Chipotle Bets Cobots for Speed and Hospitality
Chipotle tests two cobot systems in California to boost throughput while preserving hospitality, backed by the Cultivate Next fund and a plan toward 7,000 restaurants.
Apr 21, 2026
Chipotle tests two cobot systems in California to boost throughput while preserving hospitality, backed by the Cultivate Next fund and a plan toward 7,000 restaurants.
Apr 21, 2026
Photo by Priscilla Du Preez 🇨🇦 on Unsplash
Whataburger reshapes leadership with a new CSCO and a refreshed CEO, signaling scale and hospitality as it expands to new markets.
Apr 21, 2026
Fox Restaurant Concepts opens Doughbird in Dallas's Inwood Village, marking the brand's Texas debut and a broader all-day dining strategy.
Apr 21, 2026
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A refined portrait of Candace Nelson's shift from Sprinkles' cupcakes to Pizzana's pizza, illustrating how focused craft and scalable systems redefine brands.
Apr 21, 2026
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Private equity-guided rescue reshapes TGI Fridays UK, preserving thousands of jobs while prompting questions on leadership and communication.
Apr 21, 2026
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Starbucks enlists Brian Niccol to accelerate speed, value, and experiential service, drawing on Chipotle playbooks to restore momentum.
Apr 21, 2026
Dine Brands recalibrates with value-focused promotions and pricing discipline as Applebee’s and IHOP face a softer consumer backdrop in 2024.
Apr 21, 2026
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Georgia-born Knuckies Hoagies expands through Walmart stores across six states via a franchise-led plan, signaling rapid, market-ready growth.
Apr 21, 2026
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Denny’s relaunches a tiered value menu with a new $10 category and cloud POS upgrades, aiming to boost traffic and loyalty amid inflation-driven competition.
Apr 21, 2026
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Darden completes an all-cash $605 million acquisition of Chuy's, signaling a strategic push into Tex-Mex within a growing multi-brand platform.
Apr 20, 2026
Explore the exponential growth and challenges faced by Small Sliders, a rising star in the QSR franchise industry, founded by Brandon Landry in 2019.
Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash
Small Sliders, a relative newcomer in the restaurant franchise market, has been on a rapid growth trajectory since its inception in 2019. The brand's unit count surged from a single outlet in 2021 to six stores by the end of 2022 and further expanded to 11 stores by the close of 2023. This exponential growth mirrors the success stories of other QSR chains like Dave's Hot Chicken, which capitalized on post-pandemic consumer trends to expand swiftly.
Brandon Landry, the visionary founder of Small Sliders and former CEO of Walk-On's Sports Bistreaux, played a pivotal role in shaping the brand's early success. With Landry at the helm, Small Sliders benefited from his experience and expertise in scaling restaurant concepts while prioritizing quality and culture. Landry's strategic vision and commitment to franchisee and team member success have been integral in driving Small Sliders towards its growth milestones.
Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash
Despite its rapid growth, Small Sliders faces challenges typical in the competitive restaurant franchise landscape. The brand's limited operational history makes it challenging to assess its unit economics accurately. In a market saturated with burger offerings, Small Sliders must distinguish itself through innovative strategies to attract and retain customers amidst headwinds such as high interest rates, tariffs on ingredients, and construction costs.