Buffet restaurant chains staging comeback after years of struggles and shutdowns
After years of struggle and numerous closures, buffet restaurant chains are surprisingly bouncing back.
While some eateries are
reintroducing popular options
that were previously discontinued, many buffet chains have lost their appeal to consumers.
However,
buffet chains seem to be regaining popularity after initially losing favor, while other restaurants
raise prices
and
close
their doors
.
The decline of buffets was already in motion before the COVID-19 pandemic, but the health crisis hastened their downfall, resulting in many permanent closures.
Read More
Related Articles
Little-known McDonald's in major US city serving up menu items you won't find elsewhere
Read More
Related Articles
McDonald's teases return date of fan favorite menu item
Yet, over the past year, three chains - CiCi's Pizza, Golden Corral, and Mr. Gatti's Pizza - have started to see themselves on an upward trend, reports
the Mirror US
.
Buffet restaurants are starting to make a comeback.
All are reaching significant milestones, refreshing their brands, or growing and expanding.
Cici's Pizza, a chain with outlets in 30 states offering game rooms and a variety of pizzas and pastas, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2021 due to the impact of the pandemic.
However, by 2024, it began seeking more franchisees as part of its expansion plan, leading to the celebration of its 40th anniversary in 2025.
As part of this celebration, they offered their buffet for just $4.99 on Mondays and Tuesdays from January 6 through February 11.
Mr. Gatti's Pizza, another pizza buffet, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2019, owing creditors between $10 and $50 million. However, the company has since turned its fortunes around, expanding with new locations and boasting 234 restaurants by the end of 2024, along with a 0.4% increase in sales.
They've also partnered with Walmart to open 12 new locations within their stores across Oklahoma and
Texas
, set to be operational by the end of 2025.
On the other hand, Golden Corral continues to offer traditional-style buffet options while exploring new concepts. Despite facing challenges during the pandemic, the chain adapted to limit exposure by having servers portion food to customers.
This adaptability led to developing a new unified commerce platform and a rebranded version of the concept, now known as Golden Corral Favorites. This concept aligns more with the fast-casual dining model, featuring drive-thrus for customer convenience and dishes directly from the restaurant's buffet lineup.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Tatler Asia
27-05-2025
- Tatler Asia
These farmers grow your food, but they can't afford to eat—this social enterprise is changing that
Root of the dream Marinduque, an island province once marred by poverty and environmental degradation, became the fertile ground for Agrea's pioneering model: the One-Island Economy. This holistic approach integrates social, environmental and economic sustainability, aiming for zero hunger, zero waste and zero insufficiency. 'We started with the One-Island Economy Model in Marinduque, which showed that self-sustaining agricultural ecosystems could work,' Atilano explains. This model integrated local farming, environmental preservation, community training and direct market access, demonstrating that holistic approaches can yield tangible results. Agrea also introduced the System of Rice Intensification (SRI), a method that increased yields while reducing water usage and input costs. It helped farmers increase their yields by fourfold and decreased their farm inputs cost to 70 per cent. Beyond rice, farmers diversified into high-value crops like turmeric and serpentina, tapping into both local and international markets. Read more: Moving beyond organic farming: Hong Kong farms embrace the regenerative farming revolution 'Agrea has evolved from a small initiative into a movement that empowers farmers, educates young people and influences policy-making,' Atilano notes. The organisation's reach now spans farmer capacity-building programs, youth engagement campaigns and sustainability-driven agribusiness ventures across the Philippines. Since its founding, Agrea has impacted more than 30,000 individuals across farming, fishing and youth communities. During the COVID-19 lockdowns, Agrea launched the #MoveFoodInitiative, successfully transporting nearly 138,000 kilogrammes of fruits and vegetables from almost 4,000 farmers, reaching nearly 30,000 families. This initiative helped prevent food waste and provided essential support to farmers and consumers during a critical time. At the centre of Agrea's mission is the belief that farmers don't need saving. They need systems that work to address the root causes of poverty and instability in the agricultural sector. Planting new seeds Above A big part of Agrea is its women farmers (Photo: Agrea) To address the persistent challenges in agriculture, Agrea had to go deeper than surface-level aid, focusing on three core pillars: capacity building, market linkages, and policy and advocacy. First, in the capacity-building area, Agrea trains farmers in 'climate-smart and sustainable farming methods,' equipping them to increase productivity while preserving their environment. Then there's the market linkages. 