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Wendy Novak, wife of co-founder and former CEO of Yum! Brands David Novak, talks in an interview with TODAY about how her diabetes diagnosis changed her life forever. After defying the expectations around the disease, she’s imagining a world without diabetes through the Wendy Novak Diabetes Institute, which supports the care of more than 100,000 patients.
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| Following McDonalds’ CosMc’s, Taco Bell is now also expanding its beverage lineup with Coffee Chillers, a Starbucks-inspired frozen coffee line, and Churro Chillers. Having always embraced the idea of serving customers outside traditional meal hours, as well as its already extensive beverage and frozen drinks menu, this is a logical next step for Taco Bell. These $4.19 drinks, in flavors like Mexican Chocolate and Caramel Churro, are being tested in select California stores as an all-day menu item, starting December 15. |
| Taco Bell, which is rooted in Southern California's vibrant culinary scene, is partnering with Revolution Carts to empower local street vendors. The initiative brings back the Ave 26 Family Night Market as a pop-up in downtown LA, seeking to break barriers in street vending, foster community unity and celebrate diverse food cultures. Among the carts will be entrepreneurs who were selected because of their business ambitions, community connectivity and delicious creativity - pursuits that Taco Bell loves to champion. |
| The Habit Burger Grill announced the opening of its new drive-thru spot in Walnut, California, its birthplace. Opening December 20, 2023, it offers VIP events for CharClub and app members. “There is an incredibly rich history in Walnut – from the Walnut festival to the beautiful outdoors, and a bustling and diverse city filled with interesting shopping and community events. We can’t wait to feed Walnut with our world-famous charburgers, award-winning sides, flavorful sandwiches and more,” says Tiffany Furman, Chief Financial Officer at The Habit Burger Grill. |
| How Yum! Brands is making its supply chain more sustainable |
| As global leaders and companies come together at COP28 to keep climate action front-and-center, Yum! and our brands are doing our part. But we know we can’t do it alone and is why we’re working alongside our suppliers to make the planet greener. |
| Pizza Hut ensures everyone gets an equal slice |
Around the world, Pizza Hut is fueling employability, entrepreneurship and educational programs through its Equal Slice for Everyone social purpose framework. In partnership with Yum!’s Unlocking Opportunity Initiative, they’re changing the future for people in Brazil, Canada, Indonesia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, the United Kingdom and the United States. |  | (For Yum! Eyes Only) |
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Equity research firm William Blair doesn’t expect McDonald's CosMc's, a beverage-focused spinoff, to strongly challenge Starbucks. The initial phase, with 10 locations by 2024 in Texas, targets customizable afternoon drinks, likened to Starbucks' strategy. Despite similarities, CosMc's impact on Starbucks seems restrained due to similar pricing and a drive-thru-only model more akin to rival Dutch Bros. CosMc’s menu is also unlikely to be brought to McDonald’s existing restaurants, as customizing drinks takes too much time, another argument it won’t pose much of a threat to Starbucks.
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| With McDonald’s recently announcing it would improve its burgers with softer buns, meltier cheese and saucier Big Macs, Business Insider set out to review the new menu items. For the most part, the tested items turned out disappointing, according to the reviewers, saying some of the tweaks don't seem to fit into the McDonald's restaurant model, which values speed, as employees now get lettuce and pickles from coolers more frequently for optimal freshness. |
| A second U.S. union, The Teamsters, has filed a complaint against Starbucks with the National Labor Relations Board, accusing the company of engaging in surface bargaining and obstructing negotiations at a Greensburg, Pennsylvania cafe. Despite Starbucks' claims of advancing talks with the Teamsters, the union alleges no meaningful progress in over a dozen negotiation sessions since June 2022. This complaint echoes Workers United's struggle with Starbucks, portraying similar issues in negotiating collective bargaining agreements. |
| In-N-Out's Idaho debut drew crowds as fans lined up early for the famed burgers. Being known for paying its workers well above industry standards, starting wages there are $17.50/hour, well above the state's $7.25 minimum wage. Managers average $180,000 yearly, and work their way up from entry-level positions. Idaho marks their eighth state, soon followed by Tennessee. With rising fast-food prices, fans appreciate In-N-Out's affordability; a Double-Double costs $5.15 compared to McDonald's $5.49 Big Mac in Southern California. The Meridian location is one of three planned for Idaho, reflecting the chain's continued expansion. |
