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| First Rock Real Estate has completed KFC El Roble in Costa Rica, the first of two planned locations in Latin America, with construction finished in under three months. The rapid construction exceeded expectations, making it the 55th KFC in the country. First Rock, International Trade and Finance SRL and Constarq SA collaborated on the project, with plans for a second location in San Rafael. |
| Scott Mezvinsky, Taco Bell’s North America president since last year, now also leads the international division, expanding his responsibilities. With Taco Bell since February 2021, initially as chief strategy and financial officer, Mezvinsky has a long tenure with parent company Yum! Brands, serving in various roles globally. Taco Bell’s international growth has surged, with milestones like Spain exceeding 100 units. |
| Yum! has a long history of do-gooding |
| At Yum!, we have a Recipe for Good Growth, which centers on doing right by our people, food and the planet. It's something that we've continuously improved upon year after year and is the focus of our latest "Quick Bite," a video series that documents Yum! news in about a minute's time. Watch and learn how the world's largest restaurant company is committed to doing good. |
| McDonald’s is collaborating with Nails INC. to launch a themed nail polish set, featuring shades like “Gotta Ketchup” and “Big Mac Please.” Packaged in McDonald’s-inspired designs, the set includes stickers and artificial nails, available at Amazon.com this month and later at Target and online. Additionally, gold heart toppers add sparkle to the collection. |
| Workers at 21 Starbucks locations announce their intent to join Starbucks Workers United, marking the largest single-day addition to the campaign, surpassing a previous record set in 2022. Starbucks aims to reach contracts at all organized stores this year. This surge in organizing likely aims to pressure Starbucks during negotiations, showcasing the union’s ability to mobilize new workers despite prolonged battles. While Starbucks emphasizes direct relationships with employees, workers argue unions offer an authentic voice. |
| Arby’s has reintroduced its Brown Sugar Bacon for three classic sandwiches: the BLT, Roast Beef and Turkey. The Brown Sugar Bacon BLT features both savory and sweet bacon, lettuce, tomato and mayo on a King’s Hawaiian bun. The Roast Beef & Brown Sugar Bacon Sandwich includes oven-roasted beef, Swiss cheese, lettuce, tomato and a Dijon spread. The Turkey & Brown Sugar Bacon Sandwich combines roast turkey, Swiss cheese, lettuce, tomato and Dijon spread. Available for a limited time nationwide, these sandwiches start at $6.49. |
| Chick-fil-A has announced the opening of three new restaurants in Alberta this year, with plans for up to 20 locations by 2030. These openings mark the first expansion outside Ontario since 2019. Each restaurant will be led by local entrepreneurs, creating jobs and fostering community impact. Chick-fil-A’s commitment includes donations to support local organizations, surplus food donations, grants to Canadian non-profits and scholarships for team members. |
| Little Caesars is testing its new Deep Dish Dippers in the Seattle area. This offering features a large Deep Dish pizza divided into four sections: Cheese, Pepperoni, Applewood Smoked Bacon and Jalapeno, each sprinkled with Italian spices akin to their Italian Cheese Bread. Served with dipping sauces like Crazy Sauce and Hidden Valley Ranch, the item is cut into 20 strips instead of the typical eight slices. |
| Quick-service restaurants saw traffic decline in January by 4.5%, with prices increasing by 4.4%. Net sales dipped into negative territory for the first time, hinting at the impact of slowed price increases. Consumer surveys reveal decreased spending on restaurants, with affordability driving more people to eat at home. Texas Roadhouse highlighted challenges in January, including bad weather, high prices and consumer spending constraints. |
| Focus Brands, the parent company of Auntie Anne’s, Cinnabon and Jamba, is undergoing a rebranding as GoTo Foods. The new identity signals a transformation into a platform company, aiming for growth and change. With a record-breaking year in 2023, GoTo Foods plans to leverage its brands and pursue multi-unit growth, co-branding and nontraditional development strategies. CEO Jim Holthouser emphasized the company’s dynamic and innovative vision, positioning GoTo Foods for a bright future. |
| Thai Union Group, owner of Red Lobster, is actively seeking a buyer for the struggling seafood chain, expecting minimal returns from the sale. After consecutive quarters of losses, totaling over $22 million in 2023, Thai Union plans to divest from Red Lobster due to poor performance and industry challenges. Despite efforts to revitalize the brand since acquiring majority control in 2020, including menu and operational changes, Thai Union has decided to exit the business and refocus on its core seafood products. |
| Travis Hibbert, owner of Donatos Pizza in Knoxville, TN, has received the 2023 Franchisee of the Year award from the International Franchise Association (IFA). With two successful franchise locations, Hibbert’s leadership, dedication to customer service and community involvement were highlighted. Donatos Pizza President Kevin King praised the Hibberts for their outstanding contributions to the brand and Knoxville community. |
| The James Beard Foundation (JBF) has launched the “Climate Solutions for Restaurant Survival” campaign, aiming to address climate change’s impact on independent restaurants and farmers. Prompted by a report from The George Washington University, led by José Andrés, the campaign seeks to raise awareness and drive action. Chefs like JJ Johnson highlight the impact on food costs, while Emma Jagoz notes crop losses affecting menus. JBF plans to equip chefs with advocacy training, elevate their voices, engage policymakers, host roundtable discussions and facilitate farm visits. |
| The SEC has informed FAT Brands of potential civil charges against chairman Andrew Wiederhorn and one other officer. This follows an investigation into events dating back to 2020. FAT Brands denies wrongdoing and plans a robust response. Wiederhorn, previously under federal investigation for alleged criminal activity, attributes scrutiny to shareholder lawsuit claims regarding a merger with his firm, Fog Cutter Capital Group. |
| A former McDonald’s night manager has filed a proposed collective action alleging the company fails to provide nursing employees with reasonable break time and proper space to express milk. Complaints include insufficient break time and inadequate spaces for pumping, with some employees forced to use stockrooms or bathrooms. These actions allegedly violate the Fair Labor Standards Act and the Providing Urgent Maternal Protections for Nursing Mothers Act. |
| Uber Eats has announced a partnership with Mitsubishi Electric and Cartken to introduce self-driving robots for food delivery in Japan, starting in Tokyo by the end of March. Cartken’s AI-powered “Model C” robots, capable of navigating sidewalks at human walking speed, will be used, supervised by Mitsubishi Electric. This venture expands Uber Eats’ autonomous delivery operations beyond the U.S., where it already collaborates with Cartken in Miami and Fairfax, Virginia. |
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