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Over 40% of restaurant phone calls go unanswered during peak hours, costing the industry an estimated $20 billion annually. A new wave of AI phone ordering platforms is turning that dead air into revenue, and the economics are hard to argue with.
March 25, 2026
A New York-based private equity consortium is betting nearly $300 million that California Pizza Kitchen's brand equity can survive a long decline from 250-plus units to 120. The deal puts multi-brand operator Convive in charge of turning the iconic casual-dining chain around.
March 24, 2026
Inspire Brands, JAB Holdings, and Restaurant Brands International control 100,000+ locations. Private equity owns more QSR brands than ever. The consolidation wave shows no signs of slowing.
March 20, 2026
Cava's IPO tripled in value. Wingstop returned 20x. Portillo's struggled. Several major chains are eyeing public offerings: Panera (complicated by debt), Raising Cane's (no rush), and others. Here's the pipeline and what makes a successful QSR IPO.
March 20, 2026
Compare investment costs, fees, support, and requirements for 50 major QSR franchises. The most comprehensive franchise comparison resource available.
March 19, 2026
Sweetgreen has bet $186 million that automation is the answer to labor shortages, margin compression, and the existential question of whether premium fast-casual can ever be truly profitable. The results so far are promising—and unsettling.
March 19, 2026