# Starbucks/Chipotle merge rumors and True Food’s bankruptcy

> Starbucks reportedly eyes Chipotle acquisition amid True Food Kitchen bankruptcy.
- Title: Starbucks/Chipotle merge rumors and True Food’s bankruptcy
- Summary: Starbucks reportedly eyes Chipotle acquisition amid True Food Kitchen bankruptcy. Starbucks is reportedly exploring a Chipotle acquisition while True Food…
- Keywords: starbucks, chipotle, true food kitchen, bankruptcy, uber, ezcater, mcdonalds, class action lawsuit, food, business, merge, rumors
- Source: Nation's Restaurant News — https://nrn.com/regional-chains/starbucks-chipotle-merge-rumors-true-food-s-bankruptcy-and-uber-s-big-acquisition
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: starbucks, chipotle, true food kitchen, bankruptcy, uber, ezcater, mcdonalds, class action lawsuit, food, business
## Starbucks explores Chipotle acquisition
Starbucks reportedly is eyeing a Chipotle acquisition while Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol previously served as Chipotle's chief executive.

> Starbucks is reportedly eyeing a Chipotle acquisition
## True Food Kitchen files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy
True Food Kitchen filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy after a year of declining sales and unit count contraction.

> True Food Kitchen files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy
## Uber acquires ezCater for $2.3 billion
Uber announced a $2.3 billion acquisition of ezCater, bringing 140,000 restaurants and $400 average catering orders into its platform.

> Uber to acquire ezCater for $2.3B
## McDonald’s faces class-action lawsuit
McDonald’s is sued in Illinois for allegedly using pricing technology to force franchisees into higher prices against antitrust laws.

> class-action lawsuit filed in Illinois against McDonald’s
## True Food Kitchen sales decline
True Food Kitchen's sales fell by nearly a percentage point in 2025, while its unit count contracted by 2% according to Technomic Top 500 data.

> True Food Kitchen’s sales fell by nearly a percentage point in 2025
## Starbucks merger concerns
Starbucks executives question whether a potential merger with Chipotle would distract from their current growth efforts.

> Sam and Alicia aren’t so sure the deal would make sense
## True Food Kitchen pandemic challenges
True Food Kitchen's pandemic strategies backfired, contributing to its financial struggles and bankruptcy filing.

> why some of its choices to navigate the Covid-19 pandemic came back to hurt the company
## Uber Eats expansion
Uber's acquisition of ezCater aims to strengthen its catering channel for restaurant partners through the Uber Eats marketplace.

> the latest salvo in the third-party delivery wars
## McDonald’s pricing lawsuit
The lawsuit claims McDonald’s pricing technology violates antitrust laws by forcing franchisees into higher prices.

> McDonald’s has leveraged pricing technology to force franchisees into higher prices
## True Food Kitchen bankruptcy impact
True Food Kitchen's bankruptcy filing highlights challenges for health-focused restaurant concepts amid economic downturns.

> whether this emblematic of a broader issue with health-minded restaurant concepts
## Key takeaway

Starbucks is reportedly exploring a Chipotle acquisition while True Food Kitchen files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.