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| Fast Company highlighted how Taco Bell, with Deutsch LA, aimed to liberate “Taco Tuesday” from copyright, focusing on making it free for all instead of promoting themselves. This approach encouraged people to sign a petition and engage freely, enhancing Taco Bell’s brand image with altruistic advertising. By allowing individuals to choose how to use “Taco Tuesday,” the campaign garnered widespread participation and strengthened Taco Bell’s brand perception. |
| KFC U.K. and Ireland has announced new lunch options with a new workplace-friendly meal deal, including a Twister wrap, crisps or cookie and a drink starting at £5.49. Two TV ads depict scenarios where workers take a break for KFC: a barber pauses mid-shave to enjoy a Twister, and a massage client finds her masseuse snacking on KFC mid-session. Both ads normalize KFC as a suitable lunch choice for busy professionals, highlighting the ease of incorporating it into the workday. |
| KFC team members in Rochford joined the Great British Spring Clean initiative, collecting 20,000 bags of litter. The nationwide effort, supported by KFC U.K. and Ireland as a partner, aimed to combat the issue of litter across England, with an estimated 153 million pieces littered at any time. Bayo Alaba, Labour’s parliamentary candidate for Southend East and Rochford, participated in the event, emphasizing the importance of businesses working with communities to address litter and maintain clean local areas. |
A Taco Bell U.S. ad starring Jason Sudeikis and introducing the new Cantina Chicken menu will begin airing on March 21. Sudeikis has repeatedly expressed his love for Taco Bell in past interviews, responding to a real social media post about how “Taco Bell only really hits after midnight.” The ad offers Taco Bell Rewards Members a free taco through the app from March 21 to April 4. Loyalty program members also got an early taste of the items starting March 14.
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| How Yum! and the University of Louisville are revolutionizing franchising education |
Did you know that the global franchising economy is set to surpass $4.5 trillion by 2025? The University of Louisville's Yum! Center for Global Franchising Excellence, with the support of Yum!'s Unlocking Opportunity Initiative, is paving the way for aspiring franchisees by offering multiple levels of education, from undergraduate to executive. With the recent expansion and addition of the "Accelerating Growth" executive education programs, the Center is impacting more students and professionals than ever before, empowering them with the skills and knowledge to thrive in franchising. Explore the infographic to learn more about how Yum! and the University of Louisville are unlocking opportunity for future franchisees around the world. |  | (For Yum! Eyes Only) |
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| Subway has partnered with T. Marzetti Co. to introduce four sauces at retailers, including Sweet Onion Teriyaki, Roasted Garlic Aioli, Baja Chipotle and Creamy Italian MVP. These sauces, inspired by customer favorites, will support the Fresh Start Scholarship Fund. Subway’s Senior VP, Paul Fabre, sees this partnership as elevating culinary creations and contributing to a significant cause. The program aids Subway employees with tuition assistance, having awarded over 1,700 scholarships. |
| Chick-fil-A is testing pizza flavors exclusively at its Little Blue Menu test kitchen in College Park, Maryland, starting March 18. Stuart Tracy, Chick-fil-A’s senior culinary lead developer, stated they noticed customers using Chick-fil-A ingredients for pizzas at home, prompting the innovation. The five pizza flavors include Chick-fil-A Pizza Pie, Buff-lo-Ranch Pizza Pie, Cheese Pizza Pie, Pepperoni Pizza Pie and Meats-n-Veg Pizza Pie, along with a Pepperoni Pizza ‘Round calzone. |
| A $5 million class action lawsuit has been filed against Starbucks by California residents alleging discrimination against lactose-intolerant customers. Maria Bolliger, Dawn Miller and Shunda Smith claim Starbucks violates the Americans with Disabilities Act by charging extra for nondairy milk options, despite comparable costs to dairy milk. This results in additional charges ranging from 50 to 80 cents per order. Attorney Keith Gibson, representing the plaintiffs, argues this surcharge discriminates against those with lactose intolerance. |
| Wendy’s Canada has launched the Cinnabon Pull-Apart, available all day, featuring warm dough bites with Cinnabon cinnamon and cream cheese frosting, akin to the U.S. version. Starting March 24, a limited-time deal offers the Cinnabon Pull-Apart and a small hot coffee for $5 during breakfast hours. |
| Sonic Drive-In is launching a Blackout Slush Float nationwide from March 25, coinciding with the upcoming North American Total Solar Eclipse on April 8. The limited-time treat comes with a pair of eclipse viewing glasses. Mackenzie Gibson, Sonic’s VP of culinary and menu innovation, expressed excitement about offering a fun treat to coincide with the eclipse, particularly in the 400+ Sonic locations where the eclipse will be visible. |
| Applebee’s conducted a double-blind taste test comparing boneless buffalo wings from Wingstop and Buffalo Wild Wings, with Applebee’s emerging as the clear winner among 1,000 consumers. This reaffirms the popularity of Applebee’s boneless wings, prompting a celebratory promotion offering them for 50 cents for a limited time. Unlike past dine-in-only promotions, this one extends to delivery and to-go orders, reflecting the increasing importance of off-premises sales, which now contribute to about 22% of total sales. Joel Yashinsky, Applebee’s CMO, noted he anticipates profitable traffic from the promotion, emphasizing its profitability for franchisees. |
| Smashburger, a 235-unit fast-casual chain, welcomed Denise Nelsen as CEO in January, leveraging her 30 years of experience in the QSR industry, notably as Starbucks’ former SVP of U.S. operations. With plans to drive growth and enhance operations, Nelsen aims to elevate teams, streamline processes and positively impact communities. Jollibee Group CEO Ernesto Tanmantiong expressed confidence in Nelsen’s ability to lead Smashburger into a new phase of expansion. |
| Heather Neary, a seasoned industry professional with extensive experience at Auntie Anne’s and KBP Brands, has been appointed as the new CEO of Taco John’s, succeeding Jim Creel who retired. Neary’s strategic vision and proven track record in driving growth and enhancing customer experience make her well-suited to lead Taco John’s into a new era of expansion. During her time at Auntie Anne’s, Neary significantly increased gross sales and fostered a people-first culture. |
| Potbelly Corporation is set to open its first location in Springfield, Illinois, marking its second Central Illinois opening in 2024’s first quarter. Scheduled to open on March 26 in the downtown Memorial Health System campus, the shop will offer entrances both streetside and within the Springfield Memorial Learning Center. Franchise owner Rob Wilbern, who recently opened a Potbelly location in Champaign, anticipates a warm reception from the community. Wilbern plans to open three more Potbelly locations in Central Illinois and introduce a Potbelly food truck to immerse neighborhoods in the brand. |
| California’s new fast-food wage law, AB 1228, inadvertently impacts overtime rules. Salaried fast-food employees are exempt from overtime if they earn double the minimum wage. With the wage set to $20/hr, the exemption threshold rises. AB 610 clarifies the law’s scope, exempting certain establishments from its wage hikes. The Fast Food Council, created by AB 1228, reviews wages biannually. Unanswered questions include notification timing for wage changes and coverage of ghost kitchens. |
| The California General Assembly passed Assembly Bill 610, amending the state’s new law raising the minimum wage for fast food workers to $20 an hour, effective April 1. The bill clarifies the scope of fast-food restaurants and workers covered by the law, introducing exemptions for establishments not considered “fast food.” These exemptions include restaurants in airports, hotels and event centers. Assembly member Chris Holden, who authored the bill, emphasized that it aims to exclude workers already covered by unions with wages exceeding the new minimum. |
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