Restaurant sales are slowly improving, led by casual dining, but cost pressures and CEO turnover pose challenges. Starbucks’ China strategy highlights the need for local control, while Mac Brand’s insights reinforce that attracting top talent and strong culture remain the true keys to long-term success in this people-driven industry.

In 2025, private equity-backed restaurant brands are transforming compensation from a simple recruiting tool into a powerful engine for growth and exit success. With tighter timelines, aggressive expansion goals, and talent scarcity, aligning pay with performance has never been more critical. This piece explores how leading portcos are rethinking C-suite and VP compensation to drive value creation, retention, and long-term investor returns.

In a fast-moving industry like restaurants, too many leaders put off one critical task: succession planning. Nearly 60% of companies expect to replace a C-suite leader soon, yet 39% have no internal successors identified. Building a strong leadership bench today isn’t optional—it’s essential for staying competitive tomorrow.

2024 restaurant industry grapples with labor shortages, rising costs, and shifting consumer preferences.

Explore key restaurant industry success factors, pricing challenges, and strategies for maintaining profitability amidst shifting consumer dynamics.

Dive into Taco Mac’s unique offerings and growth strategy in our chat with COO Paul Baldasaro.

Explore strategic AI adoption in restaurants with Ray Kelley's insights on enhancing operations and customer experiences.

John Gordon reviews the challenging Q1 for the restaurant industry, marked by weak January sales and earnings misses.