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| Eat This, Not That included Taco Bell’s nacho cheese sauce on its list of the 25 most iconic fast-food dipping sauces of all time. “Silky smooth and mildly spiced, it shows up on things like the chain’s Mexican pizza, but it’s at its peak when used as a dip with those fries, lending just the right amount of richness and heat,” the article highlighted. |
| This KFC U.S. employee made the leap and you can, too |
Looking to change things up in your career, but not sure where to begin? Check out the latest #3Questions, the series that features conversations between employees and Yum! CEO David Gibbs, to see how Ray Jeffries, KFC U.S. PR analyst, had a vision, made connections and boldly stepped out of his comfort zone to land his dream job. You'll be left inspired and equipped for your next move! |  | (For Yum! Eyes Only) |
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| Data from Placer.ai reveals a shift in dining patterns at major fast-food chains, with customers opting for later meals at McDonald’s and Chipotle. In 2023, 21.2% of McDonald’s customers visited between 7 p.m. and 10 p.m., up from 18.8% in 2019. Breakfast visits have declined, while lunchtime visits remain below pre-pandemic levels. Chipotle also experienced changes, with lunch business dropping from 40% in 2019 to 36.2% in 2023, while visits from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. increased from 23.9% to 26.3%. |
| Popeyes is launching a bold promotion, “Wings for Wings,” offering a free 6-piece wings with any online or in-app purchase if a football team with wings in its name, logo or mascot wins the Super Bowl in February. The digital offer can be redeemed on Feb. 13. This promotion coincides with the permanent launch of Popeyes’ Wings, available in five flavors. The brand will feature its new wings in the first-ever TV ad during the first quarter of the Super Bowl. |
| Starbucks Canada and We Wai Kai Nation have opened the first Starbucks licensed and operated by the Indigenous Nation in Campbell River, B.C. Situated on the We Wai Kai reserve, the 1,700-square-foot store at Quinsam Crossing development offers Starbucks favorites and features a drive-thru. The partnership aims to contribute to Indigenous economic self-sufficiency and socio-economic equality, fostering reconciliation. |
| In response to backlash and three lawsuits alleging health issues and deaths related to its Charged Lemonade, Panera Bread is reportedly taking steps to address the controversy. Some Panera stores are said to be removing the drink from self-serve areas, with a Louisville, Ky., store adding warnings about caffeine levels on kiosks. The signs advise against consumption for children, those sensitive to caffeine or pregnant/nursing women. Panera has not officially commented on these developments or the latest lawsuit. |
| Domino’s Japan introduced the Cheese Volcano Pizza, featuring a unique design with a cheese volcano at the center. The “volcano” has toasty cheese slopes and is filled with cheese sauce for dipping. The pizza is crafted by draping dough over a tub-like container, adding cheese to the slopes, and filling the center with cheese sauce. |
| Jeff Lobdell, Chairman of the National Restaurant Association, is emphasizing the importance of industry unity as the restaurant business faces various challenges. Lobdell noted he aims to bring together different segments of the industry to address legislative, regulatory and social issues, such as state level attempts to eliminate the tip credit and proposals affecting work-visa regulations and service charges. He stressed the need for collaboration to tackle common concerns like reducing credit card swipe fees and increasing dine-in traffic post-pandemic. |
| Mexican food has become widely popular in the United States, with approximately 1 in 10 restaurants serving Mexican cuisine, according to data from the Pew Research Center. The analysis indicates that 99% of the U.S. population lives in a county with at least one Mexican restaurant. There are 10 counties where more than a third of restaurants serve Mexican food, according to a Pew Research Center analysis. Most of them are in border states, with the exception of Morrow County, Oregon, in which 37% of restaurants serve Mexican food. |
| Nation’s Restaurant News highlighted how inflation is impacting the franchise industry, as evident from the bankruptcy declarations of major Burger King franchise groups. Franchise owners are implementing strategies to cope with inflation, including marketing to drive more traffic, leveraging technology to decrease labor expenses and investing in remodeling or new construction to enhance customer experiences. Quick-service restaurants are focusing on new menu options, loyalty programs and digital marketing. |
| BurgerFi, the burger chain owned by BurgerFi International, Inc., is introducing the “Yes, Chef Burger” inspired by a viral scene from the movie “The Menu.” The burger is aimed at aligning with recent pop culture trends, particularly on platforms like TikTok. |
| Qdoba has reportedly agreed to settle a proposed class-action lawsuit in Washington state, alleging a violation of pay transparency requirements. The lawsuit, filed by an applicant last year, claimed that Qdoba failed to include salary ranges in its job postings, violating state law. Washington’s pay transparency law, which went into effect on January 1, 2023, requires businesses with 15 or more employees to disclose salary ranges and provide a general description of other benefits and compensation for each role in job postings. |
| Catering tech firm ezCater has introduced two new filters on its platform to make it easier for its customers to support small businesses and restaurants owned by historically underrepresented groups. The “Diversity of Ownership” filter allows users to search for restaurants owned by individuals identifying as Asian-American, Pacific Islander, Black, disabled, Hispanic, Latine, Indigenous American, LGBTQ, Middle Eastern, North African, veterans and women. The “Business Size” filter helps customers find and support small businesses, with participating restaurants needing to generate no more than $13.5 million in annual revenue to qualify. |
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