Taco Bell Franchise Expansion in Midwest
Southpaw adds 43 Ohio Taco Bell restaurants to its impressive portfolio, highlighting franchise growth and strengthening the Midwest QSR landscape.
Jun 26, 2026
Southpaw adds 43 Ohio Taco Bell restaurants to its impressive portfolio, highlighting franchise growth and strengthening the Midwest QSR landscape.
Jun 26, 2026
Discover how Cicis Pizza's rewards program skyrocketed to over one million members in under a year, driving customer engagement and retention. See the lessons for restaurant loyalty programs.
Jun 26, 2026
Darden Restaurants surpassed $13 billion in sales, fueled by robust performance at LongHorn Steakhouse and innovative menu changes at Olive Garden. Explore the strategies driving this industry giant’s continued dominance.
Jun 26, 2026
The fallout of Pizza Hut's mandated AI delivery system rollout has ignited a $100 million lawsuit from a leading franchisee, highlighting crucial franchisor-franchisee lessons for all restaurant owners.
Jun 26, 2026
Founders Table Restaurant Group acquires fast-casual leader Hopdoddy Burger Bar, expanding its reach to over 200 restaurants and accelerating operational growth across the platform.
Jun 25, 2026
LongHorn Steakhouse surpassed $1 billion in quarterly sales for the first time, driven by strong value perception and menu innovation. Restaurant leaders can draw key lessons for thriving when consumer price sensitivity is high.
Jun 25, 2026
Inspire Brands is preparing for an IPO aiming for a $20B valuation. Discover how giants like Arby’s, Sonic, and Dunkin’ are performing as part of this dynamic portfolio.
Jun 25, 2026
Estepp Energy, known for multi-unit brands like Little Caesars, is adding PJ's Coffee to its Kentucky convenience stores, marking a strategic expansion into specialty coffee.
Jun 24, 2026
Carl's Jr. has launched a "Pass on Jack" marketing campaign rewarding loyalty members with a free Sourdough Star burger for driving past a Jack in the Box to reach a Carl's Jr. location- a direct shot at its California-based burger rival.
Jun 24, 2026
Miso Robotics has acquired Zume Pizza’s technology deck, giving new life to pizza automation and food robotics for forward-thinking restaurant operators.
Jun 24, 2026
The recent data on the US economy adding 256,000 jobs in December and its implications on employment and the hospitality sector.

The latest federal data release revealed a substantial addition of 256,000 jobs to the US economy in December, surpassing projections and signaling a positive trend in employment. The unemployment rate also saw a decline to 4.1%, indicating a strengthening labor market. Within the sector breakdown, leisure and hospitality experienced notable growth, adding 43,000 positions in December. Despite this growth, the average monthly job gain for the year stood at 24,000 in 2024, a notable decrease from the 47,000 witnessed in 2023.
The leisure and hospitality industry, a key player in job creation, particularly saw a significant boost with the addition of 29,800 jobs in eating and drinking establishments in December. This growth was a positive indicator, especially considering the challenges faced during the pandemic. The National Restaurant Association highlighted that this job surge represented the second consecutive month in 2024 where the sector added over 20,000 jobs, showcasing a promising recovery in the industry.
Looking at the year as a whole, 172,500 net new jobs were generated in the eating and drinking sector, indicating progress in recovering from pandemic-induced losses. However, this figure fell short by 136,500 jobs compared to 2023, underlining the ongoing effects of the pandemic on employment. Despite the industry surpassing its pre-pandemic employment levels by 1.4%, there exist disparities among segments. While quick-service and fast-casual establishments witnessed a 4% increase in employment, full-service restaurants lagged by 4% below pre-pandemic figures.
The job market revealed significant regional variations, with data showing that 24 states and the District of Columbia had fewer jobs in November 2019 compared to pre-pandemic levels. States like North Dakota, Maryland, Louisiana, Virginia, Vermont, and Oregon faced notable declines in employment. In contrast, 26 states recorded employment levels above pre-pandemic standards, with Nevada, Oklahoma, Utah, and Montana leading in job recovery. These regional differences highlight the uneven impact of the pandemic on the labor market.

While employment figures surged, the data also indicated a slowdown in wage growth, with average hourly earnings increasing at a reduced rate in December. Year-over-year wage growth stood at 3.8%, marking a modest pace since May 2021. The National Restaurant Association emphasized that wage growth has been gradually decelerating since reaching its peak in March 2022. These trends reflect a complex interplay between job creation, wage dynamics, and market recovery in the post-pandemic economic landscape.