behindthecounter.co · Est. 2026

Fast casual
insight and data
for the operator.

Every week I break down one fast casual chain through an operator lens. Unit economics, pricing strategy, labor models, growth bets. The stuff that actually matters.

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CMG ▼ 0.8% CAVA ▲ 2.1% BROS ▲ 4.2% WING ▲ 1.4% SG ▼ 3.1% SHAK ▲ 0.9% CMG ▼ 0.8% CAVA ▲ 2.1% BROS ▲ 4.2% WING ▲ 1.4% SG ▼ 3.1% SHAK ▲ 0.9%
What's Inside

Every edition.
Every week.

One chain. One deep dive. Everything an operator needs to know about the business behind the food.

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By the Numbers
The 4-5 data points that tell the real story — AUVs, contribution margins, labor costs, same-store sales. No fluff, just the numbers that matter.
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What's Happening
Context for the week's story. What did this chain do, announce, or change? Written for operators who don't have time to follow every earnings call.
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What it Means for Operators
The section that makes this different. Three actionable takeaways — not just what happened, but what you should do or watch because of it.
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The Call PRO
My unfiltered take on the company. Where the business is headed, what the risk is, and the one metric to watch next quarter.
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Exclusive Drops PRO
Chain Autopsies, Menu Teardowns, Before the Earnings Call previews. One per month. Content you won't find anywhere else.
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Quick Bites
Three fast casual news items in under 60 seconds. Chipotle pricing, Cava loyalty, Sweetgreen same-store sales — the headlines that matter this week.
Pricing

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    Weekly deep dive — one chain, fully covered every edition
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    By the Numbers — the data that tells the real story
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    What it Means for Operators — three actionable takeaways
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    Quick Bites — fast casual news in under 60 seconds
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    Everything in Free
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    The Call — my full unfiltered analysis on every company I cover
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    Full archive access — every edition ever published, searchable by brand and category
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    Exclusive drops — Chain Autopsies, Menu Teardowns, Earnings previews
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    Pricing Intelligence — monthly menu price tracker across 30+ chains with % changes
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    Category comparisons — see how chains are pricing against each other in real time
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The Archive

Every edition.
All in one place.

Pro subscribers get instant access to every deep dive ever published — organized by brand, category, and date.

☕ Coffee · Edition #1
Dutch Bros
March 2026 · Free
$1.64B revenue · 28.9% margin · 1,136 shops
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🥗 Bowl Economy · Edition #2
Chipotle
Coming soon · Pro
Price increase · Steak at $12.45 · Q1 2026
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🥗 Bowl Economy · Edition #3
Cava
Coming soon · Pro
8M loyalty members · Stable pricing · 2026
Pro subscribers unlock the full archive. Every edition ever published — searchable by brand, category, and date. The archive gets more valuable every week you're a member.
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Pricing Intelligence

Menu pricing.
Every chain. Monthly.

I track menu prices across 30+ fast casual chains every month — with percentage changes and category comparisons. Updated monthly. Pro only.

Last updated · March 2026
Chain Signature Item Current Price vs. Last Month vs. Last Year Notes
Chipotle Chicken Bowl $9.25 ▲ +1.2% ▲ +4.8% Price increase confirmed Q1
Cava Chicken Bowl $13.45 — Flat ▲ +2.1% Holding steady
Sweetgreen Harvest Bowl $17.25 ▼ -0.9% — Flat Wrap launch from $10.95
Wingstop 10pc Classic $14.99 ▲ +2.4% ▲ +6.2% Bone-in price pressure
Shake Shack ShackBurger $9.89 — Flat ▲ +3.1% Urban vs suburban delta
Raising Cane's Box Combo $11.49 ▲ +1.8% ▲ +5.4% Expansion pricing pressure
Pro subscribers see the full table. 30+ chains tracked monthly with percentage changes, category comparisons, and regional pricing notes. The data that replaces a $5,000 consultant.
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