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| QSR Magazine highlighted Greg Flynn’s journey leading Flynn Group, the world’s largest franchisee group. Over two decades, Flynn Group expanded from a handful of restaurants to over 2,600 units, generating billions in annual sales. Flynn’s strategy involved acquiring and growing brands like Taco Bell, Pizza Hut and Wendy’s. Under his leadership, the company ventured into international markets, recently acquiring Pizza Hut’s business in Australia and planning to introduce Wendy’s there. “The good news is that international is unlimited opportunity,” Flynn says. “It’s a big world out there and there are literally millions of restaurants, and I don’t see why we can’t effectively operate internationally. But I wanted to be conservative about it and take baby steps out of the country.” |
| Taco Bell U.S. is offering free tacos for delivery orders on March 5th, with DoorDash and GrubHub users needing to spend $20 or more to unlock the deal. Uber Eats users can enjoy a buy-one-get-one-free offer on Beef Soft Tacos, while those using the Taco Bell app can get Crunchwraps for just $1 starting at 2 p.m. PST. |
| The Habit Burger Grill is introducing Charburger Tacos at select Southern California restaurants for a limited time. Cooked over an open flame, these tacos feature chargrilled beef patties in tortillas, offering a fresh take on the classic Charburger. Each taco includes melted American cheese, caramelized onions, tangy pickles, shredded lettuce, diced tomato and a spicy red pepper sauce. Priced at $5 for two, the Charburger Tacos aim to provide affordable, California-inspired food. |
| How the world’s largest restaurant company plans to reach gender parity |
The World Economic Forum forecasts that it will take 131 years to reach full gender parity – but Yum! Brands plans to reach it in the next few years.
The parent company of KFC, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell and The Habit Burger Grill made this bold goal in 2018 when it signed Paradigm for Parity’s pledge to reach gender parity in global senior leadership by 2030. In the past five years, it’s made significant progress moving from 33% in 2018 to 43% in 2022. With just 7% to go, the company is confident it will continue to make positive progress.
Read on to learn how Yum! is planning for parity. |
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| A viral social media post has sparked debate over the prices at Five Guys, with a receipt showing a customer spending $24.10 on a bacon cheeseburger, soda and fries. Comments ranged from shock to acceptance, with some pointing out regional price differences. The discussion extended to Reddit, where users expressed frustration over rising costs. Factors contributing to Five Guys’ higher prices include fresh ingredients, free toppings, larger portions and the use of peanut oil for fries. |
| Tim Hortons is marking its 60th anniversary with a Roll Up To Win promotion until March 31. Tims Rewards Members who buy eligible hot or iced drinks can earn Rolls to reveal prizes on the Tim Hortons App or RollUpToWin.com. Prizes include a 2024 Jeep Wrangler Sport, Universal Orlando Resort Vacation Packages, JBL Speakers, $100 Gift Cards to Apple, DoorDash, Instacart & AirBnB, free Tims products and a $1,000 Weekly Jackpot for a Virtual Visa Prepaid Card. Additionally, the 60th roll reveals a 10-pack of Timbits. |
| Wendy’s is offering a limited-time deal through its rewards program, allowing customers to get a $1 Dave’s Single or a $2 Dave’s Double until April 10. These deals can be accessed through the Wendy’s website or mobile app and are available once a week, refreshing every Wednesday. The Dave’s Single features a quarter-pound beef patty with American cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, pickle, mayo and ketchup on a toasted bun, while the Dave’s Double includes an extra beef patty. |
| Little Caesars is currently offering a limited-time deal on large, 2-topping pizzas for $7.99 each until March 17. This promotion is available nationwide at participating locations when ordering online through the Little Caesars website or mobile app using the promo code “TOPPINGS1.” The offer applies only to the traditional round crust pizzas and excludes thin crust or stuffed crust options. |
| Inspire Brands has opened its 10,000th international restaurant, with a focus on expanding further. The majority of these locations belong to Dunkin’ and Baskin-Robbins, while Jimmy John’s plans to enter Canada and Central America. Most of Inspire’s overseas locations are in the Asia Pacific, particularly South Korea and Japan. Michael Haley, president and managing director for the international division of Inspire Brands, emphasized a focus on existing markets and strengthening brand presence, particularly in Western Europe and emerging markets like India. |
| The restaurant industry has witnessed a surge in loyalty program launches and updates, reflecting consumers’ increasing reliance on mobile devices. Brands have revamped their programs to focus more on personalized rewards rather than just discounts. Full-service chains like The Cheesecake Factory and Cracker Barrel are also enhancing their loyalty offerings, with features like reservations and birthday treats. Red Robin plans to relaunch its program with a VIP-like experience, while IHOP’s successful loyalty program evolution has contributed to its positive sales performance. |
| Vice President of Analytics at Iris Pricing Solutions, Benjamin Garden, highlighted the transformative shift in quick-service restaurants’ pricing strategies. Traditionally static, the industry is now exploring dynamic pricing and personalized promotions. Wendy’s recent digital menu boards and dynamic pricing exemplify this trend, promising to optimize profitability without alienating customers. Dynamic promotions, driven by data analytics, offer hyper-personalized offers to enhance loyalty. While challenges exist, Garden noted that strategic implementation can redefine the quick-service experience, fostering transparency, customer satisfaction and long-term profitability. |
| Restaurant Business reported that Josh Smith is revolutionizing the farm-to-table concept with Neon Greens, a St. Louis fast-casual eatery boasting ultra-fresh produce from adjacent vertical farms. Partnering with Freight Farms, Smith’s vision champions transparency in the supply chain while delivering unparalleled freshness. Smith noted that his approach not only ensures supply chain resilience but also inspires change in food production, laying the groundwork for a potential nationwide expansion. |
| Red Robin has continued its strategic turnaround under CEO G.J. Hart by selling and leasing back 10 restaurants for $24 million to Essential Properties Realty Trust. This marks the third such deal in a year, following previous sales in June and August, totaling $60 million. Proceeds will be used to reduce debt, part of the chain’s plan to sell and lease back up to 35 restaurants. These transactions have already reduced debt by approximately $49 million, enhancing shareholder value. |
| The Fast Food Council, responsible for setting pay scales for California fast-food workers until 2029, comprises nine members representing various stakeholders. Chaired by Nicholas Hardeman, appointed by Gov. Gavin Newsom, it includes fast-food employees, labor advocates, franchisees and proxies of franchisors. Among them are SG Ellison, Michaela Mendelsohn, Anneisha Williams, Angelia Hernandez, Joe Johal, Richard Reinis, Maria Maldonado and Joseph Bryant. The council must convene by March 22 and will meet annually, with a minimum wage of $20 an hour starting April 1. |
| A class-action lawsuit has alleged that Golden Corral failed to promptly notify employees of a data breach discovered in August 2023. Over 180,000 people were affected, with compromised information including names and Social Security numbers. The plaintiff seeks injunctive relief, requesting deletion of affected data unless justified. Golden Corral offered identity theft monitoring, but the plaintiff deems it insufficient. |
| DoorDash reported a decline in delivery demand and lost revenue for New York City restaurants following a recent wage hike for delivery workers. The $2 fee added to offset the raise resulted in 200,000 fewer orders and $3.5 million in lost revenue since December 4. Similar effects were observed in Seattle after a wage increase, prompting DoorDash to shift payment methods in New York. The change limits online couriers and introduces a scheduling system, impacting gig workers’ flexibility. |
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