| Yum! Brands News | |
| | Yum!Now News | |
| | Competitor Intelligence | |
| | Industry Trends | |
| | Restaurant Technology | |
| | | |
| Pizza Hut Nepal has unveiled the Sunday Surprise offer, providing pizza enthusiasts savings of up to 58% on 4 Personal Pan Pizzas. The chain is offering a variety of options, including vegetarian, mixed and non-vegetarian pizzas, with discounts on popular selections. Vegetarian choices, such as Veggie Feast and Margherita, originally priced at Rs. 2206, are now available for Rs. 999. Mixed and non-vegetarian options are also discounted. |
| Spreading good fortune this Lunar New Year! |
According to the Chinese zodiac, 2024 is the Year of the Dragon, which symbolizes strength, good luck and power! Check out how the KFC and Pizza Hut APAC markets are putting their best foot forward in 2024 and celebrating with creative ads showing their Lunar New Year spirit. |  | (For Yum! Eyes Only) |
|
| McDonald’s U.S. has enhanced its burgers, making small tweaks to improve flavor. The changes, implemented nationwide after a year-long rollout, focus on cooking and assembly processes without altering the beef patty. The “Best Burger” initiative aims to boost sales by providing a more enjoyable dining experience. Analysts are divided on its impact, with some seeing it as a positive step, while others remain skeptical about its ability to significantly drive growth. |
| Papa John’s is celebrating the 58th annual Big Game by introducing the Vegas $tyle Pizza, filled with Las Vegas’s best, including a chance to win $58,000. Running from February 2 to February 9 (National Pizza Day), fans can participate in the giveaway by visiting the chain’s website. No purchase is required for entry, but extra chances can be earned by purchasing Papa John’s Epic Stuffed Crust pizza during the specified period. |
| Chipotle is offering a Super Bowl deal, providing a free small side of Queso Blanco with any entrée purchase for a week leading up to the event. The promotion, valid from February 5 to February 11, allows customers to use the promo code QUESO24 when ordering through the Chipotle app or website. The Queso Blanco, introduced by Chipotle in 2020, is a cheese dip made with poblano, serrano and chipotle peppers, along with aged Monterey Jack and white cheddar cheese. |
| Jimmy John’s has introduced the Kickin’ Cajun Chicken Sandwich as its latest menu addition. The sandwich features chicken, provolone, Creole chili pepper sauce, Jimmy Peppers, crispy- fried jalapeños, onions, mayo, oil and vinegar, served on French bread. Additionally, it is offered as a wrap, with the same ingredients rolled up in a garlic & herb wrap. Prices vary, with a regular Kickin’ Cajun Chicken Sandwich priced at $12.49, and a large at $20.99 in the Los Angeles area. |
| Starbucks faced a decline in traffic in November due to perceived misperceptions about its stance on the Israel-Hamas war. Starbucks condemned violence and hate but faced controversy and boycott calls related to its response to the conflict. The decline in traffic has been attributed to a range of factors, including the controversy and calls for boycotts, particularly on social media and in demonstrations. |
| Fast-food prices in California are expected to rise this spring in response to the state’s $20 per hour minimum wage for fast-food workers, effective April 1. The law applies to restaurants with at least 60 locations nationwide, excluding those making and selling their own bread. Major franchises like McDonald’s and Chipotle have indicated the need for price increases to cover higher labor costs. Chipotle anticipates a 5-9% price hike in California, while McDonald’s CEO mentioned the inevitability of price rises. Some restaurants may explore automation to offset increased labor costs. |
| In January, the U.S. economy added 353,000 jobs, surpassing expectations of 180,000, while the unemployment rate remained steady at 3.7%, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Despite overall growth, the restaurant and bar sector lost 2,400 jobs, marking the third such decline in nearly two years. Despite this setback, the industry finished 2023 with a net gain of nearly 300,000 jobs, exceeding pre-pandemic levels. A National Restaurant Association survey revealed that 88% of operators plan to hire additional employees in the next six-to-12 months. |
| The market for meat substitutes is expected to grow by $4.4 billion by 2028, with a projected compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.98% between 2023 and 2028, according to a report by Technavio. European consumers are anticipated to contribute 40% to the global market’s growth, driven by health-conscious trends and the rising popularity of vegetarian and vegan products. New product launches, mimicking the taste of real meat or dairy, are expected to drive market growth. However, the high price of meat substitutes compared to traditional meat products remains a challenge. |
| Sweetgreen has appointed Rossann Williams, former Starbucks executive, as its new COO. Williams, who spent 18 years at Starbucks, will be responsible for overseeing operations, real estate and development, and supply chain for Sweetgreen, which operates around 220 units. At Starbucks, she served as executive vice president of North America Retail and held senior operations roles across North America. The appointment comes as Sweetgreen focuses on profitability and slightly slows its growth in 2024. |
| Sweetgreen is introducing an annual payment option for its Sweetpass+ loyalty program, priced at $100 for a year. This new tier, equivalent to 10 monthly payments, mirrors the existing monthly plan with a core benefit of a $3-a-day discount for paying members. Sweetpass+ experienced a 25% growth in enrollment in the latter half of 2023, reflecting strong customer demand. While the program initially applied only to digital orders, it later expanded to allow reward redemption for in-store orders. |
| Google is scaling back its “Order with Google” feature, which currently enables customers to order from restaurants directly via its search engine and maps. By the end of June, the feature will redirect customers to third-party ordering sites or the restaurant’s own website, making Google more of an intermediary than a direct ordering channel. Google mentioned that people generally prefer completing food orders on partner and merchant websites. |
|
|
