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McDonald’s, The Peach Cobbler Factory, Starbird Chicken, Bread Zeppelin, and RestaurantData lead RestaurantNews.com’s Top 20 stories for the week ending September 27, 2026.
1) McDonald’s Advances NEXT Strategy To Become First Choice for More Customers, More Often
McDonald’s is rolling out its new long-term NEXT strategy aimed at boosting restaurant efficiency, updating technology, and expanding market share in key menu categories like chicken and drinks. To support this initiative, the company plans to invest billions alongside its franchisees while targeting higher operating margins by 2030.
2) The Peach Cobbler Factory Arrives in Boston, Massachusetts
The Peach Cobbler Factory is expanding its regional footprint by bringing a new franchise store to Downtown Crossing in Boston. Owned and operated by local franchisees Victoria and Walter Greer, the shop will serve up classic Southern-style treats alongside an array of puddings, cinnamon rolls, and milkshakes.
3) Starbird Chicken Expands Into Washington With 15 New Restaurant Locations Planned Through Partnership With Mehta Investment Group
Starbird Chicken is entering Washington state through a new franchise agreement with Mehta Investment Group. The partnership plans to develop 15 new locations across the region, bringing the fast-casual brand’s signature tenders, sandwiches, and salads to the Pacific Northwest.
4) Bread Zeppelin Continues DFW Expansion With Richardson Restaurant Opening Sept. 30
Bread Zeppelin is expanding its Texas footprint by opening a new restaurant in Richardson, which serves as the brand’s twelfth location overall. The fast-casual concept features customized salad-stuffed baguettes alongside bowls, housemade bread pudding, and a seasonal Pink Lady salad that supports breast cancer awareness charities.
5) RestaurantData Identifies 17 Growing Restaurant Companies from 4,382 Verified Summer Openings
RestaurantData analyzed over four thousand verified U.S. restaurant openings to highlight seventeen major companies expanding their footprints. While Chick-fil-A logged the highest total number of new locations, chains like CAVA, Potbelly, and 7 Brew topped the list for relative growth per existing unit.
6) FACE Amusement Group Receives IAAPA Brass Ring Excellence Award for Best Talent Acquisition Program
FACE Amusement Group earned an IAAPA Brass Ring Excellence Award for running the industry’s best talent acquisition program. The international trade association recognized the entertainment and hospitality operator for its people-first approach to hiring, employee retention, and leadership development across its venues.
7) Restaurant News Bites: The Busiest Uber Eats Restaurant in the World, the Disappearing Tamale, A-List Restaurants, and More!
This roundup covers a wide variety of industry trends, from tamales disappearing from restaurant menus due to high labor demands to Gen Z pushing back against private equity acquisition of local dining spots. It also highlights popular industry topics like AI-generated marketing backlash, the reopening of Carnegie Deli, and a Houston restaurant processing unmatched delivery volumes.
8) The Mega-Freakin’-Juana Burrito Redefines Size at Tijuana Flats
Tijuana Flats has brought back its two-pound Mega-Freakin’-Juana Burrito for a limited time across its locations. Wrapped in two flour tortillas, the oversized offering comes fully customizable with a choice of proteins, toppings, and a side of chips.
9) Prince St. and Megadeth Put the Last Tickets to a Sold-Out Show Behind the Pizza Counter
Prince St. Pizza teamed up with legendary heavy metal band Megadeth to offer a limited-edition pie called Vic’s Pepperoni at its Los Angeles locations. Customers who ordered the special slice or pie were entered for a chance to win tickets to an exclusive, sold-out Megadeth performance and meet-and-greet experience.
10) PJ’s Coffee Comes Home to Maple Street This Fall
PJ’s Coffee is returning to the New Orleans neighborhood where the brand was originally founded nearly five decades ago. The new location features a refreshed modern design and outdoor patio while serving classic cold brews, specialty coffee drinks, and fresh beignets.
11) Dave Shula Returns To Lead Shula’s Restaurant Group as President
Dave Shula has returned to lead Shula’s Restaurant Group as president, stepping back into the role he previously held for nearly two decades. In his new position, he will guide the family-owned hospitality company’s portfolio expansion across current franchise concepts and new markets.
12) Paris Baguette Expands Their Footprint With a New Café in Clovis, California
Franchise owners Anvar and Nikki Tulyag have expanded Paris Baguette’s footprint by opening a new bakery café in Clovis, California. Marking the couple’s third location in the Central Valley, the café serves the brand’s signature assortment of artisan pastries, cakes, breads, and coffee drinks.
13) Papa Johns The Works Pizza: Seven Premium Toppings in One Perfect Bite
Papa Johns is highlighting its fan-favorite specialty pie, The Works, which comes loaded with seven distinct toppings including pepperoni, Canadian bacon, Italian sausage, veggies, and black olives. Built on the chain’s fresh original dough and topped with real mozzarella cheese, the loaded pizza is available for a limited time at special promotional pricing for medium and large sizes.
14) Nick the Greek Proudly Brings Authentic Greek Street Food to East Texas
Nick the Greek is expanding its footprint in Texas by bringing its fast-casual concept to Tyler. Owned and operated by local franchisees Ricky and Lindsey Holt, the new location will serve authentic Greek street food, including gyros, souvlaki, pitas, and salads.
15) US Foods Brings Modernized Italian-Inspired Menu Offerings to Operators Nationwide
US Foods has launched its Fall Scoop product line, featuring 14 Italian-inspired items designed to streamline kitchen operations for restaurant operators nationwide. The new lineup includes labor-saving ingredients like pre-cooked risotto, sourdough focaccia, burrata ravioli, and tiramisu to help kitchens serve authentic flavors with less back-of-house prep.
16) Del Taco Expands Central Valley Presence With New Turlock Location
Del Taco has expanded its Central Valley footprint with a new restaurant in Turlock, California, owned and operated by franchise partners the Sagars. The location features both drive-thru and indoor dining, serving up the chain’s fresh, made-to-order Mexican and American favorites.
17) The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill Opens Its First Louisiana Restaurant in Monroe
The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill has opened its first Louisiana location in Monroe, owned and operated by local entrepreneur Ankur Patel. The restaurant offers a menu of scratch-made Mediterranean favorites like rice bowls, pita wraps, gyros, and house-made desserts for dine-in, takeout, and catering.
18) Perkins Named to Inaugural Top 10 Franchise Brands in Full-Service Restaurants by Entrepreneur
Perkins Restaurant & Bakery earned the tenth spot in Entrepreneur’s inaugural ranking of top full-service restaurant franchises. The recognition highlights the heritage family-dining brand’s strong franchise business model, high consumer satisfaction, and ongoing format innovations like its upcoming fast-casual concept.
19) Mo’ Bettahs Builds on Utah Roots With New Highland Restaurant
Mo’ Bettahs Hawaiian Style Food is expanding its presence in Utah with a new restaurant location in Highland. Founded by brothers Kimo and Kalani Mack, the chain serves traditional Hawaiian plate lunches featuring items like teriyaki chicken, kalua pig, macaroni salad, and rice.
20) Nékter Juice Bar Unveils a Blockbuster Lineup of Five Flavorful, Protein-Packed Autumn Classics and Immunity-Boosting Wellness on October 1
Nékter Juice Bar has announced five new seasonal items that combine autumn flavors with functional nutrition. The upcoming limited-time lineup features pumpkin protein smoothies, protein waffles, a pumpkin chia parfait, a cookie butter smoothie, and an immune-boosting fresh juice.