Chipotle, Wonder, and climbing restaurant operating expenses
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July 17, 2026
Chipotle is hosting a burrito giveaway during the FIFA Men’s World Cup final July 19, inspired by the tournament’s new hydration breaks, as well as the long-running social media conversation about the chain’s guests who “accidentally” fill their water cups with lemonade. Chipotle has poked fun about those customers with self-aware posts across its social media channels. Simultaneously, the World Cup hydration breaks have also become a focal point of social media fodder. During the second official hydration break, Chipotle will share a video on Instagram that includes a code customers can text to redeem a free entree. This promotion comes on the heels of the chain’s Matchday BOGO offering guests a free entree if they wore a soccer jersey the day the tournament kicked off. It drove a nearly 60% increase in traffic and marked Chipotle’s busiest day of the year so far.
Wonder’s latest funding round brings its valuation to an eye-popping $9 billion. The company announced a $650 million Series D round Thursday, bringing its total raised to more than $3 billion since 2021. The funding, first reported last week, came from both new and existing investors. Wonder said it will help support new store openings, Grubhub growth, and tech investments, including AI and robotics.
According to new data from the National Restaurant Association, total restaurant operating expenses have jumped 36% since before the pandemic. These increases have come from every line of the PnL, from food and labor to utilities and swipe fees. There is a confluence of factors influencing this inflationary environment, including lingering pandemic-era supply chain disruptions, labor shortages, trade policy fluctuations, and a dizzying food commodities environment. Though menu prices have increased at the same pace of 36% over the same period, 42% of restaurant operators now report that they are not profitable as many now have higher debt loads accumulated during the pandemic.
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About the Authors
Lisa Jennings
Executive Editor, Restaurant Business
Lisa Jennings is a veteran restaurant industry reporter and editor who covers the fast-casual sector, independent restaurants and emerging chain concepts. Her experience includes other industry publications as well as the daily newspaper The Commercial Appeal in Memphis, Tenn., where she was Food Editor. Her work has been cited in the Los Angeles Times, Business Insider, FoodBeast, The Huffington Post, Time.com and more.
Leigh Anne Zinsmeister
Managing Editor
Leigh Anne Zinsmeister is a managing editor for Informa’s Foodservice Media, with brands including Nation’s Restaurant News, Restaurant Business, and Foodservice Director. Leigh Anne works on all of the brands’ special reports, including Nation’s Restaurant News’ annual Technomic Top 500 report. She also manages the group’s digital engagement team.
Leigh Anne lives in New York City, but also claims Phoenix, Dallas and Cleveland as hometowns. Leigh Anne holds a bachelor’s degree in print journalism from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University, where she also studied European history.
Email Leigh Anne at [email protected]
Leigh Anne Zinsmeister’s experience:
Group Managing Editor, Foodservice Media (June 2026-present)
Group Managing Editor, Informa’s Foodservices Vertical (Aug. 2021-June 2026)
Group Content Manager, Informa Restaurant and Food Group (Feb. 2020-Aug. 2021)
Digital Content Manager, Informa Restaurant and Food Group (April 2018-Feb. 2020)
Digital Content Producer, Informa Restaurant and Food Group (June 2016-April 2018)
Community Moderator, Mail Online (March 2014-June 2016)
Wire Editor, Gannett’s Phoenix Design studio (The Arizona Republic, The Reno Gazette-Journal, The Statesman Journal, The Great Falls Tribune, The Visalia Times-Delta, The Tulare Advance Register, The Salinas Californian, The St. George Spectrum, The Desert Sun, The Coloradoan) (Jan. 2012-March 2014)
Group Managing Editor, Foodservice Media (June 2026-present)
Group Managing Editor, Informa’s Foodservices Vertical (Aug. 2021-June 2026)
Group Content Manager, Informa Restaurant and Food Group (Feb. 2020-Aug. 2021)
Digital Content Manager, Informa Restaurant and Food Group (April 2018-Feb. 2020)
Digital Content Producer, Informa Restaurant and Food Group (June 2016-April 2018)
Community Moderator, Mail Online (March 2014-June 2016)
Wire Editor, Gannett’s Phoenix Design studio (The Arizona Republic, The Reno Gazette-Journal, The Statesman Journal, The Great Falls Tribune, The Visalia Times-Delta, The Tulare Advance Register, The Salinas Californian, The St. George Spectrum, The Desert Sun, The Coloradoan) (Jan. 2012-March 2014)
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Source: This story originated with Nation's Restaurant News.
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