QSR Visits Drop- What Operators Must Know
Quick-service restaurant visits dipped 4.4% in May, while diners gravitate toward full-service. Explore what's driving the trend and actionable insights for your operation.
Jul 6, 2026
Quick-service restaurant visits dipped 4.4% in May, while diners gravitate toward full-service. Explore what's driving the trend and actionable insights for your operation.
Jul 6, 2026
A strong franchise supply chain helps restaurant owners standardize products, control costs, track inventory, forecast demand, and manage suppliers efficiently.
Jul 6, 2026
Menu optimization helps restaurant owners improve pricing, reduce food waste, promote profitable items, simplify operations, and increase sales using data.
Jul 6, 2026
Tiki Taco expands its Kansas City presence with a new Liberty-adjacent location, highlighting local growth, community ties, and what this means for restaurant operators watching rising independent brands.
Jul 6, 2026
Discover the operational philosophy and guest experience behind Bad Daddy's Burger Bar, featuring insights from chef John Elliott on how the Southeast burger concept builds consistency, drives innovation, and elevates the American burger experience.
Jul 6, 2026
Jersey Mike’s plans an IPO, showcasing sharp growth and franchise strength - a move with ripple effects for restaurant owners watching industry trends.
Jul 2, 2026
White Castle and Garage Beer, two Ohio-based favorites, announce a summer collaboration with new promotions and products. Learn how restaurant owners can ride the LTO wave.
Jul 2, 2026
QR code menu helps restaurants update items faster, improve mobile ordering, reduce printing costs, and track customer behavior over time.
Jul 2, 2026
McDonald’s welcomes Bryan Brown as chief development officer, leveraging his experience to drive store modernization and support the “NEXT” strategy for franchisees and teams.
Jul 2, 2026
Learn how to build a restaurant catering system that attracts clients, improves margins, simplifies operations, and creates repeat revenue.
Jul 2, 2026
Learn how tariffs could impact the restaurant industry, causing supply chain disruptions and increased food costs. Discover strategies to mitigate these challenges.

Tariffs have the potential to significantly disrupt the supply chain for restaurant operators, leading to challenges in sourcing essential ingredients for their menus. With recent increases in the price of eggs and the looming threat of tariffs affecting key imports from countries like Mexico, Canada, and China, independent owners and chains are bracing themselves for possible cost escalations and logistical constraints.
Chipotle, a prominent fast-casual brand, exemplifies how restaurant chains are strategizing to mitigate tariff risks. By diversifying its sourcing locations to countries like Colombia, Peru, and the Dominican Republic, Chipotle aims to reduce its dependency on Mexican imports, thus minimizing the impact of potential tariffs. This proactive approach showcases the importance of supply chain flexibility in navigating uncertain economic conditions.
The current scenario underscores the significance of diversifying the supply chain for restaurant operators. By spreading their sourcing across multiple countries, businesses can mitigate the adverse effects of tariffs on specific regions. Diversification not only helps in securing the necessary ingredients but also enhances resilience against geopolitical uncertainties that may arise unexpectedly.
While tariffs pose a looming threat, restaurant operators are also grappling with other pressing challenges such as labor costs and employee retention. The data report highlights that both full-service and limited-service establishments are actively addressing labor and food expenses as key concerns for the industry. Balancing these variables alongside potential tariff impacts demands a holistic approach to operational management.
Restaurant operators can adopt several strategies to navigate the challenges posed by tariffs effectively. This includes closely monitoring market trends, renegotiating supplier contracts to mitigate cost fluctuations, and exploring alternative sourcing options to diversify their ingredient procurement. Additionally, investing in staff training and retention programs can help in retaining skilled employees amidst cost pressures.