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| Huawei and Yum China have recently conducted a ceremony where KFC announced its completion of HarmonyOS native app beta development. KFC’s app boasts full HarmonyOS features, promising seamless user experiences across devices. Offering order management, delivery tracking and payment services, the app’s versatility extends to multiple devices without additional installations. While McDonald’s is still in the development phase, KFC’s lead signifies the growing adoption of HarmonyOS. |
| KFC U.K. and Ireland is embracing barbecue season with the launch of its Ultimate BBQ Burger, featuring the signature Original Recipe chicken fillet, lettuce, cheese and crispy onions, all smothered in a sweet, sticky and smoky BBQ sauce, served in a brioche bun. Available from April 29 to June 9, or until supplies last, the burger is priced at £6.49. Initially exclusive to delivery via Just Eat and KFC Delivery, the burger celebrates KFC’s commitment to sustainability. |
| The Habit Burger has introduced The Chicken Club Club, an exclusive space for Chicken Club Sandwich enthusiasts to unite, enjoy and potentially win rewards. Members can join for free via The Habit Burger app from April 26 to June 25. Celebrating the Chicken Club Sandwich’s #1 ranking in Daily Meal’s ratings, the club offers a complimentary sandwich to new members and a chance to win a Mystery Box filled with exclusive items. Partnering with Foodbeast, the club promises engaging contests, events and experiences for fans. |
| This director is spicing up Taco Bell’s green initiatives |
| Peek into Taco Bell Director of Global Nutrition & Sustainability Missy Schaaphok’s decades-long career in the food industry and how she is now making our favorite tacos and burritos – and what they come wrapped in – better for us and the planet. Don't miss out on this special Earth Day "How I Got Here" feature to learn how Schaaphok is leading Taco Bell toward a brighter, more sustainable future with innovative ingredient sourcing and sustainable packaging solutions. |
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| Chipotle has exceeded Wall Street’s projections for its quarterly earnings, revenue and same-store sales growth, with a 7% rise in same-store sales and a 5.4% increase in traffic. Quarterly earnings per share were reported at $13.37, beating expectations of $11.68, while revenue reached $2.7 billion, surpassing the anticipated $2.68 billion. Despite price increases due to inflation, Chipotle saw transaction growth across income groups, maintaining its value perception. The company plans to expand its footprint with 285 to 315 new locations in 2024 and anticipates mid-to-high single-digit same-store sales growth for the full year. |
| A study analyzing Glassdoor ratings by BBADegree.org reveals that Chipotle and Starbucks have the highest burnout ratings among major restaurants, with scores of 97.72 and 81.97, respectively. Chipotle ranks second overall in burnout ratings, following only Progressive. The restaurant industry’s stressful nature is evident in its high turnover rates, with Chipotle and Starbucks facing significant labor challenges. While corporate-operated chains like Chipotle and Starbucks show high burnout ratings, franchise-heavy brands display lower scores, potentially due to differences in employment structures. |
| About 150 members of Starbucks Workers United (SBWU) are meeting with Starbucks representatives in Atlanta to address issues affecting all unionized Starbucks locations. An additional 250 SBWU members will participate as bargaining caucus members, relaying progress to the broader group. The negotiation covers wages, scheduling, staffing, safety and healthcare benefits, involving about 70% of SBWU’s 10,000 represented workers. Prior negotiations failed over hybrid bargaining disputes. |
| Neutral Foods, the first certified carbon neutral food company in the U.S., is expanding its partnership with Shake Shack to supply its certified Carbon Neutral Whole Milk to over 90 Shake Shack locations nationwide. This marks Shake Shack’s first collaboration with a fast-casual restaurant partner. Neutral Foods works with American farmers to support carbon emissions reduction projects, investing in climate-smart practices and reducing the environmental impact of dairy farming. By using Neutral Milk, Shake Shack has already avoided more than 375 metric tons of CO2e, equivalent to 873,000 miles driven by an average gasoline-powered passenger vehicle. |
| Domino’s is currently offering a limited-time carryout-only deal until Sunday, April 28, where customers can enjoy large, 2-topping pizzas for $6.99 each. This deal represents an extra topping and a $1 discount compared to their long-running carryout deal for a large, 1-topping pizza at $7.99. It’s an enticing offer, especially for those interested in trying Domino’s new New York Style pizza. |
| Restaurants are facing a challenge as they see increased competition from retailers, according to data from Placer.ai. While quick-service restaurants experienced a 5% increase in traffic compared to 2019, full-service restaurants saw an 8% decrease. In contrast, grocers, superstores and convenience stores have seen significant traffic boosts, with convenience stores up 17%, grocers up 12% and superstores up 7%. This shift in consumer behavior suggests that restaurants are losing customers to retailers, particularly value-focused locations like Aldi and Trader Joe’s, as well as convenience stores. |
| After emerging from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, Clover Food Lab, a Boston-based vegetarian quick-service restaurant chain, unveiled ambitious plans for expansion. With a focus on smaller-footprint locations in university areas and urban markets, the company aims to grow from its current 13 locations to 60 within the next five years, starting in Greater Boston. Despite facing challenges during the pandemic, including a shift to meal boxes which now contribute to 20% of revenue, Clover remains optimistic about its future. |
| IHOP and Virtual Dining Concepts are expanding their partnership to introduce two new VDC brands, NASCAR Refuel Tenders & Burgers and MLB Ballpark Bites Presented by Mastercard, along with expanding the existing Pardon My Cheesecake brand. These brands will be available for delivery from IHOP restaurants nationwide, with plans for a broader rollout throughout the year. Pardon My Cheesesteak was already being served at over 900 IHOP locations as of Q1 2024, with NASCAR Refuel Tender & Burgers in over 400 locations and more to come. |
| Chopt Creative Salad Co., based in New York City, is launching a new loyalty app featuring a three-tiered status system: Member, VIP and Elite. The program offers rewards such as points earned with every order, customizable redemption options, special events, pop-up challenges, express pickup for Elite customers and free bottled dressings. New users receive a welcome gift of 500 points upon sign-up and first order. The app integrates with Toast for in-store loyalty, allowing customers to scan their Chopt App QR code to redeem rewards and earn points. |
| Raydiant partners with Big Chicken, owned by Shaquille O’Neal, to enhance in-restaurant experiences. Raydiant’s cloud-based system integrates seamlessly with Big Chicken’s POS provider, PAR/Brink, to power dynamic digital menu boards. The successful implementation led to Raydiant becoming the main tech solution for all franchise locations. Raydiant will provide white-glove service for content creation and management, with significant interest from franchisees. Future solutions may include drive-thru signage, programmatic advertising and location-based analytics. |
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