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| KFC Canada has introduced its Festive Menu, featuring the new KFC Festive Chicken Sandwich filled with stuffing, cranberry sauce and 100% white meat chicken. The menu includes the Festive Favorites Feast with Original Recipe chicken, hand-breaded drumsticks, stuffing and sides. The campaign encourages Canadians to take a break from holiday chaos and savor the indulgent offerings. The limited-time menu, launched on November 13, is available at KFC restaurants, through the KFC App and on KFC.ca. |
| KFC is celebrating key milestones with store openings in Haryana, India and Bucharest, Romania, marking its global expansion. The brand, opening a new store every 3.5 hours worldwide, plans to enter its 150th country by 2024. With over 29,000 restaurants, KFC emphasizes inclusivity, sustainability and local adaptation. In India, the 1,000th restaurant is set to open in Gurgaon, showcasing sustainable development and social impact initiatives. In Romania, digital innovation and community-focused growth are highlighted. |
| 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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| Papa John’s aims to regain growth momentum by embarking on a plan to open 2,000 stores by 2025. Despite modest store openings in 2022, the chain has signed significant development deals in recent years. To achieve its growth targets, Papa John’s plans to leverage new store designs, nontraditional locations and a fortressing strategy similar to Domino’s. The company is also focusing on engaging and incentivizing franchisees, building on previous successful deals. |
| Thousands of unionized Starbucks workers are planning a one-day walkout on Thursday, coinciding with the company’s annual Red Cup Day. The protest by Starbucks Workers United aims to address the company’s alleged refusal to negotiate fairly, particularly concerning staffing issues during promotions. Workers argue that Starbucks creates stressful conditions by not adequately increasing staff during busy periods. Starbucks executives assert that the union is uncooperative, and the company hopes for a shift in the union’s priorities to include the success of Starbucks partners and negotiating contracts for represented employees. |
| McDonald’s is venturing into the footwear market with a collaboration with Crocs. The collection includes three classic Crocs and one sandal featuring McDonald’s mascots Grimace, Hamburglar and Birdie, along with the iconic red and yellow color scheme. The shoes, priced between $70 and $75, come with McDonald’s-themed charms like french fries and the Big Mac. Matching socks will retail for $20. The release is set for November 14, available at Crocs retail locations and wholesale partners. |
| Bojangles has appointed Brooks Speirs as its new Vice President of Franchise Sales. With over 20 years of experience in franchise development, Speirs will drive Bojangles’ expansion strategy in existing and new U.S. markets. Previously the Vice President of Franchise Development for Taco John’s International, Speirs aims to leverage Bojangles’ commitment to quality and Southern hospitality. The brand recently launched an expansion strategy, featuring a streamlined menu, new building design and staffing model. |
| Arby’s is expanding its menu with the Big Cheesy Bacon Burger, a deluxe version of its Wagyu Steakhouse Burger. The new item features a wagyu beef blend, bacon, Swiss and American cheeses, lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles and burger sauce on a toasted brioche bun. Customers can order it individually or as part of a meal with curly fries and a drink. |
| The restaurant industry’s Q3 results have highlighted the complexity of consumer behavior amid an uncertain backdrop. Despite inflation affecting multiple sectors, consumers have demonstrated a willingness to spend, resulting in steady sales for the restaurant industry. However, there’s inconsistency, with some brands experiencing mixed data on consumer behavior. Higher-income consumers appear more resilient, continuing to spend on dining out, while lower-income consumers may be more price-sensitive and trade down or opt for food at home. |
| Brazilian processor Marfrig Global Foods SA predicts that the U.S. cattle herd will continue to shrink for the next couple of years, impacting the profitability of meatpacking companies. The availability of fattened animals for processing into beef is expected to reach its lowest point around 2025-2026, as ranchers have not yet started retaining cows for breeding. Marfrig’s US unit, National Beef Inc., reported a more than 50% drop in adjusted earnings for the third quarter. |
| Virtual food hall concept Wonder has completed the acquisition of meal kit company Blue Apron for $103 million, taking Blue Apron private. The move provides Wonder with a new revenue channel as it aims to become a “super app for mealtime.” Blue Apron customers in Wonder’s delivery radius in New York and New Jersey will receive their boxes from Wonder employees. Customers in the area can also order Blue Apron meal kits and heat-and-eat meals through the Wonder app for delivery and pickup. |
| Donatos Pizza has experienced consistent growth in 2023, opening over 30 locations, including five traditional stores and 26 strategic partnership locations. The brand, with a presence in 29 states and over 460 locations, recently entered the Dallas, Texas market. The strategic partnership with Red Robin Gourmet Burgers has been successful, with 274 Red Robin locations featuring Donatos Pizza. The brand plans to launch over 150 new restaurants in 2024. |
| Krispy Kreme, which acquired Insomnia Cookies five years ago, is now looking to sell the cookie concept to focus on producing, selling and distributing fresh doughnuts daily. Digital orders represent nearly 20 percent of consolidated retail sales for Krispy Kreme, and Insomnia Cookies has seen significant expansion, growing from 135 shops to 247 as of October 1. Krispy Kreme plans to use the proceeds from the sale to fund its growth agenda, which aims for 75,000 points of access around the world. |
| The Restaurant Law Center, along with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and a coalition of business groups, has filed a lawsuit against the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) over its new joint employer standard. The lawsuit claims that the NLRB violated the National Labor Relations Act and calls for the standard to be rescinded. The new joint employer rule could increase liability risks in the franchisor-franchisee relationship, making franchisors more likely to be held accountable for franchisee infractions. |
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