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
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
Learn how to build a restaurant catering system that attracts clients, improves margins, simplifies operations, and creates repeat revenue.
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
Compare the top 10 restaurant POS systems in the USA for 2026. Explore features, pricing, pros, cons, and the best POS options for every restaurant type.
Jul 1, 2026
Explore the latest restaurant industry performance report for Q2 2026, including key restaurant industry trends, segment performance, and labor challenges.
Jul 1, 2026
Explore how McDonald's is navigating sales declines, food safety concerns, and franchisee sentiments post the E. Coli incident.

Following the E. Coli incident in October, McDonald's faced a substantial sales decline, prompting the company to invest $100 million in supporting affected operators. However, of this investment, $35 million allocated towards marketing programs to boost traffic. Despite these efforts, comparable sales continued to drop, leading to growing concerns among franchisees.
Franchisees expressed unease regarding cost-cutting measures introduced under Accelerating the Arches. BTIG highlighted that previous managerial oversight at supplier levels was reduced in favor of self-managed excellence, potentially impacting food safety protocols. While the direct correlation remains unclear, some operators attributed these changes to the recent food safety issues.
Menu innovation emerged as a crucial strategy for McDonald's to drive sales recovery. Successful launches like the Chicken Big Mac and the return of the McRib in December boosted foot traffic significantly. Additionally, upcoming menu additions such as chicken tenders and snack wraps aim to attract customers and drive sales, although these items will be at full price.
A major challenge facing McDonald's is the overdependence on discounts. Franchisees raised concerns about the exceptionally high discount mix, signaling a need to transition customers towards premium pricing. Operators are also grappling with increased food costs as a percentage of sales, indicating margin pressures. Some franchises preemptively raised prices to protect margins, anticipating continued pressure throughout the summer.
Despite the challenges, BTIG forecasts a modest 0.5% comparable sales increase in both the fourth quarter of 2024 and the first quarter of 2025. McDonald's upcoming Q4 and year-end earnings report is eagerly anticipated to shed light on the company's performance amidst these operational hurdles.