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| KFC U.S. has expanded its menu with limited-time Honey BBQ and Spicy Mac & Cheese wraps, joining the two-for-$5 deal. The offerings, part of KFC’s strategy to attract younger consumers, include the Spicy Mac & Cheese Chicken Wrap and Honey BBQ Chicken Wrap, featuring Extra Crispy Tenders, flavorful sauces and crunchy pickles. The wraps, launched in 2023, have boosted sales and attracted a younger demographic. |
| KFC U.S. is testing a new $20 KFC Classics Dinner in select Texas locations, featuring six pieces of fried chicken, Mashed Potatoes with Gravy, a Pot Pie and four biscuits, including the option for Grilled chicken. The Classics Dinner aims to attract customers with a variety of KFC favorites, presenting an alternative family meal option in the Houston and San Antonio areas during this limited-time test. |
| KFC South Africa announced a successful fundraising initiative, revealing that customers have contributed R 8,116,398 in December, with KFC matching the amount. The total of R 16,232,796 will be donated to Gift of the Givers, emphasizing the partnership’s goal to extend hunger relief efforts and showcase the impact of collective contributions. KFC highlights the significance of even small donations, urging continued support in the last week of the initiative to make a meaningful difference in addressing hunger and malnutrition during the festive season. |
| Michigan Pizza Hut franchisee Craig Erikson passed away this week. Erikson was a “lifer” with Pizza Hut, having worked in the kitchen at a Pizza Hut in Bloomington, Illinois in the late 1960s. At one point during Erikson’s tenure, MPH owned approximately 80 Pizza Hut stores. Part-owner Chad White paid tribute, noting, “Craig’s Passion for the company and his commitment to excellence were evident throughout his career and left a permanent mark on the organization.” |
| Taco Bell is testing a new addition to its Cravings Value Menu, the $3 Steak Soft Taco, at select locations in Bakersfield, CA, and Phoenix, AZ. The limited-time item includes marinated grilled steak, lettuce, tomatoes, cheddar cheese and Avocado Ranch sauce in a warm flour tortilla. Alongside this, the menu features other value-priced items such as the $2 Double Stacked Taco with seasoned beef, lettuce, Fiesta strips and cheddar cheese in a flour tortilla with nacho cheese sauce. |
| PEOPLE highlighted the experience of Christina Ortiz and her husband, Yazen, who chose the Taco Bell Cantina in Las Vegas as the venue for their wedding. The couple, who initially planned a more formal wedding, opted for the Taco Bell wedding package at a cost of $777. Ortiz, a food blogger, found the idea appealing, and the couple exchanged Taco Bell-themed vows filled with puns. The ceremony included a Baja Blast toast, a cake with Cinnabon Delights and a Taco Bell sauce packet bouquet. Ortiz describes the unconventional wedding as perfect for them. |
| Taco Bell has continued its tradition of menu innovation with the introduction of the 3-Cheese Chicken Flatbread Melt. This item features grilled white-meat chicken, Creamy Chipotle sauce and a blend of cheddar, mozzarella and Monterey pepper jack, folded in a warm flatbread. Priced at $2.29, the item is set to appear on menus starting January 9. Yum! Brands CEO David Gibbs highlighted Taco Bell’s success formula, emphasizing the expansion of chicken offerings and plans for a Cantina menu in 2024. |
| Taco Bell Costa Rica has introduced a Takis Burrito in partnership with Barcel USA, offering rolled tortilla chips inside the burrito with a salsa cheese dipping sauce. With Taco Bell’s international growth, the Takis Burrito might be a candidate for introduction in the U.S., following the trend of global innovations. |
| The Daily Meal included The Habit Burger in its list of the best burger chains in the U.S., highlighting the tempura green beans as a popular item. “Lightly battered and fried to a crispy golden brown, Habit’s tempura green beans are served with a creamy side of ranch dressing as a zesty dipping sauce. While green beans aren’t something that most of us typically associate with burger culture, Habit proves that thinking outside of the box can be triumphant.” |
| The Habit Burger is set to join The Shops at Folsom Ranch, marking its second location in Folsom, California. The popular burger chain, known for its fresh-made char-grilled burgers, offers a diverse menu that includes beef burgers, portabella mushroom burgers, impossible burgers, salads, chicken sandwiches, frozen treats and family bundles. The Habit’s new location will be in a standalone building spanning 2,800 square feet at the southern end of The Shops at Folsom Ranch. |
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| CNBC highlighted how McDonald’s has reinvigorated its brand and cultural relevance through high-profile collaborations with artists and streetwear brands. Chief Marketing and Customer Experience Officer Tariq Hassan emphasized the need to reconnect with younger fans and undertook a nationwide listening tour to understand customer preferences. The favorite orders campaign, highlighting celebrities’ go-to McDonald’s meals, and limited-edition collaborations with artists and streetwear brands like Cactus Plant Flea Market and PALACE, have contributed to the cultural shift. |
McDonald’s recently introduced the Squishmallows Happy Meal, which contains a miniature-sized version of the plush toy. The Squishmallow Happy Meal was previously available in some global locations, including the U.K. and Ireland, but this is the first time the promotion is being sold in America. Customers will have the chance to collect 12 characters and each Squishmallow comes with a QR code that’s linked to a unique playlist.
