Noodles & Company Refreshes Footprint and Menu

Noodles & Company reshapes its footprint with closures, menu revamp, and digital momentum to drive profitability.

Updated On Apr. 28, 2026 Published Apr. 28, 2026

Anastasia Ivers

a man sitting at a table with a cup of coffee

A Turn in the Footprint

At 475 restaurants, the story isn’t uniform. Noodles & Company faces uneven performance, with about 20 underperforming stores dragging on results and totaling roughly $2 million in contribution losses. The plan is a disciplined reshaping of the footprint: some doors will close, and closures are expected to accelerate as lease expirations approach. For the current year, management projects 10–15 closures in total, a mix drawn from the underperforming group and other locations. Growth isn’t paused, either: eight new company-owned units have opened year-to-date, and six Portland-area stores have shifted to a new franchise group, lifting the system’s franchised count toward 95. The balance between downsizing and targeted expansion sets the stage for what comes next.

https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1772729219154-2f5d5ddd732b?ixid=M3w2MjYzNjJ8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHw0fHxub29kbGUlMjByZXN0YXVyYW50fGVufDB8MHx8fDE3NzY0NzczODV8MA&ixlib=rb-4.1.0

“We’re very pleased with the results from closing underperforming restaurants,” said Mike Hynes, CFO, framing the moves as a way to improve economics. By removing negative cash-flow locations, nearby units often see higher sales and profits. It’s a clean, portfolio-optimization move that aligns capital with execution and guest experience. In practice, it means a leaner fleet, tighter cost structure, and a sharper operational focus in markets with proven demand.

Summary

EDITORS' PICKS

https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1761888948004-19f8000f51a3?ixid=M3w2MjYzNjJ8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHw3fHxzZWFzb25hbCUyMG1lbnV8ZW58MHwwfHx8MTc3NjQ2OTc5N3ww&ixlib=rb-4.1.0

Photo by shen wenjie on Unsplash

Seasonal Frenzy Reshapes Fast-Casual

Holiday-driven menu drops fuse nostalgia with wellness, turning menus into living calendars for fast-casual brands.

Menu Development

Apr 28, 2026

https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1746376344743-748f24e70157?ixid=M3w2MjYzNjJ8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHw2fHxjaGlja2VuJTIwc2FuZHdpY2hlc3xlbnwwfDB8fHwxNzc2NDYwMjIzfDA&ixlib=rb-4.1.0

Photo by Abdul Raheem Kannath on Unsplash

Frost Leads Chick-fil-A Growth

Susannah Frost named Chick-fil-A President, joining Cliff Robinson as COO to guide domestic expansion and international growth.

News

Apr 28, 2026

https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1662039990837-a3f7c545dcd8?ixid=M3w2MjYzNjJ8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwyfHxnaG9zdCUyMHBlcHBlcnxlbnwwfDB8fHwxNzc2NDU2OTEwfDA&ixlib=rb-4.1.0

Photo by Moon Bhuyan on Unsplash

Ghost Pepper Fever Shapes Fall Menu Marketing

Ghost pepper-led promotions redefine autumn menus as chains blend heat, storytelling, and seasonal collaborations to drive foot traffic.

Marketing Ideas

Apr 28, 2026

https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1705648341120-666923f8b675?ixid=M3w2MjYzNjJ8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHw1fHxNZWRpdGVycmFuZWFuJTIwZmFzdCUyMGNhc3VhbCUyMHJlc3RhdXJhbnR8ZW58MHwwfHx8MTc3NjQ1NTc4MXww&ixlib=rb-4.1.0

Photo by Noah Martinez on Unsplash

CAVA Bets on Flavor and Loyalty

CAVA rolls out Garlic Ranch Pita Chips with a Steak + Harissa Bowl and a refreshed Rewards program, tying flavor innovation to personalized guest experiences.

Menu Development

Apr 28, 2026

https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1722404190812-4857bdee6e77?ixid=M3w2MjYzNjJ8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxMHx8Y2FzdWFsJTIwZGluaW5nJTIwcmVzdGF1cmFudHxlbnwwfDB8fHwxNzc2NDQ5OTE2fDA&ixlib=rb-4.1.0

Photo by Kate Trysh on Unsplash

Applebee’s Pick 6 Mondays: Football-Driven Promo

Applebee’s launches Pick 6 Mondays, offering free wings with a $10 purchase when a Pick 6 occurs on Sundays, driving game-day momentum across dine-in and To Go.

Marketing Ideas

Apr 28, 2026

https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1632898657953-f41f81bfa892?ixid=M3w2MjYzNjJ8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxMHx8YnVyZ2VyJTIwcmVzdGF1cmFudHxlbnwwfDB8fHwxNzc2NDMyOTMzfDA&ixlib=rb-4.1.0

Photo by Stu Moffat on Unsplash

Shake Shack's New Pace of Growth

Beatrice Nguyen explores how leadership blends speed, loyalty, and standardized operations to grow Shake Shack while preserving its signature experience.

Operations

Apr 28, 2026

https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1624960851031-61966d2a03f0?ixid=M3w2MjYzNjJ8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHw4fHxmcm96ZW4lMjBjdXN0YXJkfGVufDB8MHx8fDE3NzY0MjE2MDl8MA&ixlib=rb-4.1.0

Photo by tommao wang on Unsplash

Freddy’s Expands with a Training Lab

Freddy’s expands with a 23,000-sq-ft Training & Innovation Center to boost franchise profitability and unit growth toward 800+ by 2026.

Franchising

Apr 28, 2026

https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1604382354936-07c5d9983bd3?ixid=M3w2MjYzNjJ8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwyfHxwaXp6YXxlbnwwfDB8fHwxNzc2NDMwMTU3fDA&ixlib=rb-4.1.0

Photo by Shourav Sheikh on Unsplash

Bankruptcy Reshapes Midwest Pizza Map

Chapter 11 roils EYM’s Pizza Hut footprint, with auctions and asset sales reordering stores across IL, WI, IN, GA, and SC.

Franchising

Apr 28, 2026

https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1597439664839-a8a03717c30a?ixid=M3w2MjYzNjJ8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHw5fHxBSS1lbmFibGVkJTIwcmVzdGF1cmFudHxlbnwwfDB8fHwxNzc2NDI5MDcyfDA&ixlib=rb-4.1.0

Photo by Adolfo Félix on Unsplash

Gamified Kitchens Redefining Dining

How AI-enabled training, robotics, and crypto rewards are reshaping guest experience and workforce in modern restaurants.

Tech

Apr 28, 2026

https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1572978577832-287ca6539e9b?ixid=M3w2MjYzNjJ8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHw2fHxjdXBjYWtlJTIwYmFrZXJ5fGVufDB8MHx8fDE3NzY0MjgwNDh8MA&ixlib=rb-4.1.0

Photo by Meghan Rodgers on Unsplash

Candace Nelson Headlines CREATE Keynote

Candace Nelson headlines CREATE 2024 in Nashville, sharing her journey from finance to Sprinkles and Pizzana, with practical roadmaps for growth-minded restaurateurs.

News

Apr 28, 2026