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| Nataliya Kudryashova, Head of Culture, Engagement and Inclusion at Yum! Brands, was included on the Women’s Foodservice Forum’s (WFF) list of Change Makers Class of 2024, which recognizes women with high potential in the foodservice industry. Celebrating its 35th anniversary, WFF aims to empower women leaders, partnering with companies to foster talent. Selected Change Makers exhibit inclusive leadership and strong business results, contributing to industry advancement. |
| 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 |
| Starbucks welcomed spring with two new lavender-infused drinks: the Iced Lavender Cream Oatmilk Matcha and Iced Lavender Oatmilk Latte. Incorporating lavender for the first time, these drinks feature oat milk and a creamy lavender foam. Developed after a visit to a local lavender farm, Starbucks aims to capture “the essence of spring with these offerings.” |
| On March 13, Detroit-area McDonald’s are celebrating 313 Day with a special promotion. Customers can purchase a Filet-O-Fish meal featuring Vernors Boston cooler and receive free t-shirts designed by a local company. Yusef Alcodray, a McDonald’s owner-operator in the area, emphasized the collaboration with iconic Detroit brands as a tribute to the city’s vibrant community. |
| Jack in the Box has reintroduced the Jack Pack, a value meal priced at $5, comprising a choice of Jr. Jumbo Jack Cheeseburger or Chicken Sandwich, along with a taco, seasoned curly fries and a value-sized drink. Available for a limited time at participating locations nationwide, the Jr. Jumbo Jack includes a beef patty with American cheese, tomato, pickle, lettuce, onions, ketchup and mayo on a toasted bakery bun. |
| Zaxby’s milkshakes, discontinued in 2017, have made a return, sparking a collaboration with Macon, Georgia, to become the “Milkshake Capital of America.” Select Zaxby’s locations, primarily in Macon, are offering four flavors: Strawberry, Chocolate, Vanilla, and Birthday Cake. Mayor Lester Miller stars in commercials promoting the partnership with Visit Macon. The limited-time offering aims to gauge customer demand for a potential nationwide rollout. |
| Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers has introduced new Kids Meals featuring a mascot, FredHead. Available nationwide via drive-thru, dine-in and app ordering, Kids Meals offer options like Single Cheeseburger, Hot Dog or Chicken Tenders with fries or applesauce. Expanded beverage choices include 1% Milk, Chocolate Milk and Apple Juice. Each meal comes with interactive toys such as stickers, games and puzzles, along with Kids Sweet Treats like OREO custard cookies or Mini Sundaes. |
| Portillo’s has expanded its Texas presence with two new locations in the Houston market following successful openings in Dallas-Fort Worth. The Richmond restaurant at The Grand at Aliana will feature a Southwest garage theme with indoor seating for 170 and outdoor patio seating. Willowbrook Mall’s Restaurant of the Future design will offer indoor seating for 130, outdoor seating for 40 and a pickup area with double drive-thru lanes. CEO Michael Osanloo expresses excitement about bringing Chicago street food to Houston. |
| Noodles & Company’s interim CEO Drew Madsen, now permanent, noted that he plans a menu overhaul to revitalize the struggling fast-casual chain. Following a 9% decline in traffic during the fourth quarter, Madsen aims to modernize the menu with a focus on contemporary comfort cuisine. The company will work with The Culinary Edge to refresh offerings, emphasizing bold flavors and signature twists. Madsen stressed staying true to the pasta concept while updating the brand’s identity. Testing menu changes will precede a market test with 25 restaurants, targeting a rollout later this year or in early 2025. |
| Marc Lore, former Walmart executive and entrepreneur behind Diaper.com and Jet.com, shifted focus to the restaurant industry with Wonder in 2018. Initially a food truck venture, Wonder transitioned to brick-and-mortar, emphasizing delivery and “fast fine” cuisine curated by renowned chefs like Bobby Flay and Nancy Silverton. With 11 locations in New York and New Jersey and plans for expansion, Wonder aims for 35 locations by year-end. Shlossman, former Sweetgreen CMO, underscored Wonder’s vertical integration and chef-approved dishes as differentiators. |
| The Washington, D.C., city council passed a restaurant bill, with one provision shielding restaurants with service fees under 20% from some litigation, if disclosed clearly to consumers. The move follows concerns over fee transparency amid the elimination of the tip credit. Many operators consider such fees to offset rising labor costs. Before becoming law, the bill requires approval from the mayor and review by Congress. A coalition opposed to service charges, Fair Price Fair Wage, conducted a social media campaign grading restaurants’ fee transparency. |
| The Florida legislature passed a bill granting restaurants more communication access on third-party delivery apps, effective by July 2025. It mandates app channels for restaurant-customer communication during order prep, delivery and post-pickup. The law aims to address order issues without divulging customer contact info. The collaboration between the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association and delivery companies led to the bill’s formulation. Additional regulations ensure consent for listing restaurants, itemized order costs and menu price control. |
| Bojangles franchisees, represented by the Bojangles of America Franchisee Association (BFA), are suing the brand over its marketing fund, alleging lack of transparency and mismanagement. The lawsuit claims that Bojangles maintained a secret “accrual account” not disclosed in franchise documents, used for disposing of discontinued products. Despite promises to allow audits of the marketing fund and accrual account, Bojangles allegedly provided insufficient information, abruptly ending the audit. The BFA asserts that Bojangles stopped providing detailed accounting of the marketing fund in 2020 and refused transparency regarding the accrual fund. |
| Restaurant operators are facing challenges in collecting, storing and utilizing data effectively. Industry experts noted that while data collection is crucial, quality and relevance are key. Operators must strike a balance between quantity and utility, ensuring they gather actionable insights. Continuous education and investment in data optimization are imperative for success in the modern restaurant industry. |
| Presto Automation is pivoting towards its drive-thru AI solution, Presto Voice, amid financial challenges, planning to divest its Presto Touch tablet payment business. Major clients like Applebee’s, Chili’s and Red Lobster opted not to renew contracts, signaling further instability. Presto Voice, while seen as the company’s future, faces hurdles like high R&D costs and reliance on human intervention, raising doubts about profitability. |
| In celebration of International Women’s Day, Snooze an A.M. Eatery is hosting all-women’s shifts at three restaurants, symbolizing its commitment to gender equity. From chefs to management, every position will be held by a woman, reflecting Snooze’s evolving inclusion policy. While just over five years ago there were no female head chefs, today nearly a quarter hold the position, with one-third of the executive team being women. Initiatives like the women’s leadership group SheCakes and DEI taskforce have empowered future leaders and fostered diversity throughout the company, with crucial support from male leadership. |
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