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McDonald’s plans to survey its franchisees in the U.S. about their child-labor practices after some of its franchisees were fined in 2023. The company said the goal is to “help determine additional trainings or other resources that may be useful to them in the future. McDonald’s didn’t offer more details on the surveys or elaborate on further plans beyond saying the company “will continue to partner with our franchisees on this important work.”
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In-N-Out has added Lite Pink Lemonade and Cherry Coke to its menus. It is the first new menu additions since 2018, when it introduced hot cocoa. The lemonade is made with real lemon juice and sweetened with stevia leaves and monk fruit.
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| Brooklyn Nets basketball player Mikal Bridges expressed his love for Chipotle in a GQ Sports interview, revealing that he has been eating Chipotle every day for about a decade. Bridges shared his go-to order: a bowl with white rice, no beans, double chicken, medium and mild salsa, corn and lettuce. He also mentioned that he used to get the hot salsa, but it was too spicy, leading to a humorous discussion about the salsa’s heat level. Chipotle acknowledged Bridges’ dedication, and the player’s love for the Mexican grill became a topic of social media discussion. |
| McDonald’s Canada has expanded its chicken sandwich menu with the debut of the new Hot Honey McCrispy alongside the new Bacon Hot Honey McCrispy. The Hot Honey McCrispy features a crispy, seasoned chicken patty, sweet spicy hot honey sauce, mayo-style sauce, shredded lettuce and crispy jalapenos, on a soft potato bun. The Bacon Hot Honey McCrispy includes a seasoned chicken patty, sweet spicy hot honey sauce, mayo-style sauce, hickory-smoked bacon, shredded lettuce and crispy jalapenos, on a soft potato bun. |
| Jack in the Box has brought back the “Double Bonus Jack” for a limited time at participating locations nationwide. Priced at $3.99, the Double Bonus Jack features two beef patties, two slices of American cheese, shredded lettuce, pickles and Secret Sauce, all served on a toasted buttery bakery bun. This offering is a play on McDonald’s Big Mac. In the past, Jack in the Box has experimented with different variations of the Bonus Jack. |
| El Pollo Loco is reintroducing the Double Pollo Fit Bowls, targeting those with health-focused New Year’s resolutions. Available at participating locations, the Classic Double Pollo Fit Bowl features flame-grilled chicken, avocado, lettuce, super greens, red cabbage, carrots, queso fresco, salsa fresca and pepitas, with Creamy Cilantro dressing on the side. The Street Corn Double Pollo Fit Bowl includes flame-grilled chicken, avocado, lettuce, super greens, corn, chili lime seasoning and queso fresco, with Creamy Cilantro dressing. |
| Beyond Meat’s CEO and founder, Ethan Brown, noted that he remains optimistic about the plant-based company’s future despite its stock struggles. Beyond Meat went public in 2019 with a successful IPO. However, the COVID-19 pandemic impacted its momentum, and the company faced challenges from traditional meat industry players. Despite setbacks, Brown noted he is focused on long-term goals, including sustainability, health benefits and addressing climate concerns. The company has recently opened a new headquarters with a state-of-the-art test kitchen, emphasizing innovation and product development. |
CEC Entertainment, parent company of Chuck E. Cheese and Peter Piper Pizza, is exploring a sale. The company has partnered with Goldman Sachs on an auction that may attract private equity firms. CEC has about $1.2 billion in revenue and $195 million in EBITDA, and the company could be worth about $1 billion in a sale.
