Cava, a Mediterranean restaurant chain, saw its shares drop 21% in extended trading after lowering its annual same-store sales growth target for the first time since its IPO on the New York Stock Exchange two years ago. The company revised its full-year same-store sales growth forecast to between 4% and 6%, down from a previous range of 6% to 8%, citing an uncertain macroeconomic environment and declining consumer confidence that led to reduced dining-out demand. Despite the sales target cut, Cava reported a profit of 16 cents per share for the quarter ended July 13, slightly above estimates. The company has raised its target for annual new restaurant openings to 68 to 70, from 64 to 68, and maintains its profit margin and core profit targets. Cava does not plan to increase prices and will absorb inflationary costs, including those from tariffs, as it remains agile in response to policy changes.

Based on 28 Wall Street analyst forecasts over the past three months, Chipotle Mexican Grill (CMG) has an average 12-month price target of $58.85, with a high of $65.00 and a low of $46.00, representing a 37.40% upside from its current price of $42.83. The consensus rating is Strong Buy, driven by 21 Strong Buy ratings and 7 Hold ratings. Analysts highlight Chipotle's strong market position, growth potential, and resilience as key factors justifying their bullish outlook. The company's next quarter earnings estimate is $0.30 (range: $0.28–$0.31), slightly below the previous quarter's $0.33 EPS, and it has outperformed the industry in EPS accuracy over the past 12 months. Sales forecasts for the next quarter are $3.06 billion (range: $3.03B–$3.11B), in line with the previous quarter's results, and the company has matched the industry's performance in sales accuracy.

Chipotle Mexican Grill has announced the opening of a new restaurant in Hermiston, Oregon, scheduled for the fall of 2025. The 4,900-square-foot location is under construction on Highway 395, currently occupying the parking lot area previously used by Grocery Outlet. The site was approved in October 2024, with construction delays due to access issues on Highway 395 that have since been resolved. The building will feature one space for Chipotle and another lease space, originally intended for Verizon but now unassigned. The development has received positive community feedback, with residents praising the food quality, customization options, and health aspects. This marks the second Chipotle in Umatilla County, following a similar project in Pendleton.

Yum! Brands, the parent company of KFC, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, and The Habit Burger Grill, reported a significant increase in pre-tax profit to $1.2 billion in 2024, more than tripling the $317.1 million recorded in 2023. This growth was primarily driven by a partial write-back of an impairment loss in Yum! Restaurants Europe and substantial dividends received from its European subsidiaries, including $176 million from Yum! Restaurants Europe and $40 million from Pizza Hut Europe. Despite a decline in pre-tax profit for Pizza Hut Europe from $12.2 million to $5.4 million, it still paid out a dividend. Yum! Restaurant Holdings also issued a $226 million dividend to its US parent. In separate developments, KFC announced plans to create over 7,000 jobs in the UK and Ireland over the next five years, with £466 million invested in new sites and over 200 existing outlets to be refurbished. Additionally, the UK-based Pizza Hut operator Heart With Smart (HWS) was rescued in January after debts exceeded £50 million, with the new ownership controlled by Directional Capital, preserving over 3,000 jobs.

This report details the results of restaurant inspections conducted in Tulare County during July 2025 by the Tulare County Environmental Health Division. Five restaurants received perfect inspection scores with no violations, including Gong Cha, Bravo Farms, Tacos Mi Casita, Angelo’s Kitchen, and Chipotle Mexican Grill. Three restaurants were found to have major or critical violations: Woodlake Drive-In, Tavern on Main, and Raising Cane’s. The inspection program was temporarily suspended for most of July as the county prepared for a new system launch on July 28. Violations included expired food handler cards, improper food temperatures, lack of valid permits, poor sanitation, and equipment issues. The report emphasizes that some violations are technical and not directly related to hygiene, such as broken refrigerators or missing paperwork, which may still pose risks. Consumers are encouraged to file complaints if they observe state-standard violations.