'We connect farmers directly to buyers, ensuring fair prices and reducing dependence on exploitative middlemen,' she notes. This is one of Agrea's most transformative moves: cutting out intermediaries who often take the lion's share of profits and restoring control and income to the producers themselves. The third pillar—policy and advocacy—is where Atilano's strategic thinking truly shines. 'We work with government agencies and institutions to create lasting policy changes that benefit smallholder farmers.' This empowerment extended to women, who, despite legal and societal barriers, found new roles as agricultural entrepreneurs. "If you invest in women in farming communities, it's an investment in the entire community," Atilano asserts. These interventions have produced success stories. 'One of my favourite success stories is about a woman farmer in Marinduque who joined our programme with little knowledge of modern farming,' Atilano recalls. 'Today, she not only provides for her family but also mentors other farmers in her community.' Read more: This is how innovative entrepreneurs throughout Asia are working to end global hunger 'Technology and innovation are key to Agrea's work,' she adds. The group uses everything from farm digitisation to precision agriculture and digital marketplaces. 'We use data-driven approaches to help farmers make informed decisions… and connect them to digital marketplaces, ensuring fair trade and transparency.' The results are higher yields, lower costs and most surprisingly, a newfound appeal to the youth. 'We're also seeing younger people become more interested in agriculture because of the tech-driven opportunities,' she adds. In recognition of her impactful work, Atilano has received numerous accolades, including the Inspiring Filipina Entrepreneur award in 2017, COVID-19 Action Champion by UN Women in 2020, and being named a 2024 Young Global Leader Mastercard Fellow by the World Economic Forum. As one of Tatler Asia's Most Influential, she also received the Impact Award for Humanity in 2024. A harvest of hope 'Agrea operates as a social enterprise,' Atilano explains. 'We believe that purpose and profit can go hand in hand. When farmers thrive, the economy grows.' Rather than relying on handouts, Agrea generates revenue through agribusiness solutions, farmer training and sustainable supply chains. This allows the organisation to reinvest in its mission without compromising its core values. 'Unlike traditional aid, Agrea doesn't give handouts. We create long-term solutions that empower farmers to become self-sufficient,' Atilano says. 'Many charity models focus on short-term relief, but we invest in education, policy change and economic empowerment so that farmers don't have to rely on aid in the future.' 'One of the biggest challenges is changing mindsets—both within farming communities and in society at large. Many people still see farming as a low-income, low-respect profession' - Cherrie Atilano - The organisation works at every level of the ecosystem—empowering farmers with tangible results, equipping youth with a new narrative, and influencing public discourse. 'By highlighting success stories, we help shift perceptions and inspire a new generation of agripreneurs,' shares Atilano. Systemic change is not for the faint of heart. It requires relentless optimism, deep patience and the ability to mobilise across silos. 'Engage policymakers, businesses and the general public,' she says. 'Systemic change requires a collective effort, and building partnerships has been key to amplifying our impact.' For Atilano, despite the long odds and daunting tasks ahead, every gain matters. 'The progress we've seen keeps us going,' she says. 'Every farmer who thrives, every young person who chooses agriculture, and every community that becomes more food-secure is a step toward a more resilient and empowered future.' In the fields of the Philippines, Agrea is showing what's possible when farmers are treated not as beneficiaries but as nation-builders. Yet the question remains: in a country that eats because its farmers endure, how much longer can we afford to overlook the very hands that feed us?
