Booming franchises, delivery fees and ice cream sales
The franchise business is booming, delivery fee caps are staying, Chipotle's stock is headed for the moon and people are eating a lot of Bruster’s ice cream.

The franchise business is booming, delivery fee caps are staying, Chipotle's stock is headed for the moon and people are eating a lot of Bruster’s ice cream.
States are devising new COVID rules, consumers have a delivery preference, and Cheesecake Factory is bringing back workers.
More allegations against McDonald's former CEO Steve Easterbrook, plant milk is flowing into menus, and why restaurants’ recovery is shaped like a K.
Papa John’s continues to soar, new products pour out of test kitchens, and a pop quiz on handling guests who refuse to wear masks.
Taco Bell has a lot more drive-thru demand, restaurant chains are developing new concepts and Chipotle is giving away burritos again.
Sardar Biglari keeps trying to up his involvement with Cracker Barrel, independent restaurants support the James Beard Awards cancellation and Ruby Tuesday’s founder launches an acquisition company.
A James Beard award hiatus, another potential outdoor dining ban in New York, and another SPAC targets restaurants.
Wingstop is capitalizing on the chicken wings boom, a Popeyes tweet that changed the industry, NYC operators demand a dine-in reopening plan and federal help in developing managers.
HMS Host lays off thousands, Waitr is thinking consolidation, and breakfast continues to boom for First Watch.
A chicken wing gets a makeover, McDonald’s continues its ongoing legal battle with its former CEO, and Potbelly does an about-face on PPP.
Ghost kitchens are becoming increasingly popular, Restaurant menus and the industry itself is shrinking, and virtual concepts are growing.
Another legacy chain is acquired, a virtual concepts approach the 100,000 mark, and esports fill the void left for restaurants by limited pro-sports broadcasts.
Brinker International is heavily investing in virtual restaurant concepts, Red Robin is speeding up its turnaround initiatives and Ark Restaurants is facing mounting uncertainty.
Delivery app companies settle in, restaurant capacity limits tighten, and Steak ‘N Shake cuts losses, but closes more restaurants.
X-rated evidence on McDonald’s prior CEO, Checkers finds a tailwind in consumers’ reluctance to dine out, and a Chicago landmark suffers more misfortune in its home city of 79 years.
Restaurants and bars are hiring back workers more than any other industry. Democrats and Republicans are divided on dining out and the coronavirus pushes Uber to pivot.
Another fast-food chain is closing restaurants, independent restaurants continue to struggle and Potbelly is back from the brink.
Wendy’s is thankful for breakfast, Il Mulino is filing for bankruptcy protection and Starbucks is shaking up its loyalty program.
More independents close, another chain goes bankrupt, and New York City restaurants can’t pay their rents.
Whataburger has a new CEO, more cities are capping third-party delivery commissions, and Starbucks has a commuter problem.
Shake Shack has a real estate problem, Jack in the Box needs a new CFO, and restaurants are closing locations.
Herman Can dies, California Pizza Kitchen files for bankruptcy and Dunkin’ announced its closing hundreds of locations.
Editor-in-Chief Jonathan Maze and Editor at Large Peter Romeo discuss PPP borrowers potentially getting a shot at a second loan, Wingstop's second quarter growth, hiring issues stymying Denny's operating hours and more.
"RB Daily" is a new daily podcast delivering the latest restaurant industry news and insights hosted by the editors of Restaurant Business Magazine. In the inaugural episode, Editor-in-Chief Jonathan Maze and Editor at Large Peter Romeo discuss McDonald's latest store closures, Chipotle's mask mandate and more.