Not that long ago, restaurant chains like Cava, Chipotle and Sweetgreen had lines streaming out of their doors at lunchtime. But last year, traffic and sales at many of them softened considerably, and their stock prices plunged. Still, don't look for this restaurant segment to slash menu prices any time soon. It's simply not part of its DNA, some restaurant analysts say.
The rising cost of food has been tough to deal with everywhere, and it's particularly hard to accept how much Dunkin's prices have increased. It's not that the coffee chain should be exempt from the forces that have driven up fast food prices over the last five years, but Dunkin' has always been a value refuge from Starbucks and other competitors that like to pass themselves off as a little bit fancier.
You're right it is smaller. The Terry's Chocolate Orange on shop shelves this Christmas weighs 12g less than it did this time last year. That's a decrease in size of 8% not as big a cut as when the product lost 10% of its mass in 2016, but a further whittling away of a favourite Christmas treat. Prices have been going up too, although it's been a series of increases.
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Companies blame higher costs for prices increases - but analysis by the 'Sunday Independent' reveals combined operating profit among 18 popular brands is up over 62pc since 2021, to €416.8m The food industry is blaming higher costs as the main driver of soaring prices - but analysis by the Sunday Independent shows major brands across the sector are reporting bumper profits, explaining at least some of the price hikes.
When it comes to fast food's biggest burgers, the prices are often stacked just as high as the patties. Hikes in fast-food prices and " shrinkflation" - a phenomenon in which people say menu items get smaller while either remaining the same price or costing more - are deterring customers, and chains have released meal deals aimed at luring them back.