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| The drive-thru has become more integral to how Americans eat than ever before, with drive-thru traffic rising by 30% from 2019 to 2022. As a result, fast-food chains, like Taco Bell, are doubling down on their drive-thru operations. This shift is partly due to pandemic driven upgrades, cultural shifts and an increased desire for safety and minimal interaction with strangers. |
| Pizza Hut Hong Kong has partnered with a century-old local restaurant to offer a unique pizza featuring snake meat, black mushrooms and Chinese dried ham, all ingredients used in traditional snake stew. The pizza, served with abalone sauce instead of tomato sauce, is available until November 22. Snake stew has been enjoyed in Hong Kong and southern China for its perceived medicinal benefits, especially in colder months. |
| National Fried Chicken Sandwich Day, celebrated on November 9, has KFC and other brands offering special deals for customers. These include free delivery for orders placed on the KFC app and KFC.com, a free KFC Chicken Sandwich with orders of $15 or more through DoorDash and Uber Eats and a 50% discount on KFC Chicken Sandwiches for Grubhub orders totaling $15 or more. |
| To celebrate National Fried Chicken Sandwich Day on November 9, KFC U.S. is offering deals for chicken enthusiasts. With a minimum $15 order on DoorDash or Uber Eats, customers can receive a free chicken sandwich. Grubhub users can enjoy a half-priced chicken sandwich when ordering $15 or more. Additionally, those who use the KFC app or website on the 9th can benefit from added discounts and free delivery on their entire order. |
| Taco Bell U.S. is introducing three new menu items for the holiday season. The first is Grilled Cheese Nacho Fries, featuring a 3-cheese blend, fries, nacho cheese, choice of meat and creamy chipotle sauce, available from November 16. On the same date, the Deluxe Craving Box, including Rolled Chicken Tacos, Beefy 5-Layer Burrito, Cinnamon Twists and a medium drink, will be introduced. In early December, the Double Berry Freeze with swirls of wild strawberry and blue raspberry will debut. |
| The Habit Burger is opening its second location in Moreno Valley, California, at 24875 Iris Avenue on November 10. To celebrate, it is hosting exclusive VIP events for CharClub and mobile app members. On November 8, the first 200 CharClub members at 11:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. will receive a free Charburger, fries and a drink. On November 9, the first 200 CharClub members at the same times will get a free chargrilled meal. |
| Yum! Brands employees know that collaboration is a key to innovation |
At Yum!, we know that our people are our biggest asset and that the power of collaboration across KFC, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell and The Habit Burger Grill creates a competitive advantage.
So, when 20-plus employees attended the three-day RED (Rapid Engineering Design) Innovation Experience in Plano, Texas, partnerships immediately brewed creative solutions. Attendees not only learned how to define problems, ideate on solutions and build prototypes, but also experienced Yum! Brands’ people-first culture of collaboration.
Check out what transpired. |
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| Starbucks is implementing changes to its employee benefits, including a 3% pay raise in January, with employees having 2-5 years of service receiving at least 4%, and those with 5 or more years getting at least 5%. While non-union workers are eligible for most of these benefits, unionized workers are excluded from some, leading to accusations that the changes are aimed at discouraging union organization. Starbucks Workers United plans to file unfair labor practice charges with the National Labor Relations Board in response to these changes, claiming they are designed to hinder union efforts. |
| Investment firms Brentwood Associates and Sixth Street have made a significant growth investment in Far West Services, a Wingstop franchisee that operates over 100 Wingstop restaurants across multiple states. Far West Services will continue to be led by CEO and President Jorge Ortiz, with founder and Brand Ambassador Danny Sonenshine remaining as chairman. This investment is expected to support the franchise group’s growth and expansion plans. |
| Del Taco is introducing a new menu featuring Shredded Beef Birria, including Shredded Beef Birria Tacos with consomé dip, a Shredded Beef Birria Quesadilla with consomé dip and a Shredded Beef Birria Ramen. These offerings feature savory braised beef seasoned with traditional spices and chile peppers. Additionally, Del Taco is introducing a Cookie Butter Shake made with Biscoff Cookie Butter and Biscoff Cookie Crumbles. |
| Popeyes is bringing back its Cajun-Style Turkey for Thanksgiving. Each turkey is hand-rubbed and infused with Popeyes' signature Louisiana-style seasonings. For the second year in a row, Popeyes is offering a delivery option for the Cajun-Style Turkey. Customers can order it online for $99.00, including delivery. |
| Cava Group reported robust financial results for the third quarter of 2023. Same-store sales grew by 14.1%, driven by a 7.6% increase in traffic, while revenues rose by nearly 50% to $173.8 million. The chain also opened 11 new units during the quarter, bringing its total to 290 locations. Cava increased its full-year guidance, now expecting comparable sales growth of 15%- 16% and 70-73 net new openings. However, the company warned that these strong results might not be sustainable as it faces challenges ahead. |
| Jersey Mike’s aims to open 350 locations in 2024, followed by a similar figure in 2025. In 2026, the company plans to accelerate growth, targeting 400 to 450 openings annually before settling into a cadence of 13-15 percent annual unit growth. The company is targeting 5,000 domestic locations within five years, with a long-term goal of reaching 10,000 stores. Jersey Mike's has been experiencing strong sales growth, with average unit volumes reaching $1.35 million in 2023. |
| Research from The Food Industry Association indicates that foodservice at grocery stores is increasingly replacing quick-service or fast-casual restaurant meals. While some grocers are adding in-store restaurants, food halls and made-to-order stations, other grocers are focused on bringing their deli and pre-made meals up to par with restaurant fare. The Save Mart Companies, a grocery chain with around 200 supermarkets in California and Northern Nevada, has been focusing on revamping its sandwich program, behind-the-glass salads and grab-and-go salads. |
| Denn-Ohio LLC, a Denny’s franchisee operating in Kentucky, Michigan and Ohio, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The company, which previously operated 27 Denny’s locations, plans to close two more units in Toledo, Ohio and Kalamazoo, Michigan. After these closures, Denn-Ohio expects to have eight remaining diners in Kentucky, Michigan and Ohio. Economic challenges, including increased labor, food and delivery expenses, have negatively impacted the company’s operations, compounded by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. |
| Wingstop is planning to shift away from using Olo’s online ordering technology in favor of its own in-house platform, known as My Wingstop. The proprietary platform will enhance Wingstop’s digital business capabilities and enable greater personalization for customers. The company has invested $50 million in developing the system and is currently testing it at some locations, with plans to roll it out chainwide in the second quarter of 2024. |
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