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| The Hempstead Pizza Hut, serving a town of 6,000 residents near Houston, gained viral attention for its retro 1970s design. Franchise owner Mike Patranella, who has owned the location for 11 years, initiated a major remodel, embracing the classic Pizza Hut look with stained-glass fixtures and checkered tablecloths. The restaurant, undergoing its first such remodel, closed temporarily for upgrades, including a 1974 sign, iconic hat roof and vintage décor. This nostalgic approach has boosted lunch sales in Hempstead, attracting social media attention and praise for preserving the classic experience. |
| The Taco Bell Foundation’s Ambition Accelerator, in partnership with Ashoka, is accepting applications for its second year, now expanding to India. The social impact program offers young changemakers (16-26 years old) a chance to access up to $25,000 in funding, mentorship and networking opportunities for their initiatives. Semi-finalists in the U.S. will receive additional opportunities at Taco Bell’s headquarters. In collaboration with Ashoka and funded by Yum!’s Unlocking Opportunity Initiative, the program aims to empower the next generation to disrupt inequities and drive positive change. |
| Yum! Brands leads in developing leaders |
| At Yum! Brands, our unrivaled talent is our greatest asset – one that we invest in heavily. That’s one of the reasons why TIME magazine included us on its first “Best Companies for Future Leaders” list. The accolade is evidence of a continued effort to develop our company leaders. Watch to learn how we do this in the latest episode of “Quick Bite,” the video series that profiles innovative work in about a minute. |
| Carrols Restaurant Group CEO Deborah Derby expressed optimism about Burger King’s $400 million “Reclaim the Flame” initiative during the ICR Conference, reporting a 7.2% increase in Burger King’s same-store sales and a 2.9% rise in traffic for Q4. The program, focusing on operational improvements before marketing, aims to modernize the brand. With Burger King’s recent $1 billion acquisition of Carrols, plans to expedite remodeling efforts were revealed, investing $500 million to remodel around 600 acquired restaurants in the next five years. |
| On January 30, Burger King is offering 1-cent croissant breakfast sandwiches to celebrate National Croissant Day. Available during regular breakfast hours, the deal is exclusive to members of Burger King’s loyalty program, Royal Perks and requires a minimum online or app order of $1. Options include the standard croissan’wich with sausage, bacon or ham, and variations like the double sausage, egg and cheese croissan’wich. |
| Inspire Brands is expanding its chain, Jimmy John’s, internationally, starting with markets like Canada and El Salvador. This move is part of Inspire’s broader international growth strategy, following acquisitions like Buffalo Wild Wings, Dunkin’ and Baskin-Robbins. Michael Haley, President of International Operations at Inspire, highlighted the exponential growth opportunities abroad, with about a third of Inspire’s stores already located outside the U.S. |
| Tatiana Lambert has been appointed as the U.S. Chief Development Officer at The Wendy’s Co., reporting to Abigail Pringle, the President for International and Chief Development Officer. Lambert will lead the U.S. restaurant development team, focusing on market planning, site selection, negotiating leases, franchise incentives, strategic development programs and broker partnerships. |
| Major fast-food chains are increasingly engaging in unconventional collaborations, moving beyond traditional marketing strategies to create memorable experiences. McDonald’s collaboration with Moschino and the partnership with Crocs are examples of how the brand ventures into unexpected areas. Similarly, Burger King collaborated with Fila in Brazil, entering the world of fashion and streetwear. Experts noted that successful collaborations are based on authenticity and staying true to a brand’s values. |
| Redberry Restaurants has signed a deal to lead the expansion of Jersey Mike’s Subs into Canada, with plans to develop at least 300 stores by 2034. The agreement marks Jersey Mike’s first major expansion beyond the United States. Redberry Restaurants, based in Ontario, will operate some Jersey Mike’s units and sub-franchise the brand to others. The deal also involves Redberry purchasing and renovating Jersey Mike’s two existing units in Kitchener and London, with plans to open five stores in Ontario this year. |
| Applebee’s is launching an Applebee’s Date Night Pass priced at $200, providing cardholders with 52 date nights with up to $30 on food and non alcoholic beverages per use via dine-in or to- go. The pass, available from Jan. 22 at noon, aims to make date nights “more accessible and flexible,” with the cost of dating up 40% in the past decade, according to Match’s “Singles in America” study. The pass is valid from Feb. 1 through Jan. 31, 2025. |
| Party Fowl, a Nashville-based hot chicken concept, has filed for bankruptcy protection, citing ongoing pressures from Covid and “a snowball of debt.” The company, founded in 2014, has six locations and aims to use the financial restructuring to return to operational health. Party Fowl specializes in Nashville Hot Chicken, gumbos, salads, boozy slushes and local beers. The bankruptcy filing comes despite the rising popularity of hot chicken and the growth of similar concepts. |
| Grubhub has agreed to pay $3.5 million to settle a lawsuit by the Massachusetts attorney general, accusing the food delivery service of overcharging restaurants during the pandemic. The lawsuit argued that Grubhub charged restaurants service fees exceeding 18% of the bill amount, violating legislation capping those charges at 15% between January 14, 2021, and June 15, 2021. The settlement also includes a payment of $125,000 to the state of Massachusetts. |
| Reservation tech company Tock has introduced a Multi-Experience Tables tool to help restaurant operators create and manage unique guest experiences. The feature allows for greater control over tables tied to specific experiences without guests being aware of the behind-the-scenes planning. It helps restaurants experiment with what appeals most to their guests and prevents double booking by opening up multiple tables. |
| Deliverect, a global platform that integrates and accelerates online restaurant orders, has been selected by Little Caesars to integrate and scale its global third-party delivery operations. Deliverec’s technology will enable Little Caesars to connect all its third-party delivery channels to its point-of-sale system through a single integration. The move is part of Little Caesars’ efforts to expand its digital presence and use of third-party delivery partners, offering customers greater delivery options. |
| The Coca-Cola Company has introduced the Coca-Cola Leader Lab, a leadership program aimed at addressing labor challenges in the foodservice industry, particularly the high turnover rates of frontline service employees. With labor shortages being a significant concern for the industry, the program focuses on developing frontline people-leaders by providing them with the skills to grow in their careers and help others grow in theirs. The program consists of video-driven content with modules covering six transformational leadership skills, including casting vision, critical thinking, communication, conflict resolution, collaboration and coaching mentality. |
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