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…
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…
Chipotle is teaming up with drone delivery leader Zipline to test autonomous food delivery. Beginning Thursday, select customers in the greater Dallas area will have the option to use the so-called Zipotle delivery through an early access program in the Zipline app. Zipline’s autonomous aircraft will deliver orders to customers’ homes from a Rowlett, Texas Chipotle…
Customers arrive at a Cava restaurant in New York City on June 22, 2023. Brendan Mcdermid | Reuters Cava on Tuesday lowered its full-year forecast for same-store sales growth after a disappointing second quarter. For the full year, Cava now anticipates same-store sales growth of 4% to 6%, down from its prior range of 6%…
Starbucks Protein Drink Courtesy: Starbucks Restaurant chains are joining in on the protein frenzy, hoping to encourage diners to pay more for extra macronutrients during a time when many consumers aren’t spending as much. From “gym bros” to users of GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic, many Americans are trying to add more protein to their diets,…
People walk past a Sweetgreen restaurant in Manhattan. Jeenah Moon | The Washington Post | Getty Images Sweetgreen shares dropped more than 25% on Friday after the salad chain cut its 2025 outlook for the second quarter in a row, citing issues with its loyalty program, weak consumer sentiment, tariff headwinds and store challenges. For…
A customer exits a Cava restaurant in New York City on June 22, 2023. Brendan McDermid | Reuters As some consumers pull back on spending amid economic uncertainty, fast-casual restaurant chains are leaning on rewards programs to pull them back in. Loyalty programs, which offer discounts or added perks for returning customers, have transitioned from…
