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| Travis Kelce, the Kansas City Chiefs tight end, shared on Wednesday’s episode of his “New Heights” podcast with his brother Jason Kelce that he’ll be watching football and eating KFC while his girlfriend Taylor Swift is on tour in South America. “I’ll be feasting on KFC because I won’t have anybody here,” he said with a laugh. “That’s exactly what I wanted to do this week.” |
| Kate Wall has been promoted to marketing director at KFC U.K. and Ireland, transitioning from her previous role as strategy and innovation director. With the company since 2019, Wall will join KFC’s strong female leadership team under newly appointed CMO Monica Pool. In her new position, Wall will oversee consumer-facing aspects of the brand, shaping its strategic direction and distinctive voice to drive sales and growth. |
| KFC China has joined forces with China’s leading ride-hailing platform, Didi, to introduce an innovative service aimed at transforming the commuting experience. The new service allows passengers to order KFC meals directly through the Didi App while en route to their destination. This feature becomes available when a user’s journey brings them within approximately 100 meters of a KFC store. |
| In Austraila, Brad Jones Racing and Pizza Hut have revealed the winning hand-drawn livery that Macauley Jones raced at the VAILO Adelaide 500. BJR and Pizza Hut called on fans to design the livery for the #96 Chevrolet Camaro for the 2023 season finale. Grace Lewis, 10, stood out among nearly 60 versions of the Pizza Hut Racing Camaro. Her design features Pizza Hut logos, with Lewis even reproducing the retro versions of the logo of her own. |
| Pizza Hut U.S. is bringing back the limited-time Triple Treat Box for the 2023 holiday season, featuring two 1-topping medium pizzas, five breadsticks, and a choice of 10 Cinnabon Mini Rolls or an Ultimate Chocolate Chip Cookie. The components are neatly stacked in a festive box, though its appearance may vary by location. In the Los Angeles area, the Triple Treat Box is priced at $26.99, with options to customize toppings or choose a pan pizza crust at an additional cost. |
| Taco Bell Canada has revealed a unique promotion, crafting four 1-carat diamonds from taco shells in a top-secret, year-long lab grown process. A pop-up event on Dec. 1 and 2 in Toronto allows the public to view the edible diamonds. Taco Bell encourages Canadians to enter a contest to win a pair of these taco diamonds. “The idea that even something as beautiful as diamonds have imperfections reinforces our brand mantra to Live Mas, and celebrate our authentic, messy and beautiful selves,” said Devon Lawrence, Marketing Director, Taco Bell Canada. |
| Taco Bell is leveraging short-term menu item “passes” to enhance customer loyalty. These passes, like the Taco Lover’s Pass, offer one free item daily for a set period, such as 30 days, at a fixed price. The recently introduced Nacho Fries Lover’s Pass extends this model to Taco Bell’s Nacho Fries. According to Chief Digital Officer Dane Mathews, these passes not only drive immediate engagement but also strengthen long-term relationships, with customers exhibiting continued behavior even after the pass period ends. |
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| Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce’s old social media posts, dug up by Taylor Swift’s fan base, sparked attention from Chipotle. In a 2011 tweet, Kelce misspelled Chipotle, writing “Chipolte,” prompting the restaurant to reply, “its me, hi,” a reference to Swift’s song “Anti- Hero.” Capitalizing on the buzz, Chipotle temporarily changed its username to “Chipolte” on various social platforms and altered a Kansas City location’s sign to match Kelce’s spelling. The company stated the sign would be up “for a limited time.” |
| Popeyes is permanently adding chicken wings to its menu nationwide, featuring five flavors, including three new varieties. The Sweet ‘N Spicy Wings, initially launched in select markets in August, are joined by new Honey BBQ Wings, Roasted Garlic Parmesan Wings and Signature Hot Wings. Priced at $5.99 for a six-piece order, Popeyes is promoting the launch with “DISScount” codes, inviting customers to rethink their wing choices and offering a free six-piece order with a $10 minimum purchase using specific codes on the Popeyes app or website. |
| The Strategic Organizing Center (SOC), a labor group representing unions, including the Service Employees International Union, and owning a small stake in Starbucks, is seeking representation on Starbucks’ board. SOC has nominated three director candidates, claiming the board has failed to oversee the company’s treatment of workers. The move comes amid Starbucks workers’ efforts to unionize, with Starbucks Workers United filing numerous complaints against the company. Starbucks has committed to spending $1 billion on higher wages and benefits. |
