"The company announced plans to close roughly 800 U.S. locations by the end of the year — more than half of those being 450 limited‑menu Speedway outlets that were introduced earlier this year — and to shutter about 350 international sites as well. Executives frame the proposed closures as relatively small in sales impact, representing only about 2% of 2019 revenue. Like many fast‑food chains, it experienced sales declines during the COVID‑19 pandemic but has seen a recent rebound driven in part by drive‑thru business. The consolidation could make grabbing a large iced coffee in cold weather slightly less convenient, a concern playfully noted alongside celebrity customers such as Ben Affleck." - Jaya Saxena