Restaurants Look Ahead After a Rough Year

The restaurant industry is eagerly awaiting 2025 after a challenging 2024. Kate Jaspon, the CFO of Dunkin' parent company Inspire Brands, expressed her hopes for the new year at a recent conference in Las Vegas. The industry has faced multiple setbacks, with bankruptcy filings up by over 50% compared to last year. Restaurant traffic has been declining monthly, and major chains like McDonald's and Starbucks have disappointed investors with falling same-store sales. However, there are signs of improvement. Sales have picked up from their summer lows, with fast-food restaurants seeing a 2. 8% increase in traffic in October. Companies like Burger King are also reporting growth in same-store sales. Additionally, the Federal Reserve has cut interest rates twice, making it cheaper for restaurants to finance new locations and boost growth.