Dave Shula Returns as President of Shula's Restaurant Group
Dave Shula rejoins Shula's Restaurant Group as president, leading growth into Palm Beach Gardens and a 2027 Thomasville, Georgia expansion.
Sep 23, 2026
Dave Shula rejoins Shula's Restaurant Group as president, leading growth into Palm Beach Gardens and a 2027 Thomasville, Georgia expansion.
Sep 23, 2026
McDonald's commits $8.5 billion through 2036 to modernize restaurants, boost cash flow by $100,000 per store, and grow chicken and beverage sales.
Sep 23, 2026
WKS Restaurant Group promotes Jay Spongberg to president and COO after he helped grow the company from 65 to 382 restaurants over 16 years.
Sep 23, 2026
Smokey Mo's BBQ names Von Dawson, a Dine Brands veteran, as VP of Franchise Development to lead its Texas expansion strategy.
Sep 23, 2026
Meritage Hospitality's Chapter 11 filing pulls 5% of Wendy's U.S. stores into bankruptcy, exposing cracks in franchising's bigger-is-safer bet.
Sep 21, 2026
Jack in the Box names Rachel Ruggeri to its board as Michael Murphy retires, amid a CEO transition and deal with investor GreenWood.
Sep 21, 2026
Improve restaurant Google Maps rankings by optimizing your business profile, selecting accurate categories, gathering reviews, adding photos, and strengthening local relevance signals.
Sep 21, 2026
Restaurant inventory tracking helps owners monitor stock, control food costs, reduce waste, improve purchasing, and make informed operational decisions.
Sep 21, 2026
Restaurant owners can significantly reduce restaurant costs by leveraging technology across inventory, labor, procurement, forecasting, and administrative operations for better profit margins.
Sep 18, 2026
Understand how to forecast restaurant revenue and expenses with methods for sales projection, cost scaling, fixed-cost planning, and risk buffering.
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Explore the latest forecasts and trends for the restaurant industry in 2025 based on data from Technomic Ignite Company. Discover what to expect in terms of chain sales, category performance, and key players' movements.
Photo by Andrik Langfield
Chipotle's remarkable performance in 2024 positions it as a formidable player in the industry. With consistent year-over-year sales growth and a strategic value proposition, Chipotle is set to surpass competitors like Burger King and Subway in the upcoming Top 500 report. The chain's accelerated unit growth and international expansion ambitions solidify its place among the industry's top contenders.
The full-service segment faces significant challenges in 2025, with mass closures affecting major players like Denny’s, Applebee’s, and more. Factors such as rising labor and operational costs, along with increased competition from fast-casual establishments, contribute to the contraction in the full-service chain restaurant count. This shift marks a notable change in the industry landscape.
Photo by Andrik Langfield
The chicken category continues to drive industry growth, appealing to younger consumers and offering a variety of choices. Established brands like Chick-fil-A and Popeyes are joined by emerging players like Raising Cane’s and Wingstop, all experiencing double-digit sales growth. The forecast indicates a sixth consecutive year of substantial sales increase for chicken chains, showcasing the category's enduring popularity.
Contrary to the chicken segment, burger chain sales are expected to show sluggish growth in 2025. Industry giants like McDonald’s and Wendy’s are facing challenges with low single-digit sales increases. With an overall sluggish performance compared to previous years, the burger category is encountering obstacles that may impact its standing in the industry.
Despite challenges in specific segments, the overall industry is projected to experience a 4.2% increase in chain sales in 2025. While this growth seems promising, factors like inflation may impact the real value of this growth. Technomic Ignite's forecast provides a comprehensive overview of the industry's trajectory for the upcoming year.