Growth and Growing Pains

When supply chain disruptions during the global pandemic made it difficult to get enough chicken wings, FAT Brands Inc.’s restaurants began highlighting plant-based meat alternatives like “Chick’n Vings” on their menus. As the tightened labor market made hiring more difficult, some of the company’s chains offered employees more overtime to fill the gaps. And as costs skyrocketed, the owner of these 17 restaurant chains, including Fatburger, Johnny Rockets and Fazoli’s, raised prices for menu items that were most impacted.