The largest barbecue chain in the country has announced the closure of a further 30 restaurants.
Dickey’s Barbecue Pit is slated to make yet another brutal round of closures after shutting almost one hundred locations in the last year.
The franchise has blamed a significant drop in sales for its need to shrink its footprint.
Dickey’s said it is working to ‘clean up’ and improve its restaurant system to give it a better shot at survival in a tough environment for fast-casual chains.
Changes will include store revamps and an updated menu accompanied by an advertising push.
‘We listened to our operators and we made the strategic decision to strengthen our core before growing again,’ senior vice president of franchise relations Jeff Gruber said in a statement in the fall.
Dickey’s had a strong run of growth between 2008 and 2017 when it peaked with around 570 locations.
Around 28 percent of the Dickey’s locations have closed in the last 18 months
In the following years the company became bogged down in a series of disputes with franchisees.
It also suffered a drop in sales that led to restaurant closures, including 113 in 2018 and another 140 by 2024.
Around 28 percent of the Dickey’s locations have closed in the last 18 months, Restaurant Business reported.
Dickey’s franchises have seen a 5.2 percent decreased in sales in the last year alone, data from market research firm Technomic revealed.
One franchisee, who was forced to close four locations due to declining sales, blamed ‘extreme and unreasonable demands’ from Dickey’s, Restaurant Business reported.
Dickey’s is the latest dining chain to face mass closures during a brutal year for legacy restaurant chains.
Earlier this year, Red Lobster closed more than 100 locations and entered into Chapter 11 bankruptcy, before being bought out.
Denny’s recently announced the closure of 150 of its locations after five quarters of sales declines.
The once popular fast-casual also closed an additional 85 locations last year
Dickey’s franchises have seen a 5.2 percent decreased in sales in the last year alone
Applebee’s also closed 35 locations this year, blaming consumer caution and economic conditions.
Chain’s have struggled to win back customers after years of inflation and price hikes.
The cost of eating out has surged 30 percent between October 2019 and October 2024, according to government data.
The price of grocery store bought food has risen 27 percent in the same period.
