Finance With Rohan

Business and stocks, explained in simple words.

Tag: Food

  • Texas Roadhouse Adds Chicken Alfredo Pasta and Fans Are Split

    Texas Roadhouse Adds Chicken Alfredo Pasta and Fans Are Split

    Introduction

    Texas Roadhouse is famous for steak. Now it serves pasta too. The chain added Chicken Alfredo Pasta to more than 600 restaurants. Some fans love the new dish. Others are not happy at all. They say pasta does not belong at a steakhouse. That split is why people are talking about it. McDonald’s Sales Grow as more people eat out, too.

    What Happened

    The new dish is simple. It starts with penne pasta in a creamy Parmesan sauce. Penne is a short tube-shaped pasta. The dish is topped with grilled chicken and crispy bacon bits. It comes with a choice of one side. The chain tested the pasta in a small number of stores first. Guests and staff liked it. So the chain rolled it out to more than 600 locations. About 100 locations still do not have it. The chain plans to finish the rollout by spring 2027. Bosses shared the news on the company’s third-quarter earnings call on November 5.

    Why People Are Talking About It

    Fans online are split into two camps. One camp is happy to have a new choice. They like that the menu has something different. The other camp thinks a steakhouse should stick to steak. They joke about ordering pasta where the rolls and steaks are the stars. The company’s own bosses are calm about it. Michael Bailen is a vice president at the company. He said the pasta is probably not going to be a top 10 dish. But he said it rounds out the menu. The chain also tests new nonalcoholic drinks. They are called energizer drinks. They are tested across its three brands: Texas Roadhouse, Bubba’s 33 and Jaggers.

    What Happens Next

    More locations will add the pasta in the coming months. The full rollout should be done by spring 2027. The chain also plans to open about 35 new restaurants across its brands in 2026. It plans 35 more in 2027. Sales and visits got stronger each week in October. That trend carried into early November. The pasta is a small part of a bigger menu test. If guests keep ordering it, it stays. If not, it may fade away.

    Final Thoughts

    A steakhouse selling pasta sounds strange at first. But chains test new dishes all the time. Some work and some do not. This one has already reached 600 stores. That is a big test. Fans will decide with their orders. The debate online is half the fun.

    Disclaimer: This article is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice.

    Sources: Nation’s Restaurant News; Motley Fool.

  • Restaurant Chains Are Making Their Food Better to Win Back Diners

    Restaurant Chains Are Making Their Food Better to Win Back Diners

    Introduction

    Many big restaurant chains are changing their food. They want people to come back and eat with them more often. Chipotle, Wendy’s, Burger King, McDonald’s, Applebee’s and Chili’s are all making changes. If the food tastes better, people will want it again.

    What Happened

    CNBC reported on Monday that chains are upgrading their core menu items. Chipotle brought back its brisket for a limited time. Wendy’s shared a five-part turnaround plan on Thursday. One part is “quality food at real value.”

    The chain is testing thicker, crispier bacon, a richer and creamier Frosty, whole leaf lettuce and better salads. Burger King gave its Whopper a better bun and a new mayonnaise earlier this year. In September, it changed its nuggets to 100% white meat with crispier breading and a tastier marinade. It also changed its sauces.

    Applebee’s launched a juicier chicken tender in its latest quarter. Chili’s will turn next to salads and steaks. It plans to dry-age more of its beef to make it more tender. McDonald’s is testing hand-breaded wings, strips and a sandwich in a few Chicago-area restaurants. It also wants to improve its coffee with fresher beans and better machines.

    Why It Happened

    Over the last two years, people ate out less often. They also got pickier about where they eat. Chains used deals and discounts to bring them in. A deal can help for a short time. But the food itself matters for long-term growth.

    Wendy’s reported its seventh straight quarter of falling same-store sales. Same-store sales means sales at stores that have been open for at least a year. McDonald’s US same-store sales fell 0.2% in the third quarter. Its value deals did not work as well as hoped.

    Burger King shows the plan can work. Its US same-store sales rose 8.4% in the third quarter. Whopper sales rose by a double-digit percentage. Nugget sales rose more than 35%.

    Domino’s did the same thing in 2009. It changed its pizza recipe and ran ads that made fun of its old crust. US same-store sales grew 9.9% the next year.

    Why It Matters

    Food quality is a new way to fight for diners. Price alone is not enough. If the food tastes better, people may come back more often.

    Even strong chains are joining in. Chili’s same-store sales rose 52% over the past three years. Good food also helps franchisees. A franchisee is a person who owns and runs one store of a big chain. Burger King’s comeback already lifted its parent company in the third quarter.

    What Happens Next

    McDonald’s will test its new chicken items in more US places and in Ireland in early 2027. Applebee’s plans to overhaul more of its protein dishes in 2027. Wendy’s will keep testing its new food items as part of its five-part plan.

    Watch the next sales reports. They will show if better food brings diners back. If sales rise, more chains will copy the idea.

    Final Thoughts

    This is a simple idea. Make the food taste better. Then people want to eat it again. But good food only helps if every store makes it the same way.

    The next few months will show which chains got it right. Burger King already has good early signs.

    Key Figures

    • Burger King US same-store sales: up 8.4% in the third quarter.
    • Burger King nugget sales: up more than 35% after the new recipe.
    • Chili’s same-store sales: up 52% over the past three years.
    • McDonald’s US same-store sales: down 0.2% in the third quarter.
    • Wendy’s: seventh straight quarter of falling same-store sales.

    Quick Questions

    Why are restaurant chains changing their food?
    People ate out less over the last two years. Chains hope better-tasting food will bring diners back.

    Which chains are making changes?
    Chipotle, Wendy’s, Burger King, McDonald’s, Applebee’s and Chili’s are all upgrading menu items.

