363 stories · last 30 days by relevance
Fast food chains' heavy promotional activity in 2024 failed to maintain value perception gains as market saturation and economic uncertainty set in, signaling operators may need to recalibrate their d
Wendy's is undergoing executive changes, Taco Bell partnered with Olivia Rodrigo, and recent sales data showed gains for independent restaurants—signaling continued industry consolidation pressures an
Original ChopShop is launching a dinner-focused promotion called 'Feel Good Nights' featuring new bowl options and a loyalty offer to drive weeknight traffic.
A podcast episode featuring a TD Bank restaurant finance executive discusses Subway's plan to extend late-night hours and its potential profit implications.
Fast-casual operators from Hot Head Burritos, Smoothie King, and Kraft Heinz are sharing insights on executing brand collaborations successfully at an industry conference.
McDonald's is testing whether international markets can sustain growth through value deals, menu innovation, and loyalty initiatives despite ongoing consumer pressure.
Applebee's, an official NFL sponsor, is offering a season-long promotional pass for free boneless wings to drive gameday traffic during football season.
Over half of Americans support rounding up purchases for charity, signaling potential for QSRs to mobilize customer bases for fundraising tied to education, hunger, and disaster relief causes.
Domino's has introduced a pizza offering that draws comparison to burger-chain menu items.
Taco Bell partnered with Olivia Rodrigo for a Baja Blast collaboration, part of broader celebrity marketing efforts across quick-service chains amid ongoing industry leadership changes.
McDonald's U.S. same-store sales grew only 0.8% in Q2, missing internal targets and falling slightly negative in April, signaling potential weakness in its value positioning relative to competitor off
Taco Bell partnered with Olivia Rodrigo to co-create a Baja Blast variant, signaling continued celebrity collaboration as a lever for beverage differentiation in QSR.
Value menu sustainability is fracturing — if McDonald's $3 offering shows structural problems, chains lose a key traffic driver in a competitive environment.
McDonald's appointed Skye Anderson as president of McDonald's USA, signaling an attempt to revitalize the sluggish U.S. market under a new corporate strategy.
Chipotle enlisted 100 creators to produce unscripted social and TV content showcasing the preparation of new menu items Pollo Asado and Chili Lime Chips, signaling a shift toward creator-led authentic
Domino's has launched a Detroit-style pizza called 'the Domino,' shaped like the brand's logo and positioned as its namesake flagship product.
McDonald's and Wendy's have both lost low-income customers since the pandemic, contributing to their recent traffic declines.
Pizza chains are adjusting their limited-time offer strategies for fall, balancing new menu items with value and established favorites as back-to-school, Labor Day, and football season overlap.
Denny's launched a national catering program powered by ezCater, creating a new off-premise sales channel for participating franchise locations.
Popeyes posted a 5.2% same-store sales decline in Q2, marking its sixth consecutive quarterly drop, though parent RBI projects a return to positive comps in the second half of 2026.
Chipotle ran a school-themed buy-one-get-one promotion during back-to-school season.
Cava and Chili's posted strong quarterly results while McDonald's introduced an energy drink and Domino's launched new products, though a 'Hot Ones' branded promotion underperformed.
Grimaldi's Pizzeria is running its 14th consecutive annual fundraising campaign with No Kid Hungry, having raised over $1.4 million for the organization since 2013.
KFC Canada and Cheetos Flamin' Hot have launched a collaborative menu item.
Single-brand birthday LTO campaign with discount offers — no strategic signal for multi-location operators beyond standard promotional tactics.
Celebrity co-creation of limited-time beverages drives trial and social buzz—a scalable playbook for QSR brands chasing Gen Z traffic and shareability.
Roundup of seasonal menu launches and promotional bundles across segments — routine news without strategic insight for multi-unit operators.
Chipotle partnered with creator Salish Matter to introduce a limited-time Kid's Quesadilla through its app and website, marking the brand's first creator-led Kid's Meal offering.
Papa Johns is revamping its marketing strategy after acknowledging it failed to emphasize value offerings during a period of declining sales.
The National Restaurant Association noted that beverages can support sales across different dayparts for restaurant brands.
Wendy's is offering 10-piece nuggets for $1.99 via its app through late September, signaling continued reliance on digital channels and limited-time deals to drive app engagement and traffic.
Starbucks' limited-time Unicorn Frappucino, after months of anticipation, generated a 28.5% traffic increase versus a typical Saturday, suggesting scarcity and pre-launch buzz can drive near-term tran
Chipotle has relaunched its Chipotle IQ trivia game, offering Rewards members chances to win free entrée codes and points.
Rōti Modern Mediterranean has launched a franchise incentive program aimed at supporting and accelerating development for its franchise partners.
Pokeworks is running September-long promotions including tiered bonus points for loyalty members and Labor Day offers, signaling continued focus on member engagement and seasonal traffic drivers.
Wings Etc. is repeating its September Fan Challenge promotion, offering free appetizers to rewards members who meet spending thresholds, timed with football season.
Pizza Hut launched a football season campaign featuring NFL player Josh Allen that plays on the brand name's similarity to the football term 'hut'; the effort signals the chain is tapping sports partn
Taco Bell is taking steps to address a cyclosporiasis outbreak linked to its restaurants.
Little Caesars has partnered with NFL