Tatler Asia
21-05-2025
- Tatler Asia
Veronique Manchharam of Bohème SG on building an ethical jewellery label
Singapore-based designer Veronique Manchharam brings ethical jewellery to life with her global brand, Bohème SG Jewellery was never really part of Veronique Manchharam's original plan. Based in Singapore and with no formal training, the French founder of Bohéme SG spent years teaching language classes to professionals in the finance sector. But a creative impulse led her to experiment with making statement brass jewellery. Inspired by dangling earrings worn at Indian weddings, she sought to make pieces that reflected her own personal style. Friends began asking for their own pieces, and soon, she found herself selling in local shops. In 2019, she left her teaching job to focus on jewellery full-time. The onset of COVID-19 presented challenges for the burgeoning designer, but it unexpectedly helped her grow. 'The ladies in Singapore were stuck at home, doing video calls,' she recalls. 'They still wanted to wear something beautiful so they would come, each buying 10 earrings at a time.' Now, just a few years later, her designs are stocked in over 40 retail spaces across the world, including Eastern Europe, Dubai, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Indonesia, and of course, Singapore. 'Maybe the Philippines, too,' she adds. More from Tatler: Revisiting traditional gold recycling practices in Asia—experts highlight the urgent need for sustainable solutions and what we must learn from our ancestors
Irish Daily Star
28-04-2025
- Irish Daily Star
Popular breakfast restaurant chain menu adds deal amid massive country-wide closures
One of America's most famous breakfast restaurant chains has added a cheap new menu deal despite seeing massive closures nationwide. For thousands of Americans, Denny's has been a favorite diner for decades, serving mouth-watering breakfast and diner meals . However, the beloved chain hasn't been reeling in customers like it used to. Last October, Denny's revealed its plans to permanently close around 150 locations throughout the country. The breakfast chain has already closed over 80 restaurants in 2024, and the number of open stores continues to decrease as it plans more closures this year. The upcoming closures represent around 10% of all Denny's brand restaurants, leaving the company with only 1,375 locations once all closures have been finalized. Read More Related Articles Nationwide burger chain announces plans to close up to 200 stores in effort to pay down debt Read More Related Articles McDonald's is making a comeback move with this chicken classic but there's a twist The current bird flu outbreak, which has seen a massive decline in egg production country-wide over the last few months due to contamination risks, has also affected the chain. Inventory has fallen around 2% overall, making it harder for the food industry to keep up with consumer demand and causing the price of eggs to reach an all-time high. The rise in egg prices has now forced local diners and renowned breakfast chains to increase prices on menu items containing eggs. Denny's became one of the restaurants to do so, announcing in February that it was temporarily adding surcharges to menu items containing eggs at some restaurants based on the market and location. However, the good news is that Denny's has continued to maintain its commitment to providing value to its customers, promising it will continue to offer its limited-time $2 $4 $6 $8 menu while navigating the quickly changing food industry and economy. Denny's stores are facing challenges. (Image: Portland Press Herald via Getty Images) In addition, and despite their many recent challenges, Denny's has launched yet another breakfast deal that will surely attract more breakfast fans. This one also includes eggs and might even cost less than purchasing a carton. Denny's is offering customers a buy-one-get-one deal to enjoy breakfast any time of the day for less than ever. From May 9, customers who dine in at all participating Denny's locations nationwide and order an Original Grand Slam or an All-American Grand Slam will get the second one of either option for just $1, according to the company's website. The Original Grand Slam includes two fluffy buttermilk pancakes, two eggs made your way, two Applewood-smoked bacon strips, and two all-pork sausage links. Meanwhile, the All-American Grand Slam includes scrambled eggs with cheddar cheese, two Applewood-smoked bacon strips, two all-pork sausage links, crispy hash browns, and toast. Deciding between the two delicious breakfast meals is a no-brainer, as the second will only cost you $1.
