Red Robin Gourmet Burgers

What Red Robin Gourmet Burgers does

Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc. (NASDAQ: RRGB) is a publicly traded U.S. casual dining restaurant chain founded in 1969 and headquartered in Greenwood Village, Colorado, operating approximately 469-500 company-owned and franchised restaurants across more than 40 U.S. states. The chain centers on gourmet burgers and an extensive 'Bottomless' sides and beverages program (over 30 items with unlimited refills on dine-in), complemented by chicken sandwiches, Donatos co-branded pizza, wings, salads, appetizers, milkshakes, kids meals, and a bar program. Customer segments are families with children and value-conscious casual diners, served primarily through dine-in with secondary takeout, curbside pickup, delivery (direct and third-party), and catering channels. The company runs a direct-to-consumer model with a mobile app, online ordering, and the Red Robin Royalty loyalty program; distribution is hybrid company-owned plus franchised, with active refranchising underway. Revenue derives from company-owned restaurant sales, franchise royalties and fees (target ~44% franchise mix), gift card sales (B2C and B2B), catering, and an at-the-market equity offering program.

The underlying technology footprint is operationally focused: an in-restaurant operations platform supplemented by the Guestologie Action Intelligence third-party platform, which performs real-time guest-data analytics to identify high-value guests and surface contextual staff recommendations. The Red Robin Royalty program provides points-based CRM, while the mobile app and e-commerce storefronts (redrobin.com, redrobin.cashstar.com for gift cards) support digital ordering and B2B bulk gift card sales with 10% discounts at $500+. Menus and pricing are configured per location, with the January 2026 Big YUMMM Deals value menu (tiers $9.99, $14.99, $16.99) structured as a deliberate counter to QSR and fast-casual price competition.

The business model is straightforward restaurant-economics: transaction-fee revenue per cover across dine-in/off-premise channels, supplemented by franchise royalties and gift card breakage. Management is executing the 'First Choice Plan' turnaround — refranchising company stores, sale-leasebacks, and an ATM equity raise — to reduce a $515.76M long-term debt load against a $87.59M market capitalization and a 0.47 current ratio. FY2025 total revenue was $1,210.2M with a $23.3M net loss; full-year 2025 Adjusted EBITDA grew 53% to $69.7M with FY2026 guidance of $70-73M and comparable-restaurant revenue guided at +0.5% to +1.5%. Recent refranchising proceeds of ~$96M across Evergreen Dining, Op Burgers, and Kuber transactions (May–June 2026) plus a $40M ATM (November 2025) and $84M of sale-leasebacks are the primary deleveraging actions.

Name

Red Robin Gourmet Burgers

Legal name

Red Robin International, Inc.

Website

https://redrobin.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

1969

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

Red Robin Gourmet Burgers is a U.S. casual dining restaurant chain (NASDAQ: RRGB) operating approximately 500 company-owned and franchised locations, serving families and value-conscious diners with gourmet burgers, bottomless sides, catering, and a loyalty program.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Casual Dining Restaurants

NAICS

Restaurants and Other Eating Places (72251), Full-Service Restaurants (722511), Caterers (722320)

SIC

Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810), Retail-Eating Places (5812)

akta.pro primary industry

Burger Fast Casual (THAFABAA)

Keywords

• Casual dining restaurants
• Gourmet burger chain
• Family restaurant meals
• Restaurant catering services
• Bottomless sides beverages

Headquarters

HQ city

Greenwood Village

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Restaurant Sales (Company-Owned): Revenue from company-owned restaurant locations operating across the U.S., generating sales through dine-in, takeout, curbside, and delivery orders. Total revenues of $378.3 million in Q1 2026 and $1,210.2 million in full year 2025. The company is actively refranchising locations to shift toward a franchise-heavy model.
2. Franchise Royalties and Fees: Revenue from franchised locations including royalty payments and franchise fees. The company is expanding its franchise network through refranchising agreements, with plans to increase franchised units to 206 out of 469 total units (approximately 44% franchise penetration).
3. Gift Card Sales: Sale of Red Robin gift cards for consumer and business purchases. The company offers bulk discounts for business purchases of $500 or more (10% off) and supports gift card fundraisers for community organizations.
4. Catering Services: Catering revenue from corporate events, parties, graduations, and other gatherings. The company offers Gourmet Burger Bar, boxed meals, and catering bundles with promotional discounts during holidays.
5. At-the-Market Equity Offering: The company established an at-the-market equity offering program to raise up to $40 million through Evercore Group L.L.C., with proceeds used for working capital, debt repayment, and general corporate purposes.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Red Robin Gourmet Burgers operates a casual dining restaurant chain serving a diverse menu of gourmet burgers, crispy chicken sandwiches, Donatos co-branded pizza, appetizers, wings, entrées, salads, and kids meals, paired with an industry-signature Bottomless sides and beverages program offering unlimited refills on over 30 items. The company complements dine-in service with takeout, curbside pickup, delivery, catering, gift cards, and the Red Robin Royalty loyalty program across approximately 469–500 company-owned and franchised U.S. locations.

