True Food Kitchen CEO, Cracker Barrel Comeback, Popeyes chicken tenders
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July 22, 2026
Former longtime Hopdoddy CEO Jeff Chandler has a new gig. He is the new CEO of True Food Kitchen, the 45-unit healthy food chain. Chandler will lead True Food into a new phase of growth after 10 years growing Hopdoddy.
Cracker Barrel’s comeback is picking up steam. The chain said Monday that it now expects to meet or exceed the high end of its revenue and earnings guidance for the fiscal year as sales trends continue to improve. The sale of Maple Street Biscuit Co., meanwhile, is expected to help its bottom line. The company also generated $77 million in a sale-leaseback of 26 restaurants that it will use to pay down debt.
Popeyes recently upgraded its chicken tenders and now it wants consumers to try them, kicking off a national delivery offer through July 27 in which 11 tenders, one large side, and four biscuits are available for $25 through DoorDash and Uber Eats. The same deal is available for $20 for in-store guests. July 27 is National Chicken Finger Day. The Popeyes’ culinary team has been updating the chain’s tenders to ensure consistent hand-breaded Louisiana flavor and “generous portions.” Popeyes joins a growing number of restaurant chains upgrading their chicken offerings as the category intensifies and consumers become more discerning. Chili’s, BJ’s Restaurants, and Culver’s all recently upgraded their chicken sandwich offerings, for instance, while McDonald’s is testing larger, crispier McCrispy Strips.
Get all the headlines in today’s Restaurant Daily podcast.
About the Authors
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)
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.
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