McDonald’s franchises nearly all of its restaurants in the United States, which means franchise operators have a significant say in operational changes. In some cases, for example, they can reject deal pricing. Usually, when McDonald’s rolls out a promotion like $2.99 Snack Wraps or $4 breakfast meals, only select franchise operators will not adopt the
Ordering via a catalogue in 2026 feels a bit like going to the market, bartering for your items, and paying in beads or livestock. It’s an outdated mode of selling items that was once a really popular way to buy things. Even in my 20s, back in the 1990s, every airplane flight offered a catalogue
In July, at the close of the third quarter of the 2026 fiscal year, Starbucks reported its fourth consecutive quarter of positive global comparable sales. That growth was largely driven by North American sales, which increased by 8.1% at company-owned locations. The results are “clear proof that our Back to Starbucks plan is working,” CEO
A familiar presence in American malls is changing how it approaches its brick-and-mortar footprint, closing some locations and planning more shutdowns as it reshapes its store network. For major retailers, deciding where to maintain a physical presence has become increasingly important as shoppers’ habits evolve and the economics of operating stores remain challenging. The global
While big box stores have not wiped out all mom and pop hardware, gardening, and outdoor furniture stores, they have taken over large parts of those industries. Independent Garden Centers (IGCs) have fallen well behind Lowe’s and Home Depot, according to the 2025 Axiom Gardening Outlook Study. Gardeners tend to buy more frequently at big-box stores,
Wall Street firms spend the back half of every year deciding where the next round of gains might come from. Their research gives investors a shortcut, since it packages deep company knowledge and financial modeling into a short list of names worth watching. Raymond James just published one of those lists. The firm’s Analyst Current
Every year when Starbucks brings back the Creme Brulee Latte, I buy at least one, and for decades, the same was true of the McDonald’s Shamrock Shake. Both triggered nostalgia in me, albeit from different time periods. The Shamrock Shake dates back to childhood, and Starbucks’ holiday drinks are a more recent phenomenon. Still, in
Panera Bread has spent much of the past year changing what customers see when they walk into its restaurants. To keep freshness alive and as part of its broader Panera RISE transformation strategy, the fast-casual restaurant is working overtime to cater to its customers. The latest change is in how it tries to keep customers
Americans have no shortage of choices when they want to buy a soda, and Pepsi is fighting for consumers in one of the industry’s most competitive markets. Coca-Cola remains the most widely consumed soft drink in the U.S. About 60% of Americans surveyed by Statista reported consuming it in the past year. Pepsi followed at
When people are worried about their income, their job security, and the cost of everything from rent to food rising, they tend to become careful about spending. “Consumer sentiment confirmed its early month reading, falling about 6% from last month and landing about 11% below a year ago amid continued worries that inflation will remain