Over the past few weeks, public restaurant companies have reported their earnings for the end of 2019. Here, Nation’s Restaurant News rounds up our coverage of 21 such companies, all of which appear on our Top 200 list of the country’s largest restaurant chains by systemwide sales.
Several chains mentioned menu innovation, specifically in plant-based foods, as something they were pursuing to drive sales going forward. Two such restaurants are fast-casual burger brand Shake Shack and quick-service Mexican chain El Pollo Loco.
Brands are also starting to transition into direct delivery in an effort to save money on fees third-party delivery companies charge. Casual-dining burger brand Red Robin and fast-casual Noodles & Company are both pursuing this option.
Even as third-party delivery grows in popularity, leaning into direct delivery seems to be working for quick-service pizza chain Domino’s, which reported same-store sales growth of 3.4% in the U.S. The brand is famous for resisting third-party delivery companies.
Click through to find out how 21 restaurant companies performed in the final quarter of 2019, and what they’re doing to drive sales in 2020. And follow the latest restaurant finance news, including the evolving impact of the coronavirus outbreak on restaurant sales.