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Presto Raises $10M as Drive-Thru Voice AI Enters Its 'Prove It' Era

Presto Automation closed a $10 million funding round as the drive-thru AI sector moves from pilot theater to deployment accountability. With McDonald's IBM experiment now a cautionary tale, operators are demanding hard numbers on accuracy, labor savings, and rollout speed.

RBI Insiders Dump $32 Million in Stock as QSR Hits 12-Month High

Five Restaurant Brands International executives sold 435,191 shares worth $31.83 million in a three-month window that coincided with QSR stock reaching its highest point in a year. The coordinated selling raises questions investors need to weigh against management's confident 2028 growth targets.

Starbucks Q1 FY2026 Earnings: Niccol's Turnaround Is Ahead of Schedule

Starbucks posted Q1 fiscal 2026 revenue of $9.9 billion, up 6%, with global comp sales rising 4%. CEO Brian Niccol says the 'Back to Starbucks' strategy is ahead of schedule, but a union standoff and growing competition from drive-thru coffee chains add complexity to the recovery.

QSR Diversity and Inclusion Report 2026

C-suite demographics, franchisee diversity, and DEI programs by chain. What's real vs performative, the wealth gap in franchise ownership, and which brands are actually changing.

The FTC's Record $17 Million Franchise Settlement: What Every QSR Franchisor Needs to Know

The FTC just secured a $17 million settlement against Xponential Fitness, the largest monetary recovery in a franchise case in FTC history. The violations have nothing to do with fitness and everything to do with how franchisors sell franchises. QSR brands should read the complaint carefully.

The QSR Franchisee Distress Wave: How Operator-Level Bankruptcies Are Reshaping Franchise Economics in 2026

Franchisee bankruptcies are accelerating in 2026, with Sailormen Inc. filing Chapter 11 on 119 Popeyes locations and Fat Brands' collapse rippling through 2,200-plus restaurants. For operators, the real threat isn't franchisor instability alone. It's the structural economics trapping franchisees between rising costs and degrading support.

The Tariff Whiplash: How the IEEPA Ruling and Section 122 Pivot Are Creating New Supply Chain Uncertainty for QSR

The Supreme Court struck down IEEPA-based tariffs in February, then the White House pivoted to Section 122 authority within four days. For QSR procurement teams, the legal ground has never shifted faster.

Freddy's Frozen Custard: the premium burger value play

550 locations, $1.88M AUV, and 70% of new openings from existing franchisees. How Freddy's combines burgers and custard for franchisee profitability.

Portillo's Strategic Reset: How a Chicago Icon Choked on Its Own Expansion

Portillo's raised $466 million in its 2021 IPO on promises of 920 locations. Four years later, the stock has lost 90% of its value, a CEO is gone, and an activist investor forced a full strategic pivot. The story of what went wrong is a lesson every regional chain operator needs to read.

How Much Does a Jimmy John's Franchise Cost in 2026?

Jimmy John's franchise investment ranges from $366,200 to $728,200. Owned by Roark Capital, the brand focuses on delivery speed and operational simplicity with 2,695 locations.

QSR Franchising Growth Stalls Below 0.5%: Why 2026 Is a Year of Survival, Not Expansion

The International Franchise Association projects QSR franchise growth below 0.5% in 2026, the weakest showing of any major franchise sector. With food costs 36% above pre-pandemic levels, labor costs up 35%, and tariffs hitting supply chains, operators are cutting menus and switching suppliers rather than signing new leases.

Why QSR Customers Are Trading Down From Fast Casual

The Restaurant Tech Stack Problem: Why 37% of Chains Say Fragmented Systems Are Killing Their AI Ambitions

A new Qu survey found that 37% of restaurant brands cite fragmented systems and disconnected data as the primary barrier to getting value from technology. As AI promises transform the industry, the unsexy infrastructure problem of the fractured tech stack is quietly blocking the revolution.

No Tax on Tips: What the Federal $25,000 Exemption Means for QSR Operators

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act introduces a $25,000 federal income tax exemption on tips, triggering a cascade of state copycat bills and mandatory payroll system changes. Here is what QSR operators need to understand about compliance, worker pay, and the long game.

How to Read a QSR Earnings Call: An Investor's Guide

Earnings calls are choreographed performances. CEOs spin, obfuscate, and bury the important information. Here's how to decode the language, spot the red flags, and find the truth underneath.

Brinker International's $6.25 Billion Comeback: How Chili's Big Smasher Turned a Casual Dining Chain Into QSR's Biggest Threat