| Yum! Brands News | |
| | Yum!Now News | |
| | Competitor Intelligence | |
| | Industry Trends | |
| | Policy & Regulatory News | |
| | Restaurant Technology | |
| | | |
| KFC is celebrating achieving gender parity in its global corporate offices, with women now comprising 51% of the restaurant support center team. Utilizing McKinsey & Company’s Inclusion Survey, KFC has addressed the gender experience gap, fostering an environment conducive to women’s success. Chief People Officer Cristi Lockett highlighted the commitment to empowering future women leaders, unlocking a rich talent pool. This milestone aligns with Yum! Brands’ broader goal of gender parity in leadership positions by 2030. |
| KFC Canada has introduced the Crispy Onion Ring Big Crunch Sandwich, featuring deep-fried seasoned onion rings, KFC Sauce, fried chicken and pickles. Additionally, KFC has launched onion rings as a standalone menu item. Both offerings are available for a limited time across Canada. |
| Beverley D’Cruz and Aya Laimoun of Pizza Hut Middle East and Pakistan highlighted how the chain embraces gaming, recognizing its vibrant culture and vast audience. Initiatives include esports competitions, merch collaborations and themed promotions synced with gaming events. The brand has innovated by creating immersive experiences, like “The Hut” on Roblox, blending gaming and pizza culture seamlessly. D’Cruz and Laimoun gave their top tips for brands, which included understanding the gaming audience, authentic engagement, creative innovation and platform-specific content. |
| The Habit Burger Grill has released a new ad campaign made by Barrett Hofherr, a full-service creative agency. The objective is to boost brand recognition and highlight The Habit’s distinction in the “better burger” category, focusing on its iconic Charburger cooked over an open flame. The campaign introduced a new tagline (“Better By Char”), a mascot (Charlie) and direction for the brand. Ads will run across various platforms, featuring a captivating 30-second spot showcasing an animated briquette’s journey to become a delicious Charburger, emphasizing the brand’s commitment to quality and flavor. |
| How can young leaders gain respect from their older colleagues? |
In the latest episode of #3Questions, Joaquin Soto reveals a lesson that his father taught him that has helped him earn respect when he was promoted at a young age. The now senior director of Operations Systems & Technology at The Habit Burger Grill talks about that and more in the series that features conversations between Yum! CEO David Gibbs and our employees. Watch their inspiring conversation on Yum!Now. |  | (For Yum! Eyes Only) |
|
| McDonald’s has introduced its latest venture, CosMc’s, in Dallas, expanding from its Illinois debut. The concept focuses on beverages, offering familiar items along with new selections like energy slush and flavored coffee. The grand opening in Dallas attracted customers eager to try the specialty drinks and snacks, set to futuristic decor with celestial motifs. CosMc’s also features drive-thru service and modern kiosks for convenient ordering. Texas will soon see more locations, with two openings coinciding with a rare solar eclipse. |
| NielsenIQ has teamed up with McDonald’s U.S. to introduce a Cultural Resonance module within its Bases Ad360 ad-testing portfolio. This module assesses cultural factors in ads, offers insights on performance against industry standards and aids in crafting inclusive advertising strategies. It helps identify implicit bias and enables real-time optimizations for more effective storytelling. McDonald’s highlighted its commitment to diversity in marketing, including doubling investments in diverse media partners. |
| ParTech and Wendy’s have teamed up to enhance Wendy’s loyalty program using PAR Punchh, a leading loyalty and offer solution. Leveraging AI-driven technology, Wendy’s aims to provide personalized experiences, gamified offers and targeted promotions across its 6,500 locations in the U.S. and Canada. Collaborating with PAR Punchh’s team, Wendy’s will develop a comprehensive strategy to elevate guest experience and satisfaction. |
| El Pollo Loco is celebrating National Burrito Day with four promotions from April 1st to April 4th. Customers can receive $0 Delivery Fee on April 1st, get a $10 Bonus Card for every $50 eGift card purchased on April 2nd, access exclusive redemption codes on Instagram for free burritos or discounts on April 3rd and on April 4th, Loco Rewards members get a buy-one-get-one free burrito offer. |
| Usher, the eight-time Grammy winner and recent Super Bowl halftime performer, is now a celebrity investor in Dave’s Hot Chicken, joining Drake and others. He plans to invest in locations across Atlanta in the coming years. Usher praised the chain’s hot chicken, expressing excitement to bring it to more people. Dave’s Hot Chicken has grown rapidly, with over 200 U.S. locations and plans to open 90 more this year. |
| BJ’s Restaurants, a casual-dining chain, has reached a cooperation agreement with PW Partners, an activist investor owning over 5% of BJ’s stock. PW will provide recommendations on cost structure and efficiencies, and in return, will withdraw its two board nominees. This follows another activist’s success in adding former Darden CFO Brad Richmond to BJ’s board. PW suggests BJ’s reduce its board size, cut expenses by $50 million and buy back $100 million of stock to enhance shareholder value. |
| Rave Restaurant Group, parent company of Pizza Inn and Pie Five, has appointed Jay Rooney as CFO alongside five other executives to fuel growth. Rooney, formerly CFO at Dickey’s Barbecue, leads financial strategy. Rave emphasized expansion, focusing on buffet units for Pizza Inn, seeing growth after years of decline. Q2 2024 marks Rave’s 15th consecutive profitable quarter, with doubled year-over-year income. CEO Brandon Solano expressed excitement for store reimagination to enhance aesthetics and functionality. |
| Giordano’s, a deep-dish pizza brand of Chicago, is celebrating its 50th anniversary with special offers and events honoring its hometown. From April 2 to May 28, customers can receive a 50% discount on any pizza every Tuesday for dine-in guests at full-service locations. CEO Yorgo Koutsogiorgas expressed gratitude to the Chicago community for their unwavering support since the brand’s inception. Chicago’s mayor has declared April 5, 2024, as Giordano’s Pizza Day, recognizing its cultural significance to the city. |
| Four current and former minor league baseball players face charges of insider trading related to the 2022 sale of Del Taco to Jack in the Box. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission alleges that Jordan Qsar, Grant Witherspoon, Chas Lambert and Austin Bernard traded on insider information obtained from a friend who worked at Jack in the Box. Qsar allegedly shared details of the impending acquisition with the others, leading to the purchase of call options on Del Taco stock. |
| Mastercard and Visa have agreed to a nearly $30 billion settlement to reduce credit and debit card fees for merchants in the U.S. The settlement, one of the largest in U.S. history, aims to limit swipe fees for at least five years, addressing claims in nationwide litigation since 2005. Key points include reducing interchange rates, capping rates for five years and providing merchants with more flexibility at the point of sale. |
| The National Restaurant Association’s 2024 report divided restaurant tech into “nice-to-have,” “want-to-have” and “must-have” categories. Full-service establishments prioritize personal engagement but welcome tech for tasks like easier bill payments. Quick-service outlets focus on efficiency, with customers, especially younger ones, embracing apps and kiosks for ordering and payment. However, there’s caution regarding automated systems and robots, particularly in food preparation and delivery. The report underscores the ongoing evolution of tech in restaurants, emphasizing the need for operators to align innovations with customer preferences. |
|
|