| California’s plan to create a board overseeing regulations and wage rates for fast-food chain restaurants, with a proposed minimum wage increase to $20 per hour, is causing uncertainty for Jack in the Box and Del Taco. Both chains are based in San Diego, with around half of their locations in California. Jack in the Box and Del Taco anticipate raising prices 6% to 8% companywide, but the broader implications on consumer behavior and chain finances remain uncertain. |
| Chick-fil-A has introduced a new brand called “pennycake,” focused on selling board games, puzzles and activities to promote family playtime. The move aims to maintain Chick-fil-A’s family-friendly ethos and experience, especially as digital sales have grown to 40-50% during the pandemic. Pennycake soft-launched in May 2023 and is now publicly available at pennycake.com. The idea originated from a group of Chick-fil-A parents who discovered that American families spend only about 37 minutes of quality time together on weekdays. |
| The term “ghost kitchen” is evolving as companies in the space offer omnichannel touchpoints, challenging the traditional notion of ghost kitchens as delivery-only concepts. Kitchen United, for instance, has never strictly adhered to the classic definition of a ghost kitchen, offering takeout kiosks and customer-facing interactions at its locations. The term itself carries negative associations, and the industry is going through a normalization process where flawed concepts are adapting their models. |
| Casual dining chains are exploring new strategies to drive revenue as they face challenges in generating traffic and sales growth. Some of the emerging approaches include embracing the sports betting business, offering private dining options and reviving the bar and patio spaces. Brands like Buffalo Wild Wings, Dave & Buster’s and The Greene Turtle have ventured into the sports betting arena, while TGI Fridays has introduced party packages for group bookings. |
| The United Nations’ Food & Agriculture Organization is set to release a comprehensive plan during the COP28 summit, urging the world’s most developed nations to reduce their meat consumption in line with the Paris climate agreement. The guidance aims to address the role of livestock farming, a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, methane, deforestation and biodiversity loss. While non-binding, the plan is expected to influence policy decisions and support the food industry’s transition toward climate-friendly practices. |
| The restaurant industry is witnessing a surge in entrepreneurial spirit, particularly among younger generations, with successful franchisees under the age of 35 emerging from brands like Captain D’s, Subway and McAlister’s. These young entrepreneurs, inspired by their parents’ experiences in the industry, are leveraging their passion, adaptability and hands-on experience to navigate challenges. The ability to stay humble, not getting ahead of oneself and maintaining a strong work ethic are identified as key factors contributing to their success. |
| The dining industry is undergoing a transformation driven by the preferences of Generation Z. With a significant spending power of $360 billion, Gen Z seeks unique experiences and affordable indulgences. Craft beverages, such as artisanal lemonades, cold brew coffee and Boba tea, have become defining elements of Gen Z’s dining experience. These drinks offer a gateway for exploration and self-expression while providing a healthful indulgence. |
| The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is reportedly investigating Roark Capital’s proposed $10 billion buyout of Subway. The investigation is said to be assessing whether the acquisition would result in a sandwich chain monopoly, as Roark Capital also owns Arby’s, Jimmy John’s, McAlister’s Deli and Schlotzsky’s under Inspire Brands. Subway, the target of the acquisition, has been implementing various strategies to boost sales and unit counts. The investigation could slow down the sales process, and a resolution may take months. |
| Papa John’s has agreed to settle a disability discrimination lawsuit for $175,000, brought by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. The lawsuit, filed in May, stemmed from the termination of Michael Barnes, a legally blind man, after the pizza chain allegedly denied his accommodation request to bring his service dog to work. Papa John’s actions were deemed a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act. |
| The global shortage of skilled cooks and waitstaff has led to labor shortages in the restaurant industry, impacting capacity and profits. Restaurants are exploring the use of robotics to address the staffing challenges. Robotics in the food service industry is experiencing growth, with estimated 2023 sales of $2.47 billion expected to triple by 2033. Restaurants such as Chipotle, IHOP, Sweetgreen, White Castle, Wendy’s, McDonald’s, Panera and Starbucks are deploying or testing robots. The cost of robots has declined, with an average price forecasted to be less than $10,900 by 2025. |
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