How to Franchise a Restaurant
Learn how to franchise a restaurant by building systems, protecting your brand, choosing franchisees, and supporting consistent long-term growth successfully.
May 29, 2026
Learn how to franchise a restaurant by building systems, protecting your brand, choosing franchisees, and supporting consistent long-term growth successfully.
May 29, 2026
Learn how Father's Day promotions, menus, reservations, marketing, and staff training increase restaurant sales while protecting margins and improving performance.
Jun 1, 2026
McDonald’s unveiled McDonald’s Next, a new strategy focused on menu improvements, technology investments, restaurant upgrades and hospitality.
Jun 2, 2026
Explore the operational secrets and business strategy behind Monty's Good Burgers, a trailblazing vegan restaurant in Los Angeles. Discover how culinary innovation, consistent quality, and strategic customer engagement redefine plant-based dining.
Jun 2, 2026
Dutch Bros delivered one of the strongest quarterly performances in its history during Q1 2026, with a 31% revenue increase, 8.3% same-store sales growth, and unaided brand awareness that has more than doubled in 18 months driven by mobile ordering, food menu expansion, loyalty upgrades, and aggressive market density building.
Jun 1, 2026
Fuel costs are emerging as one of the more unpredictable financial pressures facing quick-service restaurant operators running through supply chains, delivery economics, and consumer spending behavior in ways that are harder to anticipate and manage than traditional cost inputs like food and labor.
Jun 1, 2026
Chipotle is quietly testing a new Crispy Chicken protein option in select California restaurants, marking a potential shift in the chain's menu strategy as it looks to accelerate innovation and tap into one of the fastest-growing food categories in the restaurant industry.
Jun 1, 2026
Red Robin has sold 30 company-owned restaurants in Washington and Western Idaho to multi-unit operator Evergreen Dining for $23.5 million in cash, using the proceeds to pay down debt and fund its First Choice turnaround plan as the chain continues to reshape its ownership structure.
Jun 1, 2026
Operators share how to scale: trust the brand’s playbook, plan people, invest early, and navigate the Hell Zone as multi-unit growth accelerates into 2026.
May 31, 2026
Red Lobster will close its 5 Times Square flagship on June 14, 2026, citing construction and office-to-residential conversion; staff offered transfers and pay.
May 31, 2026
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Explore the operational challenges faced by Planta and other restaurants post-COVID-19 and the impact on their financial stability.
Photo by Gerard Albanell
Photo by Gerard Albanell
Planta, a restaurant chain that rapidly expanded with 12 locations within three years, exemplified the challenges many dining establishments faced during the COVID-19 era. Despite a remarkable revenue surge from $3.5 million in 2016 to over $46 million in recent years, the company grappled with a shifting cost structure and industry landscape that impacted its profitability.
Photo by Gerard Albanell
Increased labor and food costs coupled with pricing strategies aimed at offsetting rising input expenses became significant hurdles for Planta, affecting consumer foot traffic and bottom-line results. The company's experience highlights the delicate balance needed in managing costs and pricing to sustain profitability in the competitive restaurant sector.
The proliferation of third-party delivery platforms posed additional challenges for Planta and other restaurant brands, altering cost structures and profitability. The reliance on external delivery services reshaped operational dynamics, emphasizing the need for strategic adaptations to optimize efficiency and mitigate financial strain.
Photo by Gerard Albanell
Planta's bankruptcy filing revealed debts ranging from $10 million to $50 million, shedding light on the financial strain faced by the company. The reliance on convertible notes and negotiations with landlords underscored the challenging financial environment post-COVID-19, where securing capital and managing liabilities became pivotal for operational sustainability.
The narrative of Planta echoes a broader trend in the restaurant industry post-pandemic, where economic shifts led to bankruptcies across various dining segments. From large franchise operations to niche dining concepts, operational challenges such as altered cost structures and external influences like third-party delivery fees have emerged as common themes shaping the industry landscape.
Photo by Gerard Albanell
The experiences of Planta and other restaurant brands offer valuable insights for industry players looking to enhance operational resilience in turbulent times. Adapting cost structures, leveraging technology to optimize delivery operations, and adopting agile financial strategies can help restaurants navigate uncertainties and build a sustainable operational framework in a dynamic market environment.