How to Start a Restaurant With No Experience
Learn how to open a restaurant with no experience by planning your concept, budget, location, team, operations, and successful launch.
Aug 19, 2026
Learn how to open a restaurant with no experience by planning your concept, budget, location, team, operations, and successful launch.
Aug 19, 2026
Panera Bread welcomes Andrew Rebhun as Chief Marketing Officer, succeeding Mark Shambura. Learn about his background at CAVA, El Pollo Loco, and McDonald's.
Aug 20, 2026
Payroll advances help restaurant owners give hourly employees earlier access to earned wages while maintaining accurate records, policies, and compliance.
Aug 19, 2026
Taco Bell’s Taylor Montgomery has been appointed as President of Jack in the Box, positioning him to take over as CEO within a year - signaling major shifts for the QSR brand's future.
Aug 20, 2026
Explore the main types of ordering technology restaurants use to improve accuracy, speed, payments, customer convenience, and operational efficiency daily.
Aug 17, 2026
Learn the eight essential steps of the restaurant payroll process, from tracking hours and calculating wages to payments and recordkeeping.
Aug 17, 2026
Discover how restaurant SMS marketing works, from building subscriber lists and creating campaigns to improving engagement and measuring marketing performance.
Aug 14, 2026
The transition of Pizza Hut's CEO, Aaron Powell, marks a pivotal moment for the chain and offers valuable leadership lessons for restaurant owners. Here’s what this executive change could mean for your business.
Aug 17, 2026
Panera Bread welcomes Andrew Rebhun as its new CMO to spearhead strategic brand growth and transformation, bolstering its vision for 2028.
Aug 17, 2026
Learn how to manage cash flow in your restaurant by tracking finances, controlling costs, forecasting needs, and building cash reserves.
Aug 14, 2026
Unlock Exclusive Access To Webinars, Events, And The Latest News For Free!
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.