Summer 2026 Restaurant Labor Law Updates
Stay compliant with key restaurant labor regulations in Summer 2026, including minimum wage increases, scheduling laws, and retirement requirements.
Jul 24, 2026
Stay compliant with key restaurant labor regulations in Summer 2026, including minimum wage increases, scheduling laws, and retirement requirements.
Jul 24, 2026
Discover how restaurant apps help owners manage labor, payroll, inventory, food safety, reporting, and back-office operations more efficiently every day.
Jul 24, 2026
Cicis Pizza’s systemwide sales have surged over 50%, fueled by digital innovation, modern operations, and a revamped franchise strategy. Learn what restaurant owners can take away from Cicis’ transformation.
Jul 24, 2026
Fogo de Chão has announced Daniel Duran as its new CFO, marking a strategic leadership transition designed to enhance global growth and financial innovation for the renowned restaurant brand.
Jul 24, 2026
Learn how to calculate, benchmark, track, and improve restaurant payroll percentage while balancing staffing costs, sales, service, and profitability effectively.
Jul 24, 2026
KFC Global has selected experienced leader Maria Cacciapuoti as its new Chief Operations Officer. Discover how her extensive expertise will help shape KFC’s global operations and franchise partnerships.
Jul 23, 2026
Portillo’s welcomes industry veteran Christopher Hansen as Executive Chef and Senior Director of Culinary Innovation to steer menu strategy and fuel national growth.
Jul 23, 2026
Ziggi’s Coffee welcomes Stacey Pool as Chief Growth Officer to spearhead national expansion and enhance franchise profitability as the brand celebrates a decade of franchising success.
Jul 23, 2026
Cinnabon grows 30% in U.S. units, adding 308 net stores as flexible formats expand into travel centers and convenience; 95 more openings forecast and 359 in pipeline.
Jul 22, 2026
QDOBA targets 2,000 restaurants in 10 years, powered by franchising and recent securitizations, aiming for $5B sales, $2.7M AUV, and 28% margins.
Jul 22, 2026
As investors tighten, emerging restaurant brands navigate debt, equity, and partnerships to grow responsibly.
Photo by Simi Iluyomade
Capital is tightening. The restaurant scene is watching post‑pandemic capital flow tighten and investor skepticism sharpen. In this climate, Savory Fund, led by Andrew K. Smith, frames the moment with blunt clarity: "Raising money right now is extremely hard." Investors remain active, but they demand more: deeper validation of unit economics, credible profitability signals, and a growth plan that can scale without overleveraging. Founding teams must rethink expansion trajectories, seek partnerships beyond traditional lenders, and pursue equity or strategic arrangements that sustain momentum in a cautious market. The contrast is stark: nimble upstarts punch through the noise, while aging giants struggle to shift direction. Resilience and disciplined execution have become the new operating norm, not the exception.
From the operating side, Savory Fund manages a portfolio of 10 restaurant brands and has built a practical model around capital, operations, and shared services. The portfolio includes Swig, Mo’ Bettahs, Hash Kitchen, and Hawkers Asian Street Food, among others, illustrating how funds can accelerate expansion without sacrificing brand identity. The message from Smith is straightforward: the most impressive founders galvanize as a team and punch through the market’s headwinds. The Titanic metaphor, big, entrenched brands that can’t pivot quickly versus speedboats that adapt on the fly, rings true here. In this world, disciplined execution isn’t optional; it’s how you stay in the game.
The tone from the leadership is not about flashy debt or a single unicorn success. It’s about a sustainable cadence: a portfolio approach that blends capital with operational rigor and a shared services backbone. The takeaway is simple and ruthless: growth is a discipline, not a daredevil act. Founders who calibrate expansion with market realities stand the best chance at preserving brand integrity while scaling.