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| National Fried Chicken Sandwich Day is celebrated with various promotions, reflecting the significance gained by this food holiday since the 2019 Popeyes-Chick-fil-A Twitter spat. Numerous brands have introduced their versions of fried chicken sandwiches, intensifying the competition. “How do you differentiate? I think you need a base, or core, chicken sandwich that people can point to. We did that with our Ultimate BBQ sandwich and it did really well for us,” KFC CMO Nick Chavez said in an interview. Vijay Sukumar, KFC’s chief food innovation officer, agreed that there is a new dynamic to the chicken sandwich competition, and said it is being driven by younger consumers who prefer more flavors and who want more variety. |
| KFC U.K. and Ireland introduced its Christmas 2023 menu with the Stuffing Stacker Burger, featuring two Original Recipe chicken fillets, sage and onion stuffing, spicy cranberry sauce, cheese and burger dressing in a brioche bun. Priced from £7.99, the burger is part of KFC’s festive offerings, available from December 13 to January 1. Another variant, the Stuffing Tower Burger, includes similar ingredients but with one chicken fillet and is priced from £6.49. |
| Pizza Hut U.S. collaborated with Chain, an LA-based pop-up phenomenon, to launch the Collectible Seasoning Duet Box Set. The “Make it Pepperoni” Seasoning captures Pizza Hut’s signature pepperoni flavors in a vegan blend, while Chain’s “Everything Pizza Shake” combines various pizzeria flavors in a single seasoning. The box set includes the limited-edition “Hut Shaker,” a retro-inspired shaker paying homage to Pizza Hut’s stained glass lamps. |
| The Habit Burger is set to open a new restaurant at California State University, Fresno. The location will serve the campus community starting from November 13, and will be operated by the Fresno State Auxiliary Services. The 800-square-foot restaurant will be located in the Lynda and Stewart Resnick Student Union and will offer dine-in and takeout options, including ordering through The Habit Mobile App, online and at Fetch. |
| 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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| Krispy Kreme is in advanced discussions with McDonald’s to expand their partnership, according to outgoing Krispy Kreme CEO Mike Tattersfield. While nothing has been finalized, the doughnut maker is making investments in the U.S., reflecting confidence in further scaling its Delivered Fresh Daily network. McDonald’s started selling Krispy Kreme doughnuts at nine locations in Louisville, Kentucky, last year, and expanded the market test to about 160 locations in Kentucky in February. |
| Subway, under CEO John Chidsey, is focusing on international expansion, digital sales and snack offerings as part of its turnaround strategy. The chain is awaiting the closure of its $9.6 billion sale to Roark Capital, and Chidsey sees it as a “win-win-win” deal. Subway plans to slow down the rate of store closures in the U.S., with a focus on international growth, including plans to open 4,000 new restaurants in China. |
| Alistair Macrow, the CEO of McDonald’s U.K. and Ireland, has been summoned to Parliament to address allegations of sexual assault, racism and bullying at the fast-food chain’s franchises. The Business and Trade Committee will question Macrow on November 14 about the steps McDonald’s has taken to improve working conditions following reports of a toxic culture affecting more than 100 current and former staff. Workers, including those as young as 17, reported facing regular sexual harassment. |
| Carrols Restaurant Group, the largest franchisee of Burger King, reported an 8.1% increase in same-store sales for the chain in the third quarter, with a notable rise in traffic. The company also operates 61 Popeyes restaurants, where same-store sales increased by 11.7%. Carrols’ stock rose 23% on the news and is up nearly 400% for the year. The company attributed the success to early progress from Burger King franchisees after the launch of the $400 million “Reclaim the Flame” revitalization plan. |
| Wendy’s is spreading holiday cheer with its “Wendy’s Wednesday” deal, offering a free six-piece nuggets with any mobile app purchase every Wednesday through the end of 2023. The promotion encourages customers to celebrate the holidays by enjoying free nuggets, and it can be redeemed by ordering through Wendy’s app or online, or by scanning the digital Wendy’s Rewards offer code in-restaurant. |
| The Inspire Brands Foundation, in collaboration with corporate partners, has committed to providing $1 million in grants by the end of 2023 to support youth-focused workforce readiness initiatives across the United States. The announcement was made at the inaugural SPARK 2023 event, where industry leaders discussed the importance of providing the next generation of workers with critical job skills. The commitment will benefit over 30 local and national nonprofit organizations focused on empowering youth and workforce readiness. |
| Grocery stores are increasingly enhancing their culinary experiences to attract consumers looking for meal solutions. Retailers like Dom’s Kitchen & Market are blending restaurants with food retail, offering proprietary restaurant brands and creating an ambiance where customers can stay and hang out. Other grocery chains, such as Giant Food, are partnering with well-known local restaurants to provide in-store fast-casual options. The goal is to cater to cost-conscious consumers, as the gap between grocery and restaurant prices widens. |
| Pizzeria Uno is expanding beyond its Chicago roots, embracing various pizza styles, including Detroit-style and Tavern-style pizza. Based in Boston, the chain has more franchised units than owned units, with its focus shifting to hotels as the next growth avenue. Uno believes hotels offer operational efficiencies, and units in hotels have seen double to triple pre-COVID revenue. The chain aims to embrace local culture in each location while maintaining a focus on great pizza. |
| TGI Fridays, amid a brand shakeup and leadership changes, has introduced a revamped beverage program, starting with a new holiday cocktail menu called Claus for Celebration. The company is emphasizing its bar roots and has partnered with C3’s Krispy Rice for sushi offerings. The holiday cocktail menu includes 14 drinks and mocktails, featuring in-house-made juices and syrups, as well as visual elements such as torched cocktail toppers. |
| A coalition of business groups, including several restaurant organizations, has filed a federal lawsuit to block the National Labor Relations Board from expanding the circumstances under which a franchisor can be considered a joint employer of franchisees’ staff. The legal challenge aims to halt the adoption of a broader joint employer definition set to take effect on December 26. Opponents argue that the new definition will negatively impact franchising by exposing franchisors to litigation or punitive actions for alleged employment lapses by franchisees. |
| Better Days, a virtual wellness food brand assisted by robots, has officially debuted in New York City. Operating inside Travis Kalanick’s CloudKitchens commissary kitchens, the restaurant can be found on delivery apps like DoorDash and Uber Eats. Better Days uses robots to perform various kitchen tasks, such as assembling rice bowls, peeling avocados, and making french fries. The menu features dishes like teriyaki salmon with Szechuan green beans, tandoor chicken with turmeric cauliflower and palak paneer with broccoli. |
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