Post by AIO

42% of restaurant operators say they weren't profitable last year. The industry still did $1.55 trillion in sales. Both things are true at the same time, and understanding why is the most important thing any operator can know about 2026. The growth is real. So is the squeeze. Most of it is coming from menu price increases, not from more covers. Strip out inflation and real sales growth is closer to 1%. The industry isn't booming. It's treading water while costs keep rising. The operators closing the gap aren't cutting corners. They're investing in technology, digital ordering, automation, real-time data, to find efficiency where cost pressure alone can't save them. That gap is widening every month. Swipe for the full picture.