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| KFC South Africa’s “Beyond the Sea” campaign draws inspiration from South African scientists stationed on Marion Island, emphasizing the lengths people will go for the taste of KFC. The campaign features Mzuli Ntuli and Samantha sailing from the remote island to Cape Town to satisfy their KFC cravings, facing challenges like rough seas. The cinematic story celebrates their devotion, highlighting KFC’s popularity in South Africa. The campaign reflects KFC’s message that people will go to great lengths for their favorite taste. |
| Jimmy Fallon has joined forces with Pizza Hut U.S. and Chain to introduce “Jimmy’s Personal Pan Pizza,” a limited-time collaboration. Created by Michelin-starred Chef Tim Hollingsworth, the gourmet pizza features a buttery dough, spicy red sauce and a four-cheese blend including Parmigiano Vacche Rosse. Served with pepperoni chips and Chain’s Super Ranch dressing, it debuts at the Chain House in Hollywood from April 12 to 14. The event offers custom cocktails by Thunderbolt and transforms Pizza Hut’s salad bar into a “build-your-own-sundae” bar. |
| Pizza Hut Ireland is offering free kids buffet lunches until April 12 with the purchase of an adult main dish. The deal, valid for dine-in only, features unlimited pizza, pasta and salad, accessed with the code APRILKEF. Exclusions apply, and the code can be used once per bill. While receiving praise from parents on social media, the offer aims to enhance the dining experience for families. |
| Collaboration across continents is key |
| Yum!'s scale is unmatched, and when we harness it, our brands win. KFC, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell and The Habit Burger Grill have a history of maximizing their impact across the globe thanks to some of our most innovative menu items. Did you know KFC's most recent LTO, the Chizza, originated in the Philippines in 2015 and traveled to countries like South Korea, Mexico and Germany before landing in the U.S.? Learn about its journey as well as that of Taco Bell's Nacho Fries, Pizza Hut's Melts and more in this new episode of "Quick Bite." |
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| A TikTok video showcasing a $25 McDonald’s meal deal sparked online debate over California’s minimum wage increase. The deal, featuring 40 Chicken McNuggets and two large fries, highlighted rising fast-food prices, with a FinanceBuzz study revealing a 100% increase since 2014. While some attributed the high prices to wage hikes, others reminisced about past McDonald’s prices. McDonald’s disputed the study’s accuracy, stating that pricing varies by franchise and that the listed prices were inflated. The company emphasized its commitment to providing value through affordable pricing and special offers. |
| Papa John’s has unveiled plans to expand with 50 new restaurants over five years in a deal with franchisee Nadeem Bajwa and the Bajco Group. The expansion will focus on existing Midwest markets, as well as Arizona, Pennsylvania and Florida. Bajwa, who began as a delivery driver, now owns 200 Papa John’s locations and aims for 500. The initiative stems from Papa John’s Back to Better 2.0 strategy, incentivizing growth by reducing marketing expenses. CEO Rob Lynch anticipates seeing results in the second quarter of 2024, marking progress toward tapping untapped markets and boosting sales for both the company and franchisees. |
| El Pollo Loco celebrated exceptional women at an event honoring their achievements in conjunction with Women’s History Month. Honorees included Rosa Fuentes, an immigrant success story turned multi-unit franchisee; Yvonne Guidry, a multicultural influencer and entrepreneur; Amanda Castillo, founder of Pica Pica Candy; and Carmelita Ramírez-Sánchez, executive director of the Boyle Heights Arts Conservatory. El Pollo Loco also emphasized women’s roles within the company, with many holding critical positions. |
| Tim Hortons is marking the grand opening of two new locations in Atlanta and Fairburn, Georgia, on April 12. The first 100 guests at each site will receive a Tim Hortons gift card, with special deals on coffee and Timbits available. The Fairburn event will feature an Iced Capp sampling and fun activities for kids. Katerina Glyptis, Tim Hortons U.S. president, expressed excitement for the brand’s growth in Georgia and across the U.S., with plans to expand further in 2024. |
