What's happening in the restaurant industry right now? From a $17 billion delivery deal to a Burger King comeback, a marketing shake-up at Popeyes, margin pressure at Chipotle and an ambitious expansion plan at Dillas Quesadillas, this American Restaurant Association News Update covers five stories and what they could mean for restaurant owners and operators. HERE'S WHAT'S MAKING HEADLINES: 1. DoorDash's $17 Billion Instacart Deal DoorDash has agreed to acquire Instacart in a deal valued at about $17 billion, or $65 per share, with at least 75% of the consideration in cash. It is an agreement, not a completed acquisition: closing is expected in late 2027 or the first half of 2028, subject to shareholder and regulatory approvals. 2. Burger King Powers RBI's Strong Quarter Burger King U.S. comparable sales rose 8.4% in the third quarter, while parent company Restaurant Brands International reported revenue of about $2.53 billion and net income from continuing operations of $704 million, up from $440 million a year earlier. 3. Popeyes Shakes Up Marketing Leadership Popeyes has dismissed its chief marketing officer as it works to turn around sales. Popeyes U.S. comparable sales fell 2.2% in the latest quarter. 4. Chipotle: More Visits, Tighter Margins Chipotle's third-quarter revenue rose 9.6% to $3.3 billion, comparable sales grew 2.1% and transactions rose 0.8%. But restaurant-level operating margin fell to 23.3% from 24.5% a year earlier. 5. Dillas Quesadillas Names a New COO Dillas has promoted Michael Mabry to chief operating officer as the 11-restaurant brand works toward a goal of 50 locations by 2028. WHAT RESTAURANT OWNERS CAN LEARN: • A larger delivery ecosystem could change fees, competition and negotiating leverage • A turnaround takes investment, execution and consistency, not one campaign • Great food still needs a compelling reason for guests to visit • Watch guest counts and margins together • Expansion targets only work if consistency comes first Which of these five stories will matter most for restaurant owners? Tell us in the comments. Sources: company announcements and earnings reports from DoorDash, Instacart, Restaurant Brands International, Chipotle and Dillas Quesadillas. Watch more Restaurant Association videos: https://www.youtube.com/@RestaurantAssociation/videos Read more restaurant industry news: https://restaurantassociation.com/news/ Free restaurant resources and community: https://restaurantassociation.com/ Stay informed. Stay ahead. Stay connected to the restaurant industry. #restaurantnews #restaurantindustry #restaurantassociation #restaurantbusiness #fooddelivery #fastfood

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