All Special Reports

Burger King franchisees struggled coming out of the pandemic, so much so that the company is pumping $400 million into marketing and remodels. That effort has yielded fruit, as sales and profitability for franchisees increase. Yet three major franchisees filed for bankruptcy this year and hundreds of stores have closed as the chain works through some of its issues. Here is a look at a crucial year for Burger King.

With the pandemic distantly in the rear-view mirror, independent restaurants saw a return to normalcy in 2022, even as they battled commodity inflation and higher labor costs. Many embraced the changing landscape and proved their resiliency as customers came out to dine. This year's Restaurant Business Top 100 ranking shows considerable sales growth among the top operators. They served 30.2 million meals and recorded $1.95 billion in sales. And there were some notable newcomers. Here's a look at the top independent restaurants across the country and how they grew year over year.

Entrepreneurs are creating and growing concepts around almost any kind of sport, game or entertainment option, from puzzles to golf to cricket to pickleball. They believe that consumers are looking for experiences and they’re finding new ways to give it to them. And investors are jumping on board.

Growth chains aren't all fast-food restaurants. While limited-service concepts still make up a majority of the growth brands on the Future 50 ranking of up-and-coming concepts, the full-service sectors were well represented, including several family-dining brands. Take a look into the next generation of chains with the Restaurant Business Future 50.

Growth chains aren't all fast-food restaurants. While limited-service concepts still make up a majority of the growth brands on the Future 50 ranking of up-and-coming concepts, the full-service sectors were well represented, including several family-dining brands. Take a look into the next generation of chains with the Restaurant Business Future 50.

These days, restaurant bills no longer just include an entrée, an appetizer and a few drinks. Restaurants are adding specific charges to cover the growing cost of labor. Yet these charges anger customers and could lure regulators. This package explores this growing trend from the perspective of operators, servers and customers.

These days, restaurant bills no longer just include an entrée, an appetizer and a few drinks. Restaurants are adding specific charges to cover the growing cost of labor. Yet these charges anger customers and could lure regulators. This package explores this growing trend from the perspective of operators, servers and customers.

Amid rising costs and continued labor challenges, restaurants are innovating their menus and operations to deliver on the variety, creativity and fresh flavors that customers crave.

Subway, once the world’s largest restaurant chain by unit count, has gone through enormous changes over the past eight years, with the loss of its two founders and years of volatility and uncertainty. Its sale, which is expected to be announced as early as this week, follows a remarkably active period for the chain. Here’s a look at some of those major events.

The 500 largest restaurant chains in the U.S. continued to grow at a healthy pace in 2022. Total sales rose 8.2%, according to the Technomic Top 500 Chain Restaurant Report, nearly twice as high as pre-pandemic growth levels. Most major sectors have recovered. Yet the sales growth came entirely from high menu price inflation and more aggressive unit development.

Restaurant operators could not raise prices fast enough to meet soaring costs for food, labor and real estate. Instead, they've looked at their operations and their menus to find any cost savings they can find. Here's a look at some of their efforts.