PJ's Coffee Joins C-Store Franchise Lineup
Estepp Energy, known for multi-unit brands like Little Caesars, is adding PJ's Coffee to its Kentucky convenience stores, marking a strategic expansion into specialty coffee.
Jun 24, 2026
Estepp Energy, known for multi-unit brands like Little Caesars, is adding PJ's Coffee to its Kentucky convenience stores, marking a strategic expansion into specialty coffee.
Jun 24, 2026
A seasonal menu helps restaurants attract repeat customers, match seasonal demand, control food costs, promote limited-time items, and improve profitability.
Jun 23, 2026
Noodles & Company partners with Coca-Cola to launch an exclusive Fanta Vanilla Cherry Spritz, paired with limited-time Mac & Cheese deals for July. Learn how this innovative LTO strategy can inspire your restaurant’s menu innovation!
Jun 24, 2026
Miso Robotics has acquired Zume Pizza’s technology deck, giving new life to pizza automation and food robotics for forward-thinking restaurant operators.
Jun 24, 2026
Carl's Jr. has launched a "Pass on Jack" marketing campaign rewarding loyalty members with a free Sourdough Star burger for driving past a Jack in the Box to reach a Carl's Jr. location- a direct shot at its California-based burger rival.
Jun 24, 2026
Discover how the Korpal brothers are driving Golden Chick's expansion across Texas with innovative operational strategies, team culture, and community engagement.
Jun 24, 2026
Taco Bell launches L.O.C.O.S., an international marketing initiative leveraging emotional support tacos and immersive brand experiences across global markets. Discover how this strategy sets new industry benchmarks.
Jun 24, 2026
A restaurant is ready to franchise when its systems, numbers, brand, training, supply chain, legal structure, and support can scale.A restaurant is ready to franchise when its systems, numbers, brand
Jun 23, 2026
Domino's has announced that CEO Russell Weiner will retire on October 1, with COO and US President Joe Jordan named as his successor- a leadership transition that comes as the pizza giant pursues its most ambitious growth targets yet.
Jun 23, 2026
Starbucks is hiring more than 300 coffeehouse coaches nationwide following a successful 62-store pilot, as the coffee giant works to double store leadership capacity and fill 90% of retail leadership roles through internal promotions.
Jun 23, 2026
The recent trends in the Consumer Price Index are affecting food and restaurant prices, and what the future holds for grocery and dining expenses.
Photo by Mitchell Hollander
The recent data on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) indicates a 0.3% rise in November, contributing to a 2.7% increase compared to November 2023. This figure falls in line with market expectations but represents a slight uptick from the 0.2% growth in the previous four months. The CPI serves as a key indicator of inflation, reflecting the average change over time in the prices paid by urban consumers for a market basket of consumer goods and services.
Photo by Mitchell Hollander
The food-away-from-home index, a component of the CPI that tracks restaurant prices, saw a 0.3% increase in November following a 0.2% uptick in October. Both full-service and limited-service meal prices rose by 0.3% during the month, contributing to a 3.6% increase in menu prices compared to the previous year. Limited-service meals experienced a slightly higher rise at 3.7% over the last 12 months, while full-service meals increased by 3.6% over the same period.
Photo by Mitchell Hollander
Despite the rise in restaurant prices, grocery and supermarket inflation lagged behind, showing a year-over-year increase of 1.6%. This disparity reflects a continuing trend where menu prices consistently outpace grocery prices for the 20th consecutive month. The gap between grocery and restaurant pricing in November was at its smallest since April 2023, indicating a potential shift in this pricing dynamic.
Industry experts, such as Mark Kalinowski, point out challenges for the U.S. restaurant sector in achieving strong same-store sales due to the widening gap between restaurant and grocery prices. The anticipated poor sales performance is attributed to historical data, with 2025 projected to have one of the lowest non-pandemic sales years, excluding 2020. However, the recent narrowing of the price gap in November offers a glimmer of hope for the industry's outlook.
The overall food index rose by 0.4% in November, following a 0.2% increase in October. Federal data reveals a significant 9.9% increase in food prices since 2022, marking the fastest escalation since 1979. The United States Department of Agriculture anticipates continued high food costs in 2025, with a forecasted 1.6% increase in grocery prices and a 3.4% rise in restaurant prices.