How many net locations did restaurant chains add in 2025? Is Burger King Ready to storm the castle? What is a salad stuffer and where can you get one? Answers to these questions and more This Week in Foodservice.

C-store chain 7-Eleven plans to close 645 locations during its current fiscal year, which ends February 28, 2027, per a C-Store Dive report. Although it plans to open 205 stores its current fiscal year, too, these estimates are in line with how the chain has functioned in recent years.

In fact, from 2022 through 2027, the chain has closed more stores than it has opened. The stores targeted for closing were described as “underperforming” and the new units are expected to showcase 7-Eleven’s more food-focused format.

In addition to trimming its store count, 7-Eleven also said it plans to postpone its initial public offering until March of 2028, per a Restaurant Business story.

“In North America, although the economy remained robust, personal consumption also began to soften, particularly among low-income households, as inflation continued to weigh on spending,” 7-Eleven said.

Foodservice News

• Fewer chain restaurants opened a new location in 2025, per data from Technomic. Looking at its database of the top 1,500 chains, the Chicago-based market research firm reports that only 34% of operators expanded by at least one net location last year. In addition, 32% of operators lost one or more location compared to the prior year. In addition, Technomic data shows that Chili’s has surpassed Olive Garden to become the second largest casual dining chain in the country. Texas Roadhouse remains the largest casual dining chain.
• A 35-unit Mexican cantina has big growth plans. Ojos Locos Sports Cantina is leveraging scratch-made food, authenticity and a neighborhood-first approach to make its restaurants a year-round location for sports fans, per a FSR Magazine story. One feature of note are the balons on every table. Balons are 100 fluid-ounce pitchers of beer designed for sharing. To support the emerging chain’s sports theme, the pitchers are shaped like a soccer ball.
• Is Burger King ready to storm the castle? That’s the take of some industry observers as Burger King began testing sliders, which in the quick-service restaurant space has been a domain long been the ruled by White Castle, as The Takeout reports. Burger King plans to sell sliders from April 14 through May 14 and the test will include three options. Guests can order sliders in two or six packs.
• When is a salad a sandwich? When it’s a Panera Bread Salad Stuffer. Guests of the fast-casual chain can now have their salads served to them inside a bread pocket, per various published reports including this one from USA Today. To help spur interest in this approach, Panera developed two new options: the Steakhouse Salad Stuffer and the Santa Fe Salad Stuffer.
• Robot deliveries have taken off quickly at Colorado State University. Revenue from the deliveries totaled $11,400 for the first six weeks of operation, per a Foodservice Director story. The six most-ordered items for delivery from the mini market are all entrees, made in the school’s commissary.
• While technology continues to shape certain foodservice experiences, certain restaurant operators are going in the opposite direction. Specifically, restaurants in at least 11 states now have phone restrictions or digital detox incentives, per this MSN story citing Axios data. In fact, the Antagonist, a bar in Charlotte, lock patrons’ phones in pouches upon entry. For some restaurant owners, the phone bans allow them to differentiate their businesses in a crowded market.

Economic News

• The Producer Price Index for final demand increased 4.0% for the 12-month period ending in March, per data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is the largest increase since the PPI grew 4.7% for the 12-months ending February 2023, the BLS added. On a month-over-month basis, the PPI increased 0.5%, which is similar of 0.5% in February and 0.6% in January. The March rise in final demand prices can be attributed to a 1.6% advance in the index for final demand goods. Prices for final demand services were unchanged. Economists polled by Dow Jones had projected the March PPI would increase 1.1%, per a CNBC story.
• Over the past 12 month period ending in March, inflation grew 3.3%, per Consumer Price Index data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This was 0.9% greater than the February increase, per an analysis from CNBC. The index for energy rose 10.9% in March, led by a 21.2% increase in the index for gasoline, which accounted for nearly three quarters of the monthly all items increase. Even more concerning for the foodservice industry, restaurant industry prices are up 3.8% over the past 12 months, which is twice as much as grocery store prices.
• Given the data above, it should come as no surprise that inflation has become the top concern for 53% of small business owners, per the Ipsos/U.S. Chamber of Commerce Small Business Index. This represents an increase eight points after three straight quarters of decline. Only 28% of small business owners say the U.S. economy is in good health.
• Along those lines, small business owners do not appear to have a favorable outlook about the direction of the economy. The NFIB Small Business Optimism Index fell 3.0 points in March for a reading of 95.8, which is less than its 52-year average of 98.0. The last time the NFIB Optimism Index was less than its historical average was April 2025. The study’s Uncertainty Index rose 4 points from February to 92, which is greater than its historical average of 68.
• Consumer sentiment dipped significantly in March, per data from the University of Michigan. Its March Index of Consumer Sentiment came in 11% lower than February. All aspects of this study declined by double digits continuing a trend that coincided with the start of the Iran war, a university spokesperson points out.
• Sales of existing homes declined 3.36% in March on a month-over-month basis, per the National Association of Realtors. On an annual basis, sales of existing homes declined 1.0%. “Lower consumer confidence and softer job growth continue to hold back buyers,” adds a NAR spokesperson.