NRN editors discuss CAVA, Applebees, IHOP, and Wendys pricing [Video]

This week on the Extra Serving podcast, Nation’s Restaurant News editors Holly Petre, Alicia Kelso, and Joanna Fantozzi spoke about what feels like the longest earnings season ever.

CAVA reported early this week, and showed that it’s still possible to have double-digit traffic gains in this economic environment. The brand, which went public in June 2023, has now seen three straight quarters of same-store sales gains. CEO Brett Schulman admitted that it’s partly due to the “IPO halo effect,” as he called it, but that it’s also a testament to the fast-casual Mediterranean category’s popularity. CAVA remains the only Mediterranean concept with over 300 units.

On the full-service side, it’s a tale of two brands. Dine Brands, the parent to Applebee’s and IHOP, is leaning hard into marketing and loyalty apps while trying to grow once again. The chains have both introduced interesting new food items while embracing discounting. Cracker …