前几日和家人在一家老牌饭店聚餐，包间装潢得很豪华，但酒水单和菜单就不尽如人意了，起了毛边不 说还都开裂了，确实和环境很不配套。服务员解释：我们马上要扫码点餐了。 现在许多餐饮店都扫码点餐，点菜时身旁无人，自己拿着手机瞎琢磨，往往招牌菜必点菜等等是踩雷重 灾区，你若想召唤厨师当面过招，那简直是自讨没趣，为了省成本，有限两三个厨师，个个忙得恨不得 变成千手观音，哪有时间应对你---爱吃不吃！ 还有许多苍蝇小馆子呀拉面馆呀砂锅店之类的，菜单上墙，指那吃那，对不爱说话不识字者很是友好。 菜品也不多，但食客不少，或许印证了餐饮业一句老话：菜单越薄，利润越大。 在海南各地的海鲜店、云南好多地方的小餐馆，是没有菜单的，前者自选海鲜交给老板嘱咐烹饪方式即 可，后者是打开立式冷柜自选菜品，厨师会问你想吃哪种做法，一番细心切磋交流之后，坐等开吃。没 菜单的好处是亲眼目睹厨师现切现炒，绝对不是预制菜；不太好的一点是菜品单一可选余地不大。 看到一则新闻说，外卖逼得餐馆改进或重新设计菜单，以适应一个简单的物理事实：热食装进塑料饭 盒，到食客手中饭盒湿软，饭菜味道远不如刚装盒时那么好，尤其油炸食品难以保持酥脆口感。于是， 减少油炸菜品、 ...

Core Viewpoint - FAT Brands, a restaurant franchiser with a significant debt of approximately $1.3 billion, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy to restructure its debt and support the continued growth of its brands [1][6]. Company Overview - FAT Brands operates 18 restaurant brands, including Fatburger, Johnny Rockets, and Twin Peaks, with over 2,200 locations globally [1]. - The company’s subsidiary, Twin Hospitality Group, which operates the Twin Peaks chain, also filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy [2]. Financial Situation - The company reported having only $2.1 million in cash at the time of the bankruptcy filing and had missed payments prior to mid-November of the previous year [9]. - Following the bankruptcy announcement, shares of FAT Brands dropped by 45% [7]. Market Conditions - The company cited common challenges in the restaurant industry, such as inflation and declining customer demand for casual dining, as contributing factors to its financial difficulties [5][6]. - Erin Mandzik, a communications senior director, noted that the market conditions have been difficult and largely unforeseen, impacting the company's ability to restructure its debt [6]. Operational Impact - Despite the bankruptcy filing, FAT Brands expects its signature brands to continue operating as usual during the Chapter 11 process [12]. - The company had plans to expand its Fatburger chain by adding at least 40 new locations in Florida before the bankruptcy filing [2].

Core Insights - The article highlights the trend of major restaurant brands, including Starbucks, shifting towards hiring more part-time workers while reducing the emphasis on full-time positions, particularly in first-tier cities [1][4][5] Group 1: Employment Trends - Starbucks China is focusing on controlling labor costs, with 61.7% of job postings for student part-time positions and only 20.4% for full-time roles [1] - Many Starbucks locations are no longer hiring full-time staff, opting instead for part-time roles to manage operational costs [3] - The trend of hiring part-time workers is becoming a common strategy among leading restaurant brands to cope with rising labor costs and operational pressures [5] Group 2: Labor Cost Challenges - The average labor cost in the restaurant industry has risen to 22.2% of revenue, an increase of 4.5 percentage points over three years, squeezing profit margins [8] - New social security regulations have raised labor costs by approximately 27.45%, adding about 24,000 yuan to the annual cost per employee [8] - High employee turnover rates, with a staggering 89.47% for front-line service staff, exacerbate the challenges faced by the industry [9] Group 3: Flexible Employment Models - The industry is moving towards flexible employment models, with projections indicating that 30%-39% of the workforce will be engaged in flexible roles by 2025 [11] - Major fast-food chains like McDonald's rely heavily on part-time workers to manage labor costs and adapt to fluctuating customer demand [11] - Companies are adopting strategies such as cross-training employees to enhance operational efficiency and reduce overall labor costs [11] Group 4: Future Directions - The focus of human resource management in the restaurant industry may shift from a cost-driven approach to a value-driven one, emphasizing service quality and customer experience [12]

Company Overview - Portillo's, Inc. (NASDAQ: PTLO) has expanded from a small hot dog trailer in Chicago to over 100 restaurants across 11 states, offering a unique menu that includes Italian beef sandwiches, Chicago-style hot dogs, char-broiled burgers, fresh salads, and chocolate cake [2] Upcoming Earnings Event - Portillo's will host a Q4 & FY 2025 Earnings Webcast on February 24 at 10 a.m. EST, with the earnings release scheduled to be published before market open on the same day [1]

Citi initiated coverage of Dutch Bros with a Buy rating and an $82 price target, citing strong brand momentum and a loyal, young customer base. ...

