Chick-fil-A, Inc. filed its Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) on March 31, 2018 and within that disclosure released its audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2018.

By late 2024, the $15 minimum wage will be fait accompli in major metropolitan areas in the United States, with CPI inflators expanding wage increases into the future.

Restaurant Finance Monitor founder John Hamburger talks about the evolution of restaurants with Tyler Carlson on SiteZeus's Tech & Mortar podcast. John also provides a macro look at the restaurant industry and gives advice to growing companies on how to survive a down cycle.

Karen J. Hutton admits that she hates to lose. “I’m very competitive. I want Hutton to be the best, and I want the client to see me as offering as much or better service than anyone else. That’s my drive every day,”

Experience and problem-solving matter in the world of M&A, according to Bill Pabst, a principal with The Cypress Group.

Restaurant lender Tom Hung has joined First Tennessee Franchise Finance as Managing Director, Group Head of Franchise Finance.

Chicken Salad Chick, based in Auburn, Alabama, was formed in 2008, by Stacy Brown. Stacy was a stay-at-home mom and self-proclaimed connoisseur of chicken salad who began the business by selling chicken salad made from her home kitchen. Visit www.rogerlipton.com to view free restaurant company descriptions and other articles.

Yesterday, Shake Shack reported their fourth quarter and 2018 results. It was very much as management had predicted, reflecting modest same store sales gains, cost pressures at the store level as well as continued high administrative expenses to support very rapid expansion. Visit www.rogerlipton.com to view free restaurant company descriptions and other articles.

It is not a coincidence that Restaurant Brand International’s stock was uncharacteristically weak, in a strong market, last Friday, as Kraft Heinz (KHC) was “taken out and shot,” down 25% on the day. Visit www.rogerlipton.com to view free restaurant company descriptions and other articles.

Fat Brands (FAT-NASDAQCM), the franchisor that owns Fatburger, Hurricane Grill and Wings, Buffalo’s Café and Buffalo’s Express, Ponderosa and Bonanza Steakhouses, and Yalla Mediterranean, has received a $20 million loan from Sardar Biglari’s managed investment fund, The Lion Fund, L.P. and The Lion Fund II, L.P.

Restaurant Brands is here to stay (not surprisingly), but the operating details of this situation reflect a great deal of financial engineering rather than predictable, above average, long term operating progress. Visit www.rogerlipton.com to view free restaurant company descriptions and other articles.

Rick Thompson has a long track record in the franchise finance sector that has included playing a key role in building franchise finance platforms for major lenders.

Each generational group has different wants and needs that influence their restaurant purchase behavior. Accordingly, foodservice marketers need to understand how to gain the attention of these consumers to drive traffic.

Texas Roadhouse is one of the premier restaurant operators. Management is outstanding, their long-term record is superb, and we don’t doubt that they will continue to be very profitable. Visit www.rogerlipton.com to view free restaurant company descriptions and other articles.

Armando Pedroza clearly remembers the first restaurant loan he ever made. It was Dec. 20, 1995.

Dan Holland has spent his entire banking career keenly focused on restaurant finance and he has a healthy respect for operators.