This week on NRN.com, the top story was about Sonic Drive-In’s partnering with the X Games to host the extreme sports competition at the end of June. The quick-service restaurant chain will set up a racecourse and food sampling area at the event.
It was another week of rough financial news for the restaurant industry. BurgerFi announced it was “considering strategic alternatives” as the fast-casual chain lags far behind competitors. The company has entered into a forbearance agreement with its lenders and is undergoing a “strategic review process” to ensure a stable financial future. Meanwhile, fellow fast-casual chain Rubio’s abruptly closed nearly 50 California locations before filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection a few days later. The company said the decision to close 48 stores came in part because of the rising cost of doing business in California.
There was menu news to be had this week too, of course. Taco Bell announced it would bring its Cheez-It Crunchwrap nationwide. The chain first tested that item and the Cheez-It Tostada in 2022 and it was the most popular test item that year. And last week’s Menu Tracker highlighted new items from 21 different chains.
Click through the gallery to get all these stories and more, including a new CEO at an emerging taco chain and a new global CEO for José Andrés.