    Did better food help Burger King?
    Its US same-store sales rose 8.4% in the third quarter. Nugget sales rose more than 35%.

    Disclaimer: This article is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice.

    Sources: CNBC — Restaurant chains refocus on food quality to bring back diners — and Restaurant Brands International’s third-quarter earnings report.

    Photo: Pexels.

  • Kraft Heinz Sells Its Coffee Business for $650 Million

    Kraft Heinz Sells Its Coffee Business for $650 Million

    Introduction
    Kraft Heinz will sell its coffee business in North America. The buyer is a firm called One Rock Capital Partners. The deal is worth $650 million. It should close in the first half of 2026.

    What Happened
    Kraft Heinz said it will sell its coffee brands in North America. The brands include Maxwell House. They also include Gevalia and Yuban. The deal does not include coffee outside North America. It also does not include Kraft Heinz coffee in Canada? No, wait: the sale is for North America, and it excludes Brazil and other global coffee brands. Actually, the deal covers North American coffee, but the company will keep its global coffee brands, such as those in Brazil. One Rock will get the North American coffee business. Kraft Heinz will get $650 million in cash.

    Key figures

    • Deal price: $650 million
    • Expected close: first half of 2026
    • Brands sold in North America: Maxwell House, Gevalia, Yuban
    • Buyer: One Rock Capital Partners

    Why It Happened
    Kraft Heinz is trying to become simpler. It wants to focus on its biggest and strongest brands. Coffee is a big business, but it is not the main focus for Kraft Heinz now. Selling coffee will give the company cash. It can use that cash for other plans. One Rock is a firm that buys companies and helps them grow. It says coffee is a business people use every day. It sees room to grow the brands.

    Why It Matters
    Maxwell House is a famous coffee brand. Many people buy it at shops. A sale can change how the brand is run. It can also change what new coffee products appear. For Kraft Heinz, the sale is part of a bigger plan. The company said in July that it will split into two companies. One will focus on sauces and spreads. The other will focus on grocery foods. Selling coffee fits that plan to become simpler.

    What Happens Next
    The deal must pass checks by regulators. Regulators are people who check that rules are followed. It should close in the first half of 2026. Until then, Kraft Heinz will keep running the coffee business. Watch for news about the split of Kraft Heinz. Watch too for what One Rock does with Maxwell House and the other brands.

    Final Thoughts
    Kraft Heinz is selling a well-known business. The $650 million deal will help it focus on other foods. The next test is whether the simpler company grows faster.

    Read another new business story on this blog: https://financewithrohan.com/2026/11/04/mcdonalds-sales-grow-as-earnings-beat-expectations/

    Disclaimer: This article is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice.

    Sources: CNBC, “Kraft Heinz to divest North American coffee business in $650M deal” (https://www.cnbc.com/2026/11/04/kraft-heinz-coffee-business-one-rock-deal.html); Kraft Heinz, “Kraft Heinz Announces Agreement to Sell North American Coffee Business” (https://newsroom.kraftheinzcompany.com/press-releases-details/2026/Kraft-Heinz-Announces-Agreement-to-Sell-North-American-Coffee-Business/default.aspx)

  • McDonald’s Sales Grow as Earnings Beat Expectations

    McDonald’s Sales Grow as Earnings Beat Expectations

    Introduction
    McDonald’s sold more food in its latest quarter. Its sales and profit both beat what Wall Street expected. That is good news for the fast-food chain.

    What Happened
    McDonald’s said its earnings were $3.57 per share. Earnings means profit for each share. A share means a small piece of a company. Wall Street had expected $3.16 per share. Its revenue was $7.16 billion. Revenue means money from sales before costs are paid. Wall Street had expected $7.08 billion. Sales at restaurants open at least a year grew 6.4% around the world. In the United States, those sales grew 4.9%. That beat the 3.4% rise that experts expected.

    Key figures

    • Earnings: $3.57 per share, against $3.16 expected
    • Revenue: $7.16 billion, against $7.08 billion expected
    • Global same-store sales: up 6.4%
    • United States same-store sales: up 4.9%
    • International sales: up 8.1% in licensed markets

    Why It Happened
    Boss Chris Kempczinski said the company is winning with value. Value means good food for a fair price. Deals such as the Snack Wrap helped bring in more people. McDonald’s also used new items and ads to draw visitors. Sales grew in the United States and abroad. In China and other licensed markets, sales grew 8.1%. The company said more people visited its restaurants.

    Why It Matters
    McDonald’s is one of the biggest food chains in the world. When it does well, it can show that people still eat out. It can also show that fair prices matter when money is tight. Strong sales can help the company open more restaurants. They can also help it pay for new food ideas. For workers and suppliers, more sales can mean more work.

    What Happens Next
    McDonald’s will keep pushing value deals. It will also watch how shoppers spend in the months ahead. The busy holiday season is coming. Watch for new menu items and deals. Watch too for sales in the United States, its biggest market.

    Final Thoughts
    McDonald’s had a strong quarter. Sales grew. Profit beat expectations. The next test is to keep visitors coming back.

    Read another new business story on this blog: https://financewithrohan.com/2026/11/04/e-l-f-beauty-sales-jump-51-to-520-8-million/

    Disclaimer: This article is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice.

    Sources: CNBC, “McDonald’s earnings top estimates on stronger-than-expected US sales” (https://www.cnbc.com/2026/11/04/mcdonalds-is-about-to-report-earnings-heres-what-to-expect.html); McDonald’s, “McDonald’s Reports Third Quarter 2026 Results” (https://corporate.mcdonalds.com/corpmcd/our-stories/article/mcdonald-s-reports-third-quarter-2026-results.html)