction with the chain's meals, stating they no longer meet traditional standards, which has been exacerbated by a recent branding overhaul [2] - Customers have noted that favorite menu items have disappeared and that kitchen shortcuts have replaced previous cooking practices, leading to a perceived decline in quality [2][3] - Specific complaints include the shift from rolling biscuit dough to baking larger batches and reheating sides, which has contributed to the frustration among diners [3] Group 2: Company Response - Cracker Barrel has acknowledged the feedback and is working to improve food quality, reinstating items like Campfire Meals and Uncle Herschel's Favorite Breakfast [9] - The CEO indicated that the company's recovery from the recent rebranding fiasco is progressing slower than anticipated, with first-quarter results falling below expectations [10] - The CEO emphasized that the recovery will take time as the company aims to regain momentum and address ongoing challenges [10]

Core Insights - McDonald's is addressing the issue of price discrepancies across its franchise locations, particularly in high-cost areas like airports and sports arenas, where prices can be significantly higher than average [1][2][3] Pricing Strategy - The current price for a 10-piece Chicken McNugget Value meal at a local McDonald's is approximately $8, with a regular price around $10, contrasting sharply with airport prices that can exceed $20 [2][3] - McDonald's operates on a franchised model, allowing franchise owners to set their own prices, which can lead to significant variations in meal costs [3] New Franchising Standards - Starting January 1, 2026, McDonald's will enhance its global franchising standards to ensure franchise operators maintain accountability for providing value [5][6] - The company will not adopt a uniform pricing strategy but will assess pricing decisions holistically to ensure value delivery across all locations [6] Market Responsiveness - Franchise operators will have the opportunity to provide local market insights to McDonald's, enabling the corporate team to better evaluate the value proposition at individual restaurants [7] - McDonald's CEO has emphasized the importance of value in the current market, noting that consumers are increasingly price-sensitive and seeking good value for their money [8][9]

Core Insights - A long-standing Mexican restaurant chain, Taco Giro, has closed nearly all of its locations due to a severe crisis stemming from the loss of many employees and legal issues [1][4]. Industry Challenges - Mexican restaurants in the U.S. are facing significant challenges, including rising labor and food costs driven by inflation, higher interest rates, and cautious consumer spending [2]. - The broader economic challenges are compounded by specific legal issues affecting Taco Giro, which has led to uncertainty about its future [4]. Company Background - Taco Giro was founded in 2008 by two brothers in Tucson and is known for its authentic Sonoran- and Tampico-style Mexican cuisine, particularly seafood dishes [3]. - The chain has built a strong community presence in Arizona and Mexico over 17 years [4]. Recent Developments - Following ICE raids on December 5, which resulted in the arrest of 46 kitchen workers (10% of its staff), Taco Giro closed all nine of its Arizona restaurants while keeping its Mexico location open [5][6]. - The company has communicated with customers via social media, indicating a temporary closure to make necessary adjustments [7]. - Currently, Taco Giro has slowly reopened three locations and is considering closing two additional underperforming restaurants, which were already planned prior to the raids [7].

2025 was a disaster for the fast-casual salad chain, but a new year brings a chance for a turnaround.Sweetgreen (SG +1.45%) has been one of the biggest disappointments of 2025.The stock came into this year on solid footing after putting up strong same-store sales growth in 2024 and rolling out its automated Infinite Kitchen system, which helps prep and dispense ingredients, accelerating throughput and saving money on labor.However, things quickly took a turn for the worse as the year started. The Southern C ...

This longtime market beater went stale in 2025.This has been an uncharacteristic year for Domino's Pizza (DPZ +0.41%). Shares of the global pizza chain are trading virtually flat in 2025 (down 0.6%), while the S&P 500 has continued to rip higher to the tune of 16.4% year-to-date. Domino's Pizza has outperformed the famous index by a comfortable margin (280% to 232%) over the past decade.So, what gives? More importantly, is the stock's slump -- shares trade 26% off of their early-2022 all-time high -- a buy- ...

Core Insights - The 2026 MICHELIN Guide for Doha has been released, highlighting the city's evolving culinary scene with 12 new restaurant entries, including nine in the selected category, eight recognized as Bib Gourmand, and three awarded One MICHELIN Star [2][4]. Group 1: New Entries and Awards - A total of 12 new restaurants have been added to the 2026 MICHELIN Guide Doha, showcasing the city's dynamic food landscape [2]. - Nine restaurants have been included in the selected category, while eight have received the Bib Gourmand designation for offering high-quality food at reasonable prices [2][4]. - Three restaurants have been awarded One MICHELIN Star, recognizing their exceptional culinary achievements [2][4]. Group 2: Notable Restaurants - Alba, located in Raffles Doha, has earned One MICHELIN Star for its exquisite culinary techniques and high-quality ingredients [3]. - The restaurants Jamavar and IDAM by Alain Ducasse have successfully retained their One MICHELIN Star status, demonstrating their commitment to excellence [6]. - Four new Bib Gourmand restaurants have been added, bringing the total to eight in Doha [4][7]. Group 3: Special Awards - The MICHELIN Guide Young Chef Award has been awarded to Cristhian Serraino, the chef at Alba, for his creative and balanced dishes [11]. - Koo Madame has received the MICHELIN Guide Opening of the Year Award, recognized for its unique dining experience reminiscent of 1920s Shanghai [11]. - Shanghai Me Doha has been honored with the MICHELIN Guide Service Award for its exceptional team service [12].

Market Overview - The U.S. stock market is approaching its all-time high following the Federal Reserve's interest rate cut aimed at supporting the job market, as anticipated by Wall Street [1][2] - The S&P 500 increased by 0.4%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose by 386 points (0.8%), and the Nasdaq composite saw a slight increase of 0.1% [1] Federal Reserve Actions - The Federal Reserve cut its main interest rate by a quarter of a percentage point and projected one more cut by the end of 2026, consistent with previous forecasts [3][4] - There is a division among Fed officials regarding the necessity of further rate cuts, with some expressing concerns about persistent inflation above the 2% target [4][5] Company Performance - GE Vernova's stock surged by 15.4% after the company raised its revenue forecast for 2028, doubled its dividend, and expanded its stock buyback program [6] - Palantir Technologies' shares rose by 3.9% following the announcement that the U.S. Navy will utilize its AI technology in a $448 million program [6] - Cracker Barrel Old Country Store's stock increased by 4% after reporting better-than-expected quarterly results, despite lowering its revenue forecast for the fiscal year [7] - GameStop's stock declined by 3.7% after reporting weaker-than-expected revenue, although its profit exceeded forecasts [8]