Pei Wei Wins Best Fast-Casual Chain Award
Pei Wei Asian Kitchen named Best Fast-Casual Chain in Reviewed 2026 Awards, reflecting shift from price competition to quality and transparency.
Sep 11, 2026
Pei Wei Asian Kitchen named Best Fast-Casual Chain in Reviewed 2026 Awards, reflecting shift from price competition to quality and transparency.
Sep 11, 2026
O'Charley's shuttered all corporate restaurants nationwide on September 9, 2026, ending its 55-year legacy as a casual-dining regional powerhouse.
Sep 11, 2026
Authentic Restaurant Brands lands $325M investment from Trimontium to fuel disciplined regional expansion across five established restaurant concepts.
Sep 11, 2026
Walmart expands restaurant delivery beyond Subway and Dunkin', taking on DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub with Papa Johns nationwide rollout.
Sep 11, 2026
Complete NFL season restaurant checklist covering licensing, AV setup, menu prep, inventory, staffing, and marketing before kickoff arrives.
Sep 11, 2026
California shifts to public enforcement strategy against Dickey's for deceptive franchise disclosures, signaling stricter state-level franchise oversight.
Sep 10, 2026
Paul Brown temporarily steps away from Inspire Brands as Scott Murphy assumes interim CEO role during confidential IPO filing process targeting late 2026.
Sep 10, 2026
Learn how to reduce food waste in restaurants through smarter purchasing, storage, preparation, and service strategies that cut costs.
Sep 9, 2026
Prepare your restaurant for NFL season with smart menu planning, staffing, marketing, technology, and atmosphere strategies that boost season-long revenue.
Sep 9, 2026
Swig signs franchise agreement for 11 South Denver locations, marking Colorado entry and validating its national expansion strategy.
Sep 8, 2026
Unlock Exclusive Access To Webinars, Events, And The Latest News For Free!
The challenges faced by the restaurant industry in 2024, from inflation to bankruptcies, and the emergence of value strategies. Learn about consumer behavior shifts and what the future holds for 2025.

The year 2024 posed immense challenges for the restaurant industry, primarily due to historic inflation rates and significant shifts in consumer behavior. After enduring two years of rising menu prices, consumers drastically reduced their visits to restaurants towards the end of the previous year and the beginning of 2024. This sudden decline in foot traffic prompted restaurant brands to rethink their strategies to attract customers back through the doors.
To combat the decrease in consumer visits, restaurant brands initiated value strategies in the second quarter of 2024. This move marked the beginning of a full-fledged value war in the industry during Q3. Executives acknowledged the intricate consumer environment and devised various tactics to navigate through the challenging landscape without compromising profit margins excessively.
Simultaneously, 2024 witnessed a staggering number of restaurant bankruptcies, impacting both legacy brands and previously successful disruptors. Establishments such as TGI Fridays, Bucca di Beppo, and Red Lobster, alongside modern disruptors like World of Beer Bar & Kitchen and Tender Greens, faced financial turmoil. The issue extended to franchisees of well-known brands like Arby’s, Pizza Hut, and Dickey’s Barbecue Pit.
The pandemic led many restaurant concepts to accumulate debt as a means of survival, but as inflation soared and consumer visits dwindled, managing debt became increasingly challenging. Consumers' worsening financial outlook further exacerbated the situation, prompting a widespread struggle across all segments of the industry.
As the industry reflects on the trials of 2024, the upcoming year poses both opportunities and uncertainties. Despite the hardships faced, 2025 could herald a season of renewal for the restaurant sector. However, given the unforeseen challenges of the previous year, industry experts are cautious in making bold predictions for what lies ahead.