My top 10 things to watch Friday, March 20 1. Stock futures are down this morning as oil works its way back up after a brief move lower on Thursday. The major averages are pacing for their fourth losing week in a row, with the S & P 500 and Dow down 0.4% and 1.2%,…
Starbucks union members and their supporters, including baristas who have just walked off the job, effectively closing a local branch, picket in front of the store, Feb. 28, 2025 in New York City. Andrew Lichtenstein | Corbis News | Getty Images Starbucks Workers United presented the company with a comprehensive proposed contract last month, the…
The New York Stock Exchange welcomes executives and guests of Chipotle (NYSE: CMG) to the podium, on Friday, December 12, 2025, to celebrate the milestone of 4,000 restaurants. To honor the occasion, Scott Boatwright, CEO, joined by Chris Taylor, Chief Development Officer, NYSE, rings The Opening Bell®. Chipotle Mexican Grill on Tuesday reported quarterly earnings…
The stock market is well-positioned to bounce next week if the heavyweight companies set to report earnings deliver strong numbers, CNBC’s Jim Cramer said Friday. That’s because the market ended the week on a subdued note, the “Mad Money” host said, after the S&P 500 finished in the red for three straight days. The busy…
At a challenging time for the restaurant industry, major chains like Chipotle and Cava are putting money behind automated makelines from startup Hyphen. The San Jose, California-based company aims to help restaurants achieve two key goals in a hyper-competitive environment: speedy throughput and good customer service. The technology makes for a less chaotic and more…
As the restaurant industry endured another difficult year, many chains opted to close underperforming locations as they try to turn around their businesses. Inflation-weary consumers have pulled back their restaurant spending, choosing to eat at home or chasing deals when they go out for a meal. While some restaurants have won over reluctant diners, the…
McDonald’s restaurant in San Diego, California, U.S., Oct. 31, 2025. Mike Blake | Reuters “Value” was the buzzword du jour for restaurant executives that lasted all year — and it will likely stick around in 2026, too. Over the last year and a half, diners, particularly those who make less than $40,000 a year, have…
The Washington Post | The Washington Post | Getty Images At 12:30 p.m. in midtown Manhattan on mid-week office days, long lines still form outside Chipotle, Cava, and Sweetgreen. Fast-casual bowls remain the defining lunch of the hybrid-work era, something quick to carry, simple to eat at a desk, and familiar enough to order without…
Shoppers walk through Manhattan on Nov. 7, 2025, in New York City. Spencer Platt | Getty Images High-income consumers are trading down, Gen Z is spending less, and low-income shoppers are still struggling, according to many consumer companies that shared their latest quarterly results in recent weeks. Those trends may not bode well for the…
Fast-casual salad chain Sweetgreen is struggling as its traffic and sales continue to fall and it reports millions in losses each quarter. Its earnings worsened in its third quarter this year, as same-store sales declined 9.5% due in part to a 11.7% drop in foot traffic. Sweetgreen revolutionized the quick service industry after launching in…
