Wingstop’s Expansion Runs Hot as Comps Cool
Wingstop adds 382 U.S. units to 3,056 total as comps dip; 2026 outlook hinges on loyalty, Smart Kitchen, and category tailwinds.
Jul 20, 2026
Wingstop adds 382 U.S. units to 3,056 total as comps dip; 2026 outlook hinges on loyalty, Smart Kitchen, and category tailwinds.
Jul 20, 2026
Topgolf Media Networks turns 100+ venues into an ad platform with 42M visits and 28,000 screens, tapping retail media tactics for measurable brand activations.
Jul 20, 2026
Domino’s leverages rising order volumes to boost revenue and market share despite industry challenges in Q2 2026, offering key lessons for restaurant owners.
Jul 20, 2026
Discover how Fresh off the Boat in Santa Ana has built a thriving, health-focused Mexican-Mediterranean fusion restaurant. Explore operational insights, business strategies, and the customer experience that set this unique concept apart.
Jul 20, 2026
If your restaurant is busy but profits feel thin, food cost is usually the first place to look. Not because it is always the problem, but because it is the most controllable variable in your P&L.
Jul 20, 2026
Burger King launches its “Your Way Champion” managerial role, focusing on guest experience, order customization, and staff engagement. Restaurant operators can glean insights for elevating hospitality in their own venues.
Jul 20, 2026
Thomas Keller Restaurant Group will pay $2M to settle an EEOC harassment and retaliation case tied to Bouchon Las Vegas, closing a long-running action from 2018.
Jul 19, 2026
Fresh Kitchen names Bill Knopf and Matt Livingston to lead operations and development as the clean-label bowl brand targets growth beyond 100 locations.
Jul 18, 2026
Hardee’s franchisee Superior Star filed Chapter 11 after a 2023 deal revealed unpaid taxes, costly repairs, and lease burdens; plans to reject leases and refocus.
Jul 18, 2026
Cinnabon posted a net gain of 308 U.S. units in 2025 and launched Seattle’s Best Coffee in 2026 to boost beverage mix, margins, and franchise-driven expansion.
Jul 18, 2026
Callaway completes the majority sale of Topgolf to Leonard Green, rebrands as CALY, and tightens the balance sheet to focus on core golf gear.
Photo by Geoffrey Moffett
Callaway Golf has closed a consequential pivot that reshapes its business map. The company sold 60% of Topgolf and Toptracer to Leonard Green & Partners, with the deal effective January 1, 2026. Topgolf will run as an independent entity under new owners, while Callaway keeps a 40% stake and maintains a commercial partnership. In the same move, Callaway will rename the parent to Callaway Golf Company and pursue a new NYSE ticker CALY, around mid-January. The cash proceeds, nearing $800 million, will strengthen liquidity and enable debt reduction, setting the stage for a sharper focus on golf equipment and technology.
Two independent entities will emerge: Callaway, a leading golf equipment and technology platform, and Topgolf, a high-growth, venue-based entertainment brand. In the closing, Topgolf will operate under Leonard Green ownership, while Callaway retains a 40% stake and continues a commercial framework that aligns brand and technology through a shared history. The strategic separation is designed to unlock distinct investment theses and accelerate value creation for shareholders, avoiding a one-size-fits-all approach to capital, risk, and growth. This is a disciplined move, not a retreat.
Looking ahead, the real test is execution. Each unit will pursue its own capital plan under independent governance, delivering on its growth ambitions while safeguarding the brand relationships that powered Callaway’s broader push.