Restaurant reservations become measurable media, as OpenTable’s pay-per-seated-guest model links ad spend directly to confirmed dining occasions.
Cava is doubling down on expansion while Sweetgreen rethinks its strategy.
Enforcement is disrupting staffing and dampening Hispanic consumer spending, forcing brands to adjust messaging and shift distribution strategies.
McDonald’s Big Arch and Burger King’s Whopper refresh test consumers’ appetite for higher price points.
Sales growth increasingly hinges on experience and service, not just pricing.
Sharp pricing and steady innovation keep sales rising while its peers stall.
66% of UK/US parents say their children ages 10-15 significantly influence clothing, shoes, and accessories purchases, making it the top category where Gen Alpha sways family spending, according to a November 2025 study from Teneo.
Core delivery surges, but integration expenses and investments squeeze near-term profits.
McDonald's leads all US food and grocery sites and apps with 57 million unique visitors, outpacing DoorDash (52.8 million) and nearly doubling the top traditional grocer Kroger (31.3 million), according to November 2025 data from Comscore.
Restaurant industry sales will inch up 1.3%, but only chains with clear value and identity will win.
Value menus and nostalgia-fueled promotions drove 2025 gains, even as food costs surged.
Revenues jumped 30% YoY as consumers’ takeaway habits solidified.
While Chipotle struggles to get customers through the door, Taco Bell is gaining share.
Removing delivery and service fees targets cart abandonment and larger orders.
The coffee chain is reintroducing tiers to incentivize deeper loyalty.
Quick-service and casual dining chains are kicking off the year by leaning hard into affordability, rolling out value menus and tiered meal deals to win back price-sensitive customers. Brands like Taco Bell, Wendy's, and Red Robin are spotlighting lower-cost options and limited-time offers as sticker shock reshapes dining habits. The shift comes as consumers pull back: 44% of lower-income consumers are dining out less. Chains that can balance sharp pricing with traffic-driving offers may keep consumers coming, while those that can't risk losing relevance.
Brands try to bolster value and innovate to win cost-conscious customers.
Starbucks is sponsoring the second season of Amazon Prime’s reality competition “Beast Games: Strong vs. Smart” to try to reignite brand buzz.
Chick-fil-A launches biggest-ever campaign amid QSR headwinds: The chicken chain is celebrating its 80th birthday with LTOs, merch, and a healthy dose of nostalgia.
Consumers traded down or tapped out throughout 2025, making value deals essential for restaurant survival.