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 how Potbelly transformed its operations to achieve growth and profitability. Discover the key strategies it implemented to navigate challenges and drive success.

Potbelly's CEO, Bob Wright, implemented a comprehensive five-pillar strategy that laid the foundation for the chain's resurgence. By focusing on boosting franchised development and enhancing digital brand awareness, Potbelly shifted its trajectory towards growth and profitability. This strategic shift enabled the company to drive topline growth, expand margins, and achieve compound growth, setting a solid path for sustained success.

Potbelly's commitment to menu innovation has been a key driver of customer engagement. Introducing popular items like the Prime Rib Steak Sandwich and incorporating customer feedback into menu development showcases the brand's responsiveness to market demands. By offering Limited Time Offers (LTOs) to test new flavors and leveraging the Underground Menu for exclusive items, Potbelly keeps its offerings fresh and enticing for customers.

Value remains central to Potbelly's operations, especially in the face of consumer price sensitivity. Wright's classification of value into intrinsic, everyday, and promotional levels demonstrates the brand's commitment to offering customers compelling reasons to choose Potbelly. Through initiatives like $7.99 combos and promotional deals via digital channels, Potbelly enhances its value proposition and fosters customer loyalty.

Potbelly's emphasis on digital growth and technology investments underlines its commitment to enhancing the customer experience. By revamping its digital assets, implementing a new point-of-sales system (PDCX), and investing in data infrastructure, the chain is gearing up for personalized customer interactions and operational efficiency. The shift towards digital channels, which accounted for over 42% of sales last quarter, reflects the brand's strategic alignment with evolving consumer preferences.
Potbelly's focus on store remodels, driven by the introduction of a small prototype concept, showcases its commitment to reinventing the in-store experience. By testing different remodel tiers and offering flexibility in design, the chain aims to enhance customer engagement and drive sales. The meticulous approach towards remodels highlights Potbelly's dedication to revitalizing its physical presence while delivering a superior customer experience.