Some interesting news and data points that crossed the editor’s desk this past fortnight.
Menu Matters released its 2026 Consumer Needs report and one of the key takeaways was “Give Me Something Real!” That’s because topline data points include 70% of consumers saying they don’t know where to find trustworthy information and 77% indicating they already have been duped by AI-generated content online.
That sentiment is probably a main reason why many news outlets have declared 2026 the Year of Analog Living. But what does this mean for restaurants? Humans seek authenticity, connection, and time away from screens (the average person now spends 7 hours a day in front of a screen). Restaurants are the perfect place to get offline.
Is this a good time to mention that nothing you read on this site was written by AI? We’re humans, hiring writers to interview restaurant design professionals about their real-world projects. If you’re seeking real information in an online sea of AI-generated “content”? You’ve found it.
Openings of Note
- Rapper Megan Thee Stallion opened her first Popeyes franchise in Miami and it featured some menu and design element exclusives including stallion-themed art and Megan’s favorite meal.
Pizza Pizza Complaints from the Editor
- Little Caesars and Hungry Howie’s — two pizza chains based in mid-Michigan that this editor grew up eating — recently debuted “Detroit-style pizza” menu items. And if that doesn’t tell you that nobody I grew up with ever even heard of “Detroit-style” pizza until 10 years ago, what does? It must be working for them because Little Caesars announced 23 new units coming down the pike last fall.
2025 Chain Development News by the Numbers
- First Watch Restaurant Group opened 64 new restaurants across 23 states (55 company-owned, 9 franchised) and closed three stores in 2025.
- Noodles & Company closed 33 company-owned restaurants and 9 franchised locations in 2025. Additional closures (30 to 35) are expected in 2026. The closures were described as a strategic decision to focus on better-performing units. While it seems counter intuitive, strategically shrinking unit count can lead to growth.
- Kura Sushi USA opened four new restaurants in Q4 of 2025 and has 10 additional units under construction with a goal of opening 16 in 2026.
- Rock N Roll Sushi capped 2025 with new restaurant openings in 11 cities across seven states. Specifically, the chain opened its first restaurants in Florida, Tennessee, Alabama and Arkansas.
Branding News
- Peet’s Coffee debuted a refresh of its line of core coffee bean packaging, unveiling a modernized look designed to make blends, roast profiles, and flavor notes easier to explore at a glance. Updates include enhanced on-shelf visibility and a refreshed digital presence across Peet's online channels.
Milestones
- Rita’s Italian Ice passed the 600-unit mark worldwide. The chain plans to open an additional 45 shops in 2026. Rita’s reports drive-thru locations are performing 48% better than units without drive-thrus, so the company is rolling out an incentive program to accelerate drive-thru builds.
- Juice It Up! opened its 100th store overall, this one in Gardnerville, Nev.
Recommended Reading
- The Minnesota Star Tribune: Minneapolis restaurants step up to help amid ICE presence.
- Business Insider: A value-conscious shift in customer behavior is rocking the restaurant world. Brands are grappling with these 8 questions.
- An opinion piece from Substack: Why Ghost Kitchens Failed (And What’s Coming Next)