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Tropical Smoothie Cafe is considering a sale and targeting a price tag as high as $2 billion. The smoothie chain is owned by private equity firm Levine Leichtman Capital Partners and finished 2022 with just under 2,000 U.S. units, which, marked a 160% year-over-year increase versus 2021, making it one of the fastest-growing chains in the industry. Tropical Smoothie finished 2022 with $1.1 billion in sales, a 15.6% increase over 2021.
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Krispy Kreme released its inaugural ESG report, noting an increase in scope 1 and scope 2 emissions compared to the previous year. Emissions amounted to over 70,000 tons of CO2 equivalent in 2022, up from approximately 65,000 tons of CO2 equivalent in 2021. It said it had achieved carbon neutrality in its U.K. and Ireland operations in 2022 by sourcing renewable energy and “strategic carbon offsets” linked to its ingredients’ supply sources. The company also highlighted future environmental and social goals, such as diverting at least 50% of food waste from landfills and achieving gender parity by the end of 2025.
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| In 2023, Pizza Factory achieved significant milestones, opening ten new restaurants in markets like Arizona, California and Washington. The brand also signed six agreements for further expansion in 2024, targeting California, Idaho, Texas and Washington. The brand introduced a BBQ Brisket Pizza and Sandwich Limited Time Offer, collaborated with GiftAMeal to donate meals to food pantries, and earned recognition in various industry rankings and lists. |
| Round Table Pizza, in collaboration with its franchisees and parent company FAT Brands Foundation, is making a $100,000 donation to Maui United Way to aid ongoing recovery efforts after devastating fires on the island. Round Table Pizza, a longstanding member of the Maui community since 2007, emphasized its commitment to support the community’s recovery. |
| Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) continues to oppose a New York state bill requiring new highway rest stop restaurants to operate seven days a week. His focus is on Chick-fil-A, known for closing on Sundays. Graham threatened to introduce legislation withholding federal funds from cities enforcing Sunday openings. New York State Rep. Tony Simone (D), the bill’s sponsor, aims to provide diverse food options at rest stops, impacting new establishments, not existing Chick-fil-A locations. |
| California will implement new laws in 2024, including a law that prevents firing employees for marijuana use outside of work. Notably, workers will also receive a minimum of five sick leave days annually, aimed at curbing disease spread. However, critics argue it burdens employers and might lead to unwarranted sick leave requests. |
| A federal administrative judge has ordered Starbucks to rehire Alendra “Len” Harris, a Colorado barista and union organizer, stating her termination was unlawful. Harris, who led the charge for the Starbucks store in Superior to become the first unionized Starbucks in Colorado, was fired in November 2022, after successfully unionizing earlier in 2022. The judge ruled that Starbucks unlawfully terminated Harris and ordered her rehiring, back pay, and the cessation of anti-union activity. |
| Burger King in Brazil has introduced a “Hangover Whopper” campaign using facial scanning technology through its mobile app. Customers can show their faces to the app, and the technology assesses their hangover level to determine the appropriate food and discount for their order. The campaign, available until January 2, offers different combos based on the perceived severity of the hangover, with higher levels receiving more substantial items. |
| In Pasadena, California, a restaurant named CaliExpress by Flippy is using Miso Robotics’ Flippy robot to prepare french fries, and its BurgerBot to make burgers from a wagyu blend. The process is semi-autonomous, with human employees assembling the burgers and packaging the food prepared by the AI robots. Customers place orders at self-serve kiosks and can pay using face or palm recognition technology developed by PopID. |
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