Shake Shack built a $4 billion business as an alternative to fast food, with gourmet cachet and lofty prices. But as it expands, it’s embracing a proven fast-food strategy—drive thru—while trying to preserve its premium branding.
Growing up in the D.C. area, Sahil Rahman and Rahul Vinod had the idea to open an Indian fast-casual restaurant. They cofounded a fast-casual concept, Rasa, that now has five locations.
"I can tell you that it frustrates and worries me, and many of our franchisees, when I hear about an $18 Big Mac meal being sold," McDonald's USA President Joe Erlinger wrote in an open letter.
CAVA Group Inc (NYSE:CAVA) turned in better-than-expected earnings results for the first quarter late Tuesday. Following the print, co-founder and CEO Brett Schulman attributed much of the success to Cava having found a sweet spot.
The ex-parent CEO of Hardee's and Carl's Jr. wouldn't go back and run a fast food chain today, as he claims more restaurants "are going to go away" amid inflationary pressures.
FinanceBuzz compared current prices of popular fast-food menu items to what they cost a decade ago to find the chains where inflation has had the biggest and smallest impact.