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| As part of its $100 million global Unlocking Opportunity Initiative, Yum! Brands and the University of Louisville are partnering to launch new “Accelerating Growth” executive education programs at the Yum! Center for Global Franchise Excellence. The new programs will focus on equipping operations leaders to take on senior management roles in franchise organizations, an area identified as a key opportunity by franchisees and leadership at the Yum! Center for Global Franchise Excellence, which has been providing education for aspiring entrepreneurs through the UofL College of Business since 2021. |
| Yum! Brands CEO David Gibbs recently sat down with Yum! Brands co-founder and retired CEO David Novak to discuss the importance of having truth tellers around you. Check out Novak’s new How Leaders Lead app with daily insights here. |
| Louisville Business First recognized Yum! Brands Chief Information Security Officer Elias Oxendine IV and Yum! Digital & Technology Chief Legal Officer Jennifer Green as part of its latest "People on The Move" column. Oxendine IV started with Yum! in 2020 as the director of Governance, Risk & Compliance and has been promoted twice since then, including most recently to chief information & security officer. Green has been promoted six times since joining Yum! in 2016 and has recently been promoted to chief legal officer for its Digital & Technology division. |
| KFC Canada is bringing back its highly anticipated Extra Crispy deal, featuring larger and crunchier fried chicken. The campaign, led by Courage agency, celebrates the beloved crispy bits with a TV spot and print ads directed by Nikki Ormerod. Laura Mallozzi, brand communications manager at KFC Canada, emphasized Canadians’ anticipation for Extra Crispy and the joy of savoring every last crumb. |
| VML Thailand and KFC Thailand commemorated KFC Thailand’s 40th Anniversary with the limited-edition “Fried Chicken Rings” collection, symbolizing 40 years of love stories. Only 11 couples worldwide can indulge in these unique rings, blending real KFC fried chicken with a stylish design crafted by GEMORIES Lab. The process involves transforming chicken into gems through simulated natural formation, reflecting KFC’s dedication to celebrating love. Suhayl Limbada, CMO of KFC Thailand, emphasized the significance of Valentine’s Day in celebrating love and invites couples to share their KFC love stories for a chance to own these exclusive rings and enjoy a special fried chicken meal. |
| Taco Bell CEO Sean Tresvant unveiled plans during the “Live Más Live” event to partner with Salt & Straw, aiming to revive the iconic Choco Taco. Inspired by Apple’s conferences, the event showcased Taco Bell’s innovative approach, revealing a diverse menu lineup and collaborations. Taco Bell’s CMO Taylor Montgomery emphasized engaging with fans and unveiling their marketing calendar in a single event. Montgomery stated, “Let’s just create this moment for all our fans everywhere and show them what they’re thinking about.” |
| Reuben Asaram, Jennifer Hwa Dobbertin, and Lawrence Smith comprise the inaugural generation of TBX, Taco Bell’s new chef partnership program. The trio will collaborate to infuse their culinary styles into Taco Bell’s Crunchwrap Supreme, aiming to release their versions by year-end. Liz Matthews, Taco Bell’s chief food innovation officer, praised the program for supporting emerging chefs and fostering creativity. Each chef brings a unique background: Dobbertin, a James Beard Award semifinalist; Smith, a former football player turned restaurateur; and Asaram, a culinary Institute graduate with a passion for Mexican cuisine. |
| Taco Bell U.S. has partnered with Salt & Straw to revive the beloved Choco Taco, announced during its “Live Más Live” event. Salt & Straw, known for its innovative ice cream creations, will collaborate to perfect the Ice Cream Chocolate Taco, featuring a crispy waffle shell filled with cinnamon ancho ice cream dipped in chocolate. Both companies teased the upcoming dessert, expected to debut nationwide by summer. |
| Taco Bell U.S. is revving up its menu offerings after pandemic-related cutbacks, doubling its launches this year. The centerpiece is the Cantina Chicken menu, introducing oven-roasted shredded chicken and new ingredients. Chief Food Innovation Officer Liz Matthews acknowledged the complexity but emphasized the excitement among franchisees and team members. Other additions include Cheesy Chicken Crispanadas, Cheez-It Crunchwraps, and Churro Chillers shakes. With industry-leading margins and strong growth projections, Taco Bell aims to maintain momentum with its diverse menu innovations. |
| Yum! Brands helps restaurant team members weather storms |
From Mozambique to Mexico, Yum! responded to 11 natural disasters last year, including Cyclone Freddy, Hurricane Otis, wildfires in Hawaii and the 7.8 magnitude earthquake in Turkey and Syria. When these events occur, Yum! and its franchisees direct their team members to apply for emergency relief online, leading to immediate response grants if approved.