Product overview

Red Robin Gourmet Burgers operates as a casual dining restaurant chain offering a diverse menu centered on gourmet burgers, with flagship Signature Burgers complemented by Crispy Chicken Sandwiches, Donatos Pizza (via brand partnership), appetizers, wings, entrées, salads, and kids meals. The company differentiates through its Bottomless Sides and Beverages program offering unlimited refills on over 30 items. Value positioning is provided through the Big YUMMM Deals value menu launched in January 2026. Additional revenue streams include Catering services (Gourmet Burger Bar, Boxed Meals, Bundles), Gift Cards (physical/digital with bulk discount options), and the Red Robin Royalty Rewards loyalty program offering points-based rewards and exclusive member perks. Alcoholic beverages are served through The Bar. The company's 'First Choice Plan' turnaround strategy includes refranchising company-owned locations to reduce debt while maintaining brand standards.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Signature Burgers Red Robin's flagship gourmet burger menu featuring signature recipes with customizable toppings and patty options, positioned as the chain's core product since 1969.
• Crispy Chicken Sandwiches

Quantifiable outcome

• 53% increase in Adjusted EBITDA to $69.7 million in 2025 vs 2024
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Op Burgers, LLCcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 15 June 2026Multi-unit franchise operator acquiring 69 company-owned restaurants across eight states (Kentucky, Indiana, Maryland, Ohio, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Virginia) for $62.5 million. Midwest, Southeast, and Mid-Atlantic coverage.
• Kuber Oregon, LLC and Kuber Washington, LLCcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 15 June 2026Multi-unit franchise operators acquiring 17 company-owned units in Oregon and Washington for $10 million. Combined with Op Burgers deal, represents approximately 30% of Red Robin's corporate store base.
• Evergreen Dining LLCcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 28 May 2026Multi-unit franchise operator acquiring 30 restaurant locations in Washington and Western Idaho for $23.5 million. Principals bring nearly three decades of multi-unit restaurant operating experience. Locations will continue operating under the Red Robin brand as franchised units.
• Teremana Reposado Tequila and Svedka Citron VodkaminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 13 May 2026Branded spirits partnerships for summer beverage menu launch. New margaritas and cocktails featuring Teremana Reposado Tequila and Svedka Citron Vodka, priced around $6, targeting customer engagement during warmer months.
• King's HawaiianminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 April 2026Brand partnership for Towering Double Cheeseburger Sliders featuring King's Hawaiian rolls. Strategic collaboration for limited-time menu item with promotional offer on launch day (April 20, 2026) at $20 for the Sky-High Towering Trio Meal Deal.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Cheesecake Factory: The Cheesecake Factory operates full-service casual dining restaurants with extensive menus, bar service, and dine-in / takeout / delivery models like Red Robin. Both compete for shopping-mall-adjacent family casual dining occasions with similar average check sizes.
• Cracker Barrel: Cracker Barrel is a family-oriented casual dining chain with similar value positioning, family meals, and gift card/fundraising programs. Both chains target family travelers and suburban family diners and operate in similar geographies across the U.S.
• Texas Roadhouse: Texas Roadhouse is a high-performing casual dining chain serving families and value-oriented consumers in similar trade areas to Red Robin. Comparable in casual dining category, family-friendly value positioning, and same-store sales sensitivity to consumer spending.
• TGI Fridays: TGI Fridays is a bar-and-grill casual dining chain directly comparable to Red Robin on menu breadth, bar program, and family casual dining occasions. Both have pursued similar value and LTO-driven turnarounds amid casual dining headwinds.
• Brinker International (Chili's): Chili's Grill & Bar is a comparable casual dining chain competing on burgers, ribs, and value-focused LTOs in similar trade areas. Both companies have executed turnaround strategies around pricing, marketing, and value re-positioning in a post-pandemic casual dining environment.
• Bloomin' Brands (Outback, Carrabba's): Bloomin' Brands operates multi-concept casual dining chains (Outback, Carrabba's, Bonefish Grill, Fleming's) serving similar value-conscious family diners in similar U.S. markets. Red Robin's new CFO Mark Graff joined directly from this company, signaling direct operational overlap.
• Five Guys: Five Guys is a burger-focused fast-casual chain directly competing with Red Robin on gourmet burgers at higher price points. Both chains emphasize customized burgers and have brand recognition around hamburger quality, though Five Guys operates in a fast-casual counter-service model.
• Dine Brands (Applebee's): Dine Brands operates Applebee's, the closest direct competitor to Red Robin in casual dining family/bar-and-grill segments with similar value-menu positioning and a franchise-heavy model. Comparable on mid-scale casual dining traffic dynamics, value-tier pricing, and franchise growth orientation.

Broad incumbents

• Darden Restaurants: Darden is the largest U.S. casual dining operator (Olive Garden, LongHorn, Yard House, Cheddar's) serving overlapping customer occasions. While at much greater scale, Darden sets the pricing, traffic, and labor benchmarks against which mid-sized players like Red Robin are evaluated.

Emerging players

• Shake Shack: Shake Shack is a premium burger-focused fast-casual chain gaining share at higher price points. While not a direct value-menu competitor, Shake Shack's growth illustrates consumer willingness to pay for differentiated gourmet burgers, validating Red Robin's burger-centric positioning.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/RedRobinBurgers
• YouTubeyoutube.com/RedRobinBurgers
• Facebookfacebook.com/RedRobin
• Instagraminstagram.com/redrobinburgers
• TikToktiktok.com/@redrobinburgers
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/red-robin

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors2 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Red Robin Gourmet Burgers