See which stories readers couldn't get enough of
February 4, 2025
Already have an account?
This week on Nation's Restaurant News the top story was Starbucks announces new free refills policy, and more news ahead of earnings. Before Starbucks Corp. reports its first-quarter earnings of 2025 on Tuesday, there are several changes and updates to note, including a newly announced refill policy for café customers and insights into last year’s performance from the company’s newly released annual report.
In other news, Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen has teamed up with Tequila Don Julio to release a Championship Lineup in preparation for the Super Bowl, hosted in Popeyes’ hometown of New Orleans.
The brands have collaborated to make the Popeyes x Tequila Don Julio Reposado Flavored Concha Chicken Sandwich, which features a chicken breast fillet marinated in reposado tequila, fried in Popeyes’ crunchy buttermilk breading, topped with a tequila lime slaw, spicy spread, a barrel cured pickle, and sandwiched between a concha roll. Additionally, Popeyes will have Don Julio Reposado flavored Louisiana Garlic 3-piece wings featuring a specialty sauce, as well as a Spicy Strawberry Hibiscus Flavored Lemonade Mocktail.
Also, Brinker International Inc. reported a 31.4% increase in same-store sales for Chili’s Grill & Bar in the Dec. 25-ended second quarter as the company’s casual-dining turnaround plan also increased traffic and allowed it to make operational changes, executives said Wednesday.
The Dallas-based Brinker posted a 27.4% increase in combined same-store sales when it factored in the 1.8% increase at the 53-unit Maggiano’s Little Italy. Increases in Chili’s traffic is leading Brinker to accelerate investments in in its kitchens, including new ovens and streamlined layouts.
See what else was trending on NRN.com this week.
