Pizza Hut’s $1.2B China Sale Shakes Up Market
Yum! Brands has finalized a $1.2B deal to transfer Pizza Hut China to Yum China Holdings, signaling big strategic moves for both global franchisors and operators.
Aug 7, 2026
Yum! Brands has finalized a $1.2B deal to transfer Pizza Hut China to Yum China Holdings, signaling big strategic moves for both global franchisors and operators.
Aug 7, 2026
Panera Bread appoints industry veteran Andy Rebhun as Chief Marketing Officer, ushering in a new era of brand growth and consumer engagement.
Aug 7, 2026
Portillo’s trims 18% of its corporate staff in a bid to refocus resources on restaurant excellence and navigate operational challenges. Discover what the changes mean for the chain’s future.
Aug 7, 2026
Scheduling software helps restaurants save time, control labor costs, improve communication, prevent conflicts, support compliance, and make smarter staffing decisions.
Aug 5, 2026
Portillo’s trims corporate and field roles by 18% in a strategic shake-up to support future growth after soft traffic and sales. Read what this means for multi-unit operators.
Aug 6, 2026
Dutch Bros invests $105 million to acquire Salad and Go’s closed locations, targeting rapid expansion in key southern markets. Learn what this means for multi-unit restaurant owners and operators.
Aug 6, 2026
Salad and Go's bankruptcy and closure offer key lessons on growth, risk management, and market dynamics for restaurant leaders. See what every operator can learn.
Aug 5, 2026
Learn how to calculate prime cost, track food and labor expenses, measure percentages, identify problems, and improve restaurant profitability consistently.
Aug 5, 2026
Portillo’s announces industry veteran Kevin Kalicak as its new CFO and Treasurer, underscoring the brand’s growth strategy and financial vision.
Aug 5, 2026
Skye Anderson will lead McDonald's USA as its new president, stepping in to accelerate growth and revive sales. Learn how her leadership could shape the future of the restaurant industry.
Aug 4, 2026
The recent trends in the Consumer Price Index are affecting food and restaurant prices, and what the future holds for grocery and dining expenses.
Photo by Mitchell Hollander
The recent data on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) indicates a 0.3% rise in November, contributing to a 2.7% increase compared to November 2023. This figure falls in line with market expectations but represents a slight uptick from the 0.2% growth in the previous four months. The CPI serves as a key indicator of inflation, reflecting the average change over time in the prices paid by urban consumers for a market basket of consumer goods and services.
Photo by Mitchell Hollander
The food-away-from-home index, a component of the CPI that tracks restaurant prices, saw a 0.3% increase in November following a 0.2% uptick in October. Both full-service and limited-service meal prices rose by 0.3% during the month, contributing to a 3.6% increase in menu prices compared to the previous year. Limited-service meals experienced a slightly higher rise at 3.7% over the last 12 months, while full-service meals increased by 3.6% over the same period.
Photo by Mitchell Hollander
Despite the rise in restaurant prices, grocery and supermarket inflation lagged behind, showing a year-over-year increase of 1.6%. This disparity reflects a continuing trend where menu prices consistently outpace grocery prices for the 20th consecutive month. The gap between grocery and restaurant pricing in November was at its smallest since April 2023, indicating a potential shift in this pricing dynamic.
Industry experts, such as Mark Kalinowski, point out challenges for the U.S. restaurant sector in achieving strong same-store sales due to the widening gap between restaurant and grocery prices. The anticipated poor sales performance is attributed to historical data, with 2025 projected to have one of the lowest non-pandemic sales years, excluding 2020. However, the recent narrowing of the price gap in November offers a glimmer of hope for the industry's outlook.
The overall food index rose by 0.4% in November, following a 0.2% increase in October. Federal data reveals a significant 9.9% increase in food prices since 2022, marking the fastest escalation since 1979. The United States Department of Agriculture anticipates continued high food costs in 2025, with a forecasted 1.6% increase in grocery prices and a 3.4% rise in restaurant prices.