As I do every Friday, I like to look at some of the week's more appetizing stories in the world of food. There always seems to be restaurant news on the menu.
1. Not so super, Sonic
Fast-food carhop specialist Sonic
Sonic is also still growing as a concept, as the Oklahoma City-based chain expands to watch over an empire of more than 3,400 drive-ins. With throwback allure and lower gas prices possibly inspiring folks to pull up to a Sonic order screen, this company should be fine, as long as it's able to successfully exorcise the demons of rising commodity and labor costs that are haunting the entire industry.
2. Jack in the Box no longer gives you gas
Burger-flipping giant Jack in the Box
Jack in the Box won't be unloading its restaurants, though. Now it can focus on growing its namesake fast-food chain and its faster-growing Qdoba Mexican Grill concept. Qdoba has not been as successful as Chipotle Mexican Grill
3. Throwing out the burrito with the bean water
On the same Mexican bent, Rubio's Restaurants
Yes, even though the comps are negative, this showing is a positive development, an improvement on the 3.3% and 3.9% dips during the first and second quarters, respectively.
4. Let's get cozy with Cosi
Gourmet-sandwich maker Cosi
And they were flat. Systemwide comparable sales clocked in 0.1% lower than a year ago, while total revenue crept just 0.3% higher. Investors will naturally want to find out how this all plays out to the bottom line, but as is the case with any good made-to-order sandwich, they'll have to wait to be fed. The company reports on Nov. 6.
5. Hold those wings
Zacks is upgrading shares of Buffalo Wild Wings
The analyst has a six-month price target of $39 for the stock.
6. Like a tumbling line of dominoes
Domino's Pizza
That's not good. If profits take a hit on growing sales, investors can overlook the near-term spike in dough and cheese prices, but when comps go along for the dive, shareholders get antsy. Wasn't Domino's supposed to be a big winner as more folks order a pizza, instead of driving out to the neighborhood casual-dining chain?
Check out this week's dessert specials: