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| On November 18, the Las Vegas Taco Bell Cantina will host the Tight Turns & Tacos Party during the debut of world-class racing on the Las Vegas streets. From 8 pm to 1 am, guests can enjoy views of the racetrack, a photo booth, 16 TVs showing the race, Taco Bell bites and more. Tickets, available for purchase, support the Taco Bell Foundation’s education and career readiness initiatives. |
| The SFGate highlighted the enduring legacy of the original Taco Bell on Santa Rosa Street in San Luis Obispo. This Taco Bell, dating back to 1967, became a cultural landmark, known for celebrity sightings and its status as a top earner in the U.S. The restaurant, catering to late-night student cravings, was a rendezvous point for Cal Poly students. While the original location closed in 1990, the Taco Bell legacy continued at a new site, becoming the second-leading Taco Bell in national sales and the first in California during Cal Poly’s main quarters. |
| Eureka’s Gateway is set to welcome The Habit Burger Grill, as announced by LRE and Cos. The new addition at 1905 Fifth Street will offer the burger joint’s renowned Charburgers and a fast-casual dining experience. Akki Patel, CEO of LRE & Cos., expressed excitement about the project’s partnerships, highlighting the positive collaboration with the city and the anticipation of bringing The Habit Burger to Eureka. |
| Sustainability served hot with ShariLee Rafferty |
Grab a slice of the latest #3Questions featuring Pizza Hut Global Design Manager ShariLee Rafferty. ShariLee talks with Yum! CEO David Gibbs about how she collaborates with a cross-brand sustainability dream team, including Robyn Lodge at KFC, Rachel Meyer and Emily True at Pizza Hut and Stephanie Zhu and Alyson Baynes at Yum! Corp. to shape the green buildings strategy for Pizza Hut globally. Learn firsthand from ShariLee how we can all work together to sustainably grow the business while minimizing our environmental footprint.
|  | (For Yum! Eyes Only) |
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| Carrols Restaurant Group Inc., the largest Burger King franchisee in the U.S., is implementing self-order kiosks in about 250 restaurants to enhance its digital business. The move is part of the Royal Reset program, with Burger King funding the majority of the investment. Carrols reported a 8.1% increase in same-store sales for its Burger King restaurants and an 11.7% rise for its Popeyes units in Q3. The company is also piloting the Sizzle remodel program, with plans to have around half of its Burger King remodels in the new format by 2024. |
| The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has rejected a Starbucks barista’s request for an election to dissolve a union at a Buffalo, New York, store. The board’s 2-1 decision stated that Starbucks and the employee, Ariana Cortes, did not present issues warranting a review of a regional director’s previous ruling. The director had denied Cortes’ petition for an election, citing ongoing unfair labor practice cases related to the Buffalo store. Cortes is concurrently pursuing a lawsuit claiming the NLRB’s structure is unconstitutional. |
| In New Zealand, McDonald’s has introduced the Salad Burger. Unlike typical veggie burgers, this option excludes a meat or plant-based patty. The Salad Burger at McDonald’s New Zealand includes tomato, shredded lettuce, slivered onions, American cheese, two pickles and peppery McChicken sauce on a toasted sesame seed bun. This move is seen as a response to Burger King New Zealand’s Salad Burger, which features onion rings along with a similar combination of lettuce, tomato, pickles, onion, American cheese and mayo on a toasted sesame seed bun. |
| Chick-fil-A introduces two new seasonal beverages, Peppermint Iced Coffee and Frosted Peppermint Chip Coffee, along with the return of the Peppermint Chip Milkshake for the 2023 holiday season. Available at Chick-fil-A restaurants nationwide starting November 13, these offerings showcase festive flavors. The Peppermint Iced Coffee comprises cold-brewed coffee, 2% milk, pure cane syrup and peppermint syrup served over ice. The Frosted Peppermint Chip Coffee offers a frozen twist, featuring cold-brewed coffee, peppermint syrup, Icedream dessert and crunchy peppermint bark chips. |
| In the United States, several restaurants in the Top 100 operators list for 2023 report a sense of normalcy, indicating minimal Covid impact. While the pandemic led to closures, reduced dining capacities and labor force reductions, the industry adapted by forming better vendor relationships, menu adjustments, enhanced employee training and exploring new locations. Despite challenges like rising costs and inflation, the National Restaurant Association projects industry sales to reach $997 billion in 2023, with a positive outlook and a focus on hospitality and experiences driving consumer spending. |
| In 2024, wage hikes are expected across various U.S. states, impacting small businesses already grappling with inflation. The hot labor market and new minimum wage laws are contributing to increased labor costs. California will see its minimum wage for fast-food workers rise to $20 per hour from April 1, 2024, potentially leading companies like McDonald’s and Chipotle to raise prices. Several other states are also increasing minimum wages to attract workers. The minimum wage in Hawaii, for example, will rise to $14 in January 2024. |
| Steve Ells, the founder and former CEO of Chipotle, is set to launch a new startup called Kernel in early 2024. The chain of restaurants will focus on serving meat-free sandwiches using a tech-heavy approach, with robots and a minimal workforce. The first location is expected to open in Manhattan, with plans for at least a dozen more throughout New York over the next two years. Each Kernel store will operate with three employees collaborating with robots to prepare items like meat-free burgers, faux chicken sandwiches, salads, acai bowls and sides. |
| Noodles & Company has appointed Drew Madsen as its interim CEO, following the departure of former CEO Dave Boennighausen. Madsen, who has served on Noodles & Company’s board since 2017, brings extensive experience in the restaurant industry, including his role as the President of Panera Bread. The company has initiated a comprehensive search for a new permanent CEO as it focuses on key strategic initiatives to drive growth and enhance shareholder value. |
| SouthRock Capital, the largest food and beverage operator in Brazil, has filed for bankruptcy, resulting in the loss of its right to operate Subway and Starbucks in the country. Subway confirmed the termination of its relationship with SouthRock, which it had acquired last year. SouthRock had also lost its license to operate Starbucks in Brazil last month. The company filed for bankruptcy amid challenges such as high inflation and persistently high interest rates, accumulating debts estimated at 1.8 billion Brazilian Real (around $370 million USD). |
| Mexican restaurant chain Plaza Azteca has agreed to pay $11.4 million in back wages and damages to around 1,000 employees, settling a Department of Labor (DOL) lawsuit. The DOL accused Plaza Azteca of illegally capping kitchen workers’ pay, compensating them with a set fee instead of an hourly wage. The lump-sum compensation sometimes fell below the minimum wage for hours worked, and overtime pay was not provided. Plaza Azteca acknowledged the violations, and $10.8 million of the settlement will go to affected employees. |
| Technology firm Remy Robotics is launching its automated cooking robots in the U.S. with a “robot restaurant” concept in New York City, the company announced Thursday. The restaurant, called Better Days, employs machines that use artificial intelligence to cook hundreds of menu items in kitchens as small as 200 square feet. The robotic kitchen doesn’t require traditional ventilation systems or human supervision. |
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