Learn more about the Yum! Foundation’s global Disaster Relief Fund on Yum!Now. |  | (For Yum! Eyes Only) |
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| Wendy’s is bringing “biggie energy” to Daytona 500 with the BIGGIE Bag deal, DJ Khaled and Trackhouse Racing partnership. Wendy’s has partnered with Trackhouse Racing, featuring Wendy’s logo and “Go Biggie” slogan on the car. For fans not at Daytona, Wendy’s is offering a free Double Stack with Uber Eats orders over $20. |
| Popeyes announced it is welcoming the 2024 Lenten season with the return of its Flounder Fish Sandwiches, featuring classic and spicy options. The sandwiches are made with premium flounder marinated in Louisiana herbs and spices, served on a buttery brioche bun with pickles and sauce. Limited-time offerings are available at participating locations. |
| Buffalo Wild Wings is offering six free wings on Feb. 26 due to the Super Bowl overtime. From 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., boneless and traditional wings are eligible, no purchase required for dine-in or takeout. |
| Ben Affleck’s partnership with Dunkin’ has spawned a limited-edition menu, featuring his favorite iced coffee dubbed “The DunKings Iced Coffee,” available with vanilla, cream, sweet cold foam and cinnamon sugar. Accompanying it are Munchkin skewers, resembling martini olives, and additional app-exclusive items like the Everything Encore Breakfast Sandwich and Hazelnut Heartthrob Iced Coffee. Affleck’s Dunkin’ commercials, originating from viral photos of him with Dunkin’ coffee, led to his role in The DunKings band alongside Matt Damon and Tom Brady. |
| Tim Hortons has introduced the Sweet Chili Chicken Loaded Wraps and Bowls. These new offerings feature grains, lettuce, diced tomatoes, cucumbers and a choice of chicken or veggies. Available alongside Cilantro Lime and Habanero options, they include a blend of savory, sweet and spicy flavors. Carolina Berti, Tim Hortons’ VP of category and innovation, touts the Sweet Chili Chicken’s appeal for lunch or dinner. |
| Restaurants are adapting to ongoing labor challenges by shifting from menu streamlining to innovative strategies like cross-training and pre-prepped ingredients. Walk-On’s focuses on customer-valued items like hand-cut steaks, while Velvet Taco maintains freshness with on-site cooking and carefully sourced ingredients. Operators like US Foods and Sysco provide versatile, partially-prepared products to reduce kitchen labor. Despite varying approaches, all strive to balance labor-saving methods with maintaining quality and customer satisfaction, signaling a shift towards adaptable solutions in the face of persistent labor shortages. |
| California's minimum wage for fast-food workers will rise to $20 per hour on April 1, a result of legislation known as AB 1228. This move has sparked concerns about price hikes and operational challenges in the restaurant industry. Despite fears of doom, California operators, like Dave’s Hot Chicken, are preparing to navigate the wage hike by exploring cost-cutting measures while maintaining quality. Dave’s has grown rapidly through franchisees, emphasizing its status as primarily small business-operated. While the wage increase may pose challenges, it could also reduce turnover and improve efficiency in fast-food kitchens. |
| TACOTARIAN, a taco destination, has unveiled “Lotería,” a promotional game for California and Nevada residents. From February 1st to March 31st, customers can collect game pieces with each purchase, aiming to gather 16 unique pieces for a chance to win free tacos for a year. The promotion adds an element of strategy, as some pieces will be rarer than others, heightening the challenge. The grand prize winner, the first to complete the set, will enjoy two free tacos daily for a year. |
| New York State has implemented new regulations regarding service surcharges in restaurants, aiming to provide clearer information to customers paying with credit cards. Effective Sunday, restaurants must either include processing fees in menu prices or display separate prices for cash and credit card payments upfront. Additionally, only the actual credit card processing fee can be passed on to customers, preventing restaurants from charging extra for processing time. |
| The National Restaurant Association finds that nearly half of restaurateurs are turning to technology to address labor shortages. Some are heavily investing in automation, yet many aim to augment tasks rather than replace humans entirely. Tech adoption reduces turnover by alleviating stressful aspects of jobs, enhancing customer experiences and streamlining operations, such as Starbucks’ ice handling innovation. While automation may reduce cashier roles, it’s constrained by costs. |
| Inspire Brands, parent company of Dunkin’ and Buffalo Wild Wings, has acquired delivery management software company Vromo, marking its first acquisition since buying Dunkin’ in 2020. Vromo, formerly WeBring, offers delivery-focused tech solutions including order management and tracking. Integrating tech solutions in-house aims to gain a competitive edge, potentially enhancing delivery logistics for Inspire Brands’ restaurant portfolio. |
| The Texas Restaurant Association has launched an Employers for Childcare Task Force to address the overlooked issue of childcare in the industry amidst escalating turnover worsened by the pandemic. Research revealed that family-friendly benefits, like scheduling flexibility and childcare assistance, are crucial for retaining employees, particularly women. Only a small fraction of businesses currently offer such benefits. The task force aims to advocate for these benefits, highlighting their advantages for both employees and businesses, as childcare challenges cost employers billions annually in lost productivity. |
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