v3.26.1
Revenue Recognition
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2026
Revenue from Contract with Customer [Abstract]  
Revenue Recognition
NOTE 3 — Revenue Recognition
Deferred Revenue
Components of our deferred revenue liability are as follows:
(in thousands)June 30, 2026December 31, 2025
Gift card and loyalty programs
$50,155 $62,014 
Initial unearned franchise fees and other1
3,529 2,562 
Total deferred revenue$53,684 $64,576 
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1    Initial unearned franchise fees are recorded as a contract liability, and revenue is recognized ratably over the term of the franchise agreement, which is generally ten years.

Deferred revenue activity was as follows:
Six Months Ended June 30,
(in thousands)2026
2025 3
Beginning balance$64,576 $50,883 
Revenue deferred 1
221,197 265,623 
Revenue recognized 2
(232,412)(265,111)
Other deferred revenue, net 323 (122)
Ending balance53,684 51,273 
Less: current portion(47,160)(43,533)
Deferred revenue, net of current portion$6,524 $7,740 
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1    Revenue deferred includes gift card activations, loyalty app cash loads and loyalty points/rewards earned.
2    Revenue recognized includes redemptions of gift cards, loyalty app cash loads and rewards, as well as breakage.
3    Beginning in 2026, complimentary birthday drinks and other promotional awards, which are not issued in connection with a purchase, have been excluded from the population of deferred revenue activity. For the six months ended June 30, 2025, complimentary birthday drinks and other promotional awards activity of revenue deferred and revenue recognized was approximately $49.0 million and $48.5 million, respectively. This change did not have a material effect on the ending deferred revenue balance.
Revenue recognized during the three and six months ended June 30, 2026 and 2025, respectively, that was included in the deferred revenue liability balances at the beginning of the period, are shown below.
Three Months Ended June 30,Six Months Ended June 30,
(in thousands)2026202520262025
Gift card redemptions 1
$3,078 $1,315 $8,640 $6,407 
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1    Amounts exclude cash loads and transactions related to our loyalty rewards program.