Crain's Detroit
From bankruptcy to national ambitions, what’s next for Olga’s Kitchen
Olga's Kitchen, a Detroit-based chain that previously filed for bankruptcy, is pursuing national expansion.
340 stories · last 30 days by relevance
Olga's Kitchen, a Detroit-based chain that previously filed for bankruptcy, is pursuing national expansion.
Hawaiian Bros is planning expansion in 2026 supported by franchise growth.
Chipotle faces a multistate Salmonella lawsuit involving over 200 customers while simultaneously pursuing international expansion and new promotional initiatives, illustrating the tension between mana
CAVA reports Q2 growth tied to menu innovation and geographic expansion while broader restaurant industry faces challenges.
Huey Magoo's signed 60 new restaurant agreements in 2026, continuing its expansion.
CAVA Group's stock rose on signs that revenue is recovering after a recent Cyclospora outbreak affected the chain.
UBS projects continued top-line improvement for CAVA in the second half, though the snippet does not specify the growth drivers.
Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers promoted Rick Petralia to Executive Chef and VP of Training & Innovation, expanding his oversight of the chain's training and media operations.
Baron Capital's Discovery Fund posted 19.08% returns in Q2 2026 while maintaining a bullish stance on Shake Shack, though it underperformed the Russell 2000 Growth Index.
Chipotle faces a federal lawsuit in Minnesota related to a multistate Salmonella outbreak, reviving investor scrutiny over food safety liability.
Cava exceeded its quarterly targets, signaling sustained consumer interest in Mediterranean cuisine offerings.
Cava beat quarterly expectations but kept its full-year forecast unchanged, citing a cautious approach to guidance.
Moe's Southwest Grill is closing additional locations following a franchise bankruptcy.
Capriotti's is running a month-long promotional campaign in September offering weekly deals to rewards members, part of its 50th anniversary marketing push.
Franchise development hire signals scaling ambitions — Houston TX Hot Chicken's talent recruitment from established chains (Jimmy John's, GoTo Foods) indicates real growth infrastructure building.
Activist investor Starboard Value has taken a stake in Shake Shack and is pushing the chain to accelerate US franchising following a mixed Q2 earnings report, a move that signals potential strategic r
CAVA Group reported 31.3% Q2 sales growth, though the short-seller James Chanos questioned the company's same-store sales guidance—signaling investor confidence in topline momentum even amid skepticis
Seattle-based salad chain Evergreens is pursuing franchising to expand into 12 new states, signaling confidence in a replicable unit model as fast-casual concepts seek growth beyond their home markets
Cava Group's sales growth is expected to continue as new restaurants outperform and same-store sales recover from a Cyclospora outbreak impact, according to RBC's analysis.
Health-focused fast casual brands Konala and Clean Eatz are emphasizing drive-thru and grab-and-go formats to compete on convenience with traditional fast food.
Jeff's Bagel Run is partnering with Hungry Howie's franchisees to expand into South Carolina.
Chipotle's stock performance over the past decade illustrates the potential returns of long-term investment in established restaurant companies.
CAVA is targeting 75–77 net new restaurant openings in 2026, supported by strong performance from recent vintages and broad-based demand signals.
Panera Bread appointed Andrew Rebhun, former CMO of Cava and El Pollo Loco, to lead its marketing function as the chain pursues a broader transformation.
A NAYA restaurant founder, after a single location nearly became insolvent, is now seeking to open 200 additional locations.
Chipotle reported record sales from back-to-school and U.S. Open BOGO promotions while expanding into Saudi Arabia, though an analyst views the stock as fully valued at current levels.
Shake Shack has shifted its product-testing approach from small-scale West Village pilots to a more evolved methodology, suggesting the chain is professionalizing its innovation process to scale bever
Activist investor Starboard Value is pressing Shake Shack to accelerate its U.S. franchising strategy, signaling potential investor appetite for faster expansion models in the QSR sector.
Chipotle prevailed against a portion-size lawsuit and social media criticism from investors, signaling the company's ability to weather operational and perception challenges.
Jack in the Box is undergoing a menu reset, closing franchises, and simplifying operations in Q2, moves that signal a strategic pivot toward operational efficiency.
Farmer Boys' VP of Brand & Franchise Development appeared on Restaurant Tech Trends to discuss the chain's farm-to-table positioning and QSR pricing model.
Cava's stock rose following a sales increase driven by consumer interest in Mediterranean-diet foods including pita chips and salmon.
Pokeworks reported strong sales and transaction growth in the first half of 2026, attributed to new store openings, development agreements, and menu updates.
Chipotle's stock declined following a jalapeño recall that may hinder the company's efforts to restore customer traffic.
Beyond Juicery + Eatery reports that all franchisees have adopted its pricing strategy through a technology platform.
Crisp & Green is accelerating franchise expansion, with existing franchisees planning to open 15+ restaurants by year-end as the wellness-focused chain targets density in priority markets.
Egg Tuck, acquired by WaBa Grill's parent company in 2023, is expanding into San Diego as a franchised concept.
A Restaurant Catering Workshop is offering guidance on managing delivery logistics complexities.
Döner Haus opened its first West Coast location in South Los Angeles, marking geographic expansion for the döner-focused chain.
Sweetgreen has been cleared of links to a cyclospora outbreak, yet customer demand for salads remains depressed; the CEO expressed surprise at the persistence of consumer hesitancy.
Taïm's New York City locations were shuttered by state tax authorities over unpaid taxes, signaling potential cash-flow or compliance challenges at the Craveworthy Brands portfolio.
CAVA's stock has returned 70.4% over three years, but current valuations suggest the market is pricing in significant growth expectations rather than offering a discount to fundamentals.
Neon Greens, a St. Louis fast-casual salad chain that launched in 2024, integrates hydroponics farming on-site to supply its restaurants, signaling growing operator interest in vertically integrated s
Culver's is opening another location in Florida as part of its expansion in the state.
Panera restructured its rewards program to a points-based model with tiered membership levels, giving customers more flexibility in how they redeem rewards.
Regional expansion strategy shift — divesting Japan to bet on North America signals where growth capital is flowing.
Chipotle's valuation metrics are mixed, with a DCF model suggesting overvaluation while market multiples indicate fair pricing, as the chain expands into Saudi Arabia following a 22.2% stock decline o
Culver's is expanding its distribution network in advance of planned store growth.