Free burritos, transparent food safety improvements, loyalty incentives — none of these attractive initiatives seem to be able to resuscitate Chipotle’s tanking sales. Since the fast-casual chain’s E.coli and norovirus problems last fall, Chipotle has reported three straight quarters of double-digit same-store sales declines. In its second-quarter financial results released last month, Chipotle announced that […]
Profitable Franchisees Propel Fastest-Growing Restaurant Brands
Technomic report shows appeal to high-caliber operators, not just consumers, crucial to expansion Restaurant chains aiming to expand their national footprints even more through franchising should continually focus on the unit economics within the footprint of each store. This increasingly profitable business model will then entice growth-minded franchisees with an increasingly profitable business model. The […]
Delivery Service Trials
Leading limited-service restaurant chains are trialing or launching new delivery service options in droves, often from a tech-based platform or through a third-party partnership, in order to boost sales and grow this convenience-fueled service. In the last year alone, Dunkin’ Donuts, Taco Bell, McDonald’s and Starbucks trialed delivery service, and Panera Bread Company, Burger King […]
What Subway’s Sales Decline Says About the Restaurant Industry
Subway’s fall from second-largest restaurant chain to No. 3 in Technomic’s Top 500 Chain Restaurant Report, the prevailing story line in a study full of intriguing developments, reveals a lot more than just how one brand is struggling to hold on to its market share. The chain’s 3.3% decrease in estimated annual sales means about […]