Leigh Anne Zinsmeister

Wonder is adding another restaurant to its portfolio. The company is acquiring Mighty Quinn’s BBQ, an eight-unit fast casual based in New York. Terms were not disclosed. It is Wonder’s second restaurant acquisition following the addition of Blue Ribbon Fried Chicken in February. Mighty Quinn’s will join a roster of 30 restaurant brands that Wonder offers from its food halls for delivery, pickup, and dine in.

Taco Bell has issued a statement in response to national reports that it is being investigated as a possible source in the national cyclospora outbreak that has sickened over 3,000 people. The company said public health officials have not confirmed a link to Taco Bell or any specific ingredient, supplier, restaurant or retailer, adding that it has voluntarily and temporarily removed limited ingredients at select restaurants as a precautionary measure. Reports surfaced last week that some Taco Bells in Michigan removed ingredients like lettuce, pico de gallo, and guacamole. Other chains, including Chipotle and Qdoba, said they are monitoring the situation and evaluating new information as it becomes available.

Chipotle is hosting a burrito giveaway during the FIFA Men’s World Cup final July 19, inspired by the tournament’s new hydration breaks, as well as the long-running social media conversation about the chain’s guests who “accidentally” fill their water cups with lemonade. Chipotle has poked fun about those customers with self-aware posts across its social media channels. Simultaneously, the World Cup hydration breaks have also become a focal point of social media fodder. During the second official hydration break, Chipotle will share a video on Instagram that includes a code customers can text to redeem a free entree. This promotion comes on the heels of the chain’s Matchday BOGO offering guests a free entree if they wore a soccer jersey the day the tournament kicked off. It drove a nearly 60% increase in traffic and marked Chipotle’s busiest day of the year so far.

Topgolf is turning its venues into an advertising channel. The golf-and-dining chain on Thursday launched Topgolf Media Networks, which will allow brands to run custom ad campaigns at Topgolf, including on screens and signage as well as activations and events. Topgolf said it will allow brands to reach its audience of 42 million annual visitors with targeted campaigns.

The panel was part of the Investment Summit at CREATE, the event for emerging restaurateurs.

Taco Bell is offering cheap Enchiritos to lure back customers and thank them for their loyalty amid an ongoing cyclospora outbreak that has now surpassed 11,500 cases in 41 states. When news of the outbreak hit about two weeks ago, Taco Bell bore the brunt of the headlines, which has impacted business. Foot traffic at the chain dropped sharply following a multistate outbreak initially linked to shredded lettuce supplied to its restaurants from Taylor Farms. But the source of the outbreak has since become murky following the FDA’s false positive classification. A look at social media sites indicates a massive shift in blame away from Taco Bell and toward Taylor Farms and the federal organizations charged with swiftly identifying a source in the interest of public health. CEO Sean Tresvant has thanked Taco Bell’s customers for sticking by the chain, which is also offering them Enchiritos for $1 as a sign of appreciation for their loyalty.

Noodles & Company raised its guidance for the year after reporting one of the strongest quarters as a public company. The fast-casual chain’s CEO Joe Christina credits the ongoing turnaround efforts, saying the operating model in place now is working. Same-store sales for the second quarter grew 10.3%, including an 11.4% increase at company locations, and 5.5% growth at franchised units. That was based in part on a 7.6% increase in traffic. Noodles, however, is benefitting in part on the closure of underperforming units. About 60 restaurants have closed since the beginning of 2025, and another four were shuttered in the second quarter. For the year, the chain now expects same-store sales to grow between 8% to 11%.

Last week, Taco Bell offered $1 Enchiritos in a bid to win back customers after experiencing a double-digit traffic decline following an ongoing cyclospora outbreak initially sourced back to lettuce supplied to the chain by Taylor Farms. This week, it’s breaking out an even bigger gun — it offered its signature Mexican Pizza for $1 on July 28 only. The Mexican Pizza is one of the chain’s best-selling items and typically retails for about $5.69. In a message posted to its app, Taco Bell said it is “beyond grateful for you” — a nod to consumers for their support amid the outbreak in which the chain has borne a brunt of the headlines. Following initial reports of the outbreak, foot traffic at Taco Bell fell by nearly 31%.

Wingstop turned in another quarter of negative same-store sales. The Dallas-based chain recorded same-store sales down 7.5% in Q2, which followed an 8.7% decline in the first quarter, and lapped a negative 1.9% result from the same period a year ago. It was the fifth straight negative quarter for the chicken-wing chain, which cited continued pressures on lower-income consumers, with whom it overindexes. CEO Michael Skipworth said the company is focused on upside opportunities such as the launch of its first loyalty program, more investments in value and menu innovation, and continued aggressive development. Systemwide sales were up 5.3% in the second quarter as the company opened 102 net new units.

Don’t expect a lot of new Starbucks shops in the U.S. next year, even if the company thinks it can build more. The company said it plans more modest growth domestically in its 2027 fiscal year as it continues to rethink its development strategy so it’s building the right stores in the right places. But Starbucks does expect to ramp up international development after a year in which its growth was slower than normal.