Group 1 - McDonald's is reintroducing its iconic Changeables Happy Meal toys, which transform from food items into robot or dinosaur characters, for a new generation [1][2] - The updated Changeables are based on designs from the original Happy Meal programs launched in 1987, 1989, and 1990, and were highly requested by customers on social media [4] - The return of these toys is part of a broader strategy by McDonald's to combine nostalgia, technology, and loyalty initiatives to adapt to changing consumer habits [5] Group 2 - McDonald's has recently implemented a value strategy, including the return of Extra Value Meals, which offer meal bundles at a 15% discount compared to purchasing items separately [9] - This value strategy has intensified competition in the fast-food industry, prompting rivals to enhance their own value offerings in response to McDonald's initiatives [8] - McDonald's shares have seen a 2.7% increase year to date, reflecting positive market response to its new strategies [6]

Core Viewpoint - Happy City Holdings Limited is currently not in compliance with Nasdaq's Minimum Stockholders' Equity Rule, as it reported stockholders' equity of $2,206,497, below the required $2,500,000 [1][2]. Group 1: Compliance Status - The Company received a notification from Nasdaq on January 23, 2026, indicating non-compliance with the minimum stockholders' equity requirement [1]. - The Company has until March 9, 2026, to submit a plan to regain compliance, with the possibility of an extension of up to 180 days if the plan is accepted [3][4]. Group 2: Business Operations - Despite the notification, the trading of the Company's Class A Ordinary Shares under the symbol "HCHL" on Nasdaq is unaffected, and its business operations remain stable [3]. - The Company is actively evaluating measures to regain compliance while maintaining its listing on Nasdaq [4]. Group 3: Company Overview - Happy City Holdings Limited operates three all-you-can-eat hotpot restaurants in Hong Kong, offering a unique dining experience with a focus on food quality [5].

Hong Kong, Jan. 27, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Happy City Holdings Limited (Nasdaq: HCHL) (the “Company” or “Happy City”) today announced that the Company received a notice from the staff of the Nasdaq Listing Qualifications department (the “Staff”) of The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (“Nasdaq”), dated January 23, 2026 (the “Notification Letter”), notifying the Company that the Company is not in compliance with the minimum of $2,500,000 in stockholders’ equity for continued listing of the Company’s class A ordinar ...

About this content About Emily Jarvie Emily began her career as a political journalist for Australian Community Media in Hobart, Tasmania. After she relocated to Toronto, Canada, she reported on business, legal, and scientific developments in the emerging psychedelics sector before joining Proactive in 2022. She brings a strong journalism background with her work featured in newspapers, magazines, and digital publications across Australia, Europe, and North America, including The Examiner, The Advocate, ...

Core Insights - The evolution of loyalty programs has transitioned from traditional methods to modern digital implementations, with a historical foundation dating back to the 18th century [1] - The psychological principle of reciprocity continues to drive consumer behavior, influencing the effectiveness of loyalty programs [2] - Loyalty programs are now crucial for enhancing average order value (AOV) and customer lifetime value (CLV), with data indicating that loyalty program members spend 32% more annually compared to nonmembers [3] Company-Specific Developments - There is a notable gap between consumer expectations and business offerings, with 75% of consumers preferring brands with rewards, yet only 57% of restaurants optimizing their loyalty systems [4] - Panera Bread is addressing this gap by launching a new points-based MyPanera rewards program across 216 cafes, shifting from a surprise-and-delight model to a more predictable points system [5] - The pilot for the new MyPanera program will begin on January 28 in Dallas, targeting 4 million MyPanera members and aiming to enhance customer engagement and increase visits to cafes [7] Program Features - The new points-based system allows customers to earn 10 points for every $1 spent, providing more predictable and valuable rewards [8] - Customers will have the flexibility to choose how to spend their points, along with personalized rewards and bonus-point opportunities [8] - A new MyPanera+ tier will be introduced for Unlimited Sip Club members or customers who spend $300 or more annually at Panera [8]