| The restaurant chain CEO persona has shifted from internal promotions to consulting expertise. While some, like Darden's Rick Cardenas, retain service roots, today's leaders, such as McDonald’s Chris Kempczinski and Starbucks’ Laxman Narasimhan, hail from consulting giants like McKinsey & Co. and Boston Consulting Group. This diverse group prioritizes problem-solving and active listening, a departure from the traditional CEO model. Their focus on staying connected to employees and customers reflects the evolving complexities of modern restaurant industry leadership. |
| Grubhub's 2023 Delivered report highlights dining trends in the U.S. based on millions of takeout and delivery orders. The year is characterized as "doing it for the vibes," with diners embracing self-expression and customization. Top findings include a rise in spice additions, late-night coffee orders, a 20% increase in cow's milk for coffee, Diet Coke as a popular workplace refreshment, french fries as the most-ordered side, a surge in pickle orders and a 33% increase in the popularity of pineapple as a pizza topping. |
| ParTech, a prominent restaurant tech firm, has teamed up with DoorDash, an on-demand delivery service, to enhance operational efficiency and customer experience. This collaboration integrates DoorDash with PAR Brink POS® and MENU Link, streamlining orders for enterprise restaurants. It responds to evolving dining expectations by offering faster, smoother operations and unified digital experiences. The partnership automates order processing, provides menu control, dynamic pricing across channels and enhances sales tracking, consolidating restaurant tech through a singular, integrated platform within PAR’s ecosystem. |
| The November Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased by 3.1% year-over-year, slightly down from October’s 3.2%. Food prices at home rose by 1.7% monthly, slowing from October's 2.1%, while restaurant menu prices climbed by 0.4% in November, marking the eighth consecutive month of deceleration. Despite grocery prices slowing below the 2% target rate, restaurant menu prices continued their rise, contributing to a gap between the sectors. Analysts foresee restaurants gaining more market share from groceries in the coming year, despite the consumer's cautious spending behavior and an expectation of lower pricing in 2024. |
| A Congressional resolution, H.J. Res. 98, aims to overturn the NLRB's joint employer rule, reintroduced two months ago. This rule holds companies accountable alongside franchisees for labor terms. Backed by the National Restaurant Association, it's seen as disruptive to the franchising model. The resolution faces challenges, including a lawsuit by several organizations. The history of this rule is tumultuous, oscillating between administrations. The current Biden-era rule echoes the Obama-era standard but with clarifications. If the resolution passes the committee and House floor, it could nullify the joint employer rule. |
| The UN's COP28 addressed food's climate impact and hunger surge. A roadmap targets halving food waste, cutting livestock emissions by 25% and diversifying crops by 2030. Implementation varies globally, from reducing meat consumption in North America to enhancing productivity in sub-Saharan Africa. While commitments lack specifics, the Emirates Declaration commits to integrating agricultural emissions into climate goals by 2025. However, India hasn't joined. The debate over including agricultural emissions targets in the main agreement persists, highlighting the complexities of reshaping global food systems amidst climate challenges. |
| The restaurant industry has undergone a transformation during the pandemic. Quick-service managers face challenges like system malfunctions, staffing shortages and operational limitations due to size and hours, capping profits. AI offers a solution: it can boost efficiency, customer satisfaction and revenue. AI-driven insights improve customer experiences, optimize sales through forecasting and menu recommendations, predict demands for cost savings, prevent equipment failures and offer deep operational insights. With quality data as its fuel, AI can revolutionize quick-service restaurants, enhancing profitability and efficiency without the need for added resources. |
| Hi Auto’s new feature gives a personalized twist to AI adoption in the quick-service world: cloning celebrity’s voices to take your order. Hi Auto’s CEO says the feature humanizes the AI drive-thru experience by giving automated attendant a “real voice”. Lee’s Famous Recipe Chicken in Ohio has already adopted the technology with football Hall of Famer Keith Byars’s voice, saying it has significantly boosted labor efficiency. |
| A year after Initiative 82 in D.C. raised tipped workers’ minimum wage, restaurant workers reveal how they’ve been impacted. Some experienced wage boosts to $8 per hour plus tips, while others saw reduced earnings despite higher base pay. Service charges, a response to increased labor costs due to the initiative, created some tensions between staff and patrons. Despite mixed outcomes, some workers appreciated the increased stability, while others preferred relying on tips for higher earnings. The initiative's full implications remain uncertain, with ongoing debates on its impact on wages, tips, and the city’s restaurant industry. |
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