| Lee’s Famous Recipe Chicken is introducing its new Famous Favorites Variety Box, available for a limited time starting April 8. The box includes 5 pieces of bone-in dark meat and 5 chicken strips with two dipping sauces, offering a blend of quality and convenience. CEO Ryan Weaver emphasized the importance of providing choices for guests. Orders can be placed in-store or online for pickup or delivery, with rewards available through the Lee’s app. |
| Beef consumption is on the rise despite concerns about health and environmental impacts. Technomic’s report shows nearly 70% of consumers eating beef weekly, with 32% frequently purchasing it at restaurants. Motivations include the desire for protein (45%), perception of beef as healthy (26%) and increased availability of beef dishes at restaurants (28%). While consumers are cooking beef at home more often (31%), they seek premium cuts when dining out. Restaurants are adapting by offering diverse options at various price points, including lean cuts and smaller portions paired with other proteins. |
| Despite a 6% decline in overall spending, Chick-fil-A retains its top spot among teens, followed by McDonald’s and Chipotle. Starbucks dominates the coffee and tea category with 37% preference. Teen spending is impacted by inflation, but environmental concerns rank high, with 14% citing it as a primary issue. Chick-fil-A’s continued popularity contributes to its impressive sales, while Starbucks benefits from teen spending, particularly on cold, customized beverages. |
| Texas Roadhouse has outpaced competitors like Applebee’s in 2023, with $4.78 billion in sales, up 13.8% from 2022. Despite its smaller footprint, it’s become a leader in the casual dining segment, even challenging Olive Garden. Texas Roadhouse’s success stems from its focus on “legendary food, legendary service,” eschewing lunch and delivery and avoiding frequent promotions. While it’s slowly adopting technology, like Roadhouse Pay, its main strategy is consistency. |
| MOD Pizza closed 26 underperforming restaurants during the first quarter, reducing its portfolio to 527 units. Despite speculation, the closures weren’t influenced by California’s new $20 minimum wage, but rather due to long-term poor performance. Workers were offered transfers or severance. The reevaluation follows the appointment of new CEO Beth Scott. |
| Mountain Mike’s Pizza is sponsoring Angels Baseball for a third consecutive season, featuring its Shutout Challenge. During the 2024 regular season, Mountain Rewards app members can claim a free mini one-topping pizza after every Angels shutout at any of its 18 locations across Orange County and the Inland Empire. CEO Jim Metevier expressed excitement for the partnership, aiming to enhance fans’ experiences with their signature pizzas. The ongoing collaboration deepens the connection with Angels fans, demonstrated by last season’s giveaway of nearly 3,000 free mini pizzas and increased loyalty memberships. |
| Florida’s pending bill, awaiting Gov. Ron DeSantis’ signature, would prohibit local jurisdictions from implementing protective measures for restaurant and other workers against excessive heat and predictive scheduling. The legislation also aims to relax restrictions on teen employment hours, although the state Senate limited work hours for 16- and 17-year-olds to 30 per week without parental permission, alongside mandatory breaks. In contrast, Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers vetoed a bill allowing 14- and 15-year-olds to work without parental consent, citing concerns for teen workers’ welfare amid rising illegal employment rates. |
| Restaurant365, a back-office technology provider, has acquired ExpandShare, a learning management system, to enhance its suite of services. This move aims to address the growing importance of employee training in reducing turnover and improving operational efficiency. ExpandShare simplifies training processes by allowing restaurants to upload existing materials or access a library of courses, aided by AI tools, and manage everything through a mobile app. Notable users of ExpandShare include Newk’s Eatery and Marco’s Pizza. |
| Bite, a kiosk ordering provider, secured $9 million in Series A funding led by Staley Capital. The investment underscores the rising interest in kiosks among restaurants seeking operational efficiency amidst escalating costs. Bite’s software, used by over 1,100 restaurant locations including Fazoli’s and Taco John’s, aids in labor cost management and sales growth. With a focus on enhancing employee productivity rather than replacing jobs, Bite’s AI-driven features like Bite Lift recommend menu items, resulting in higher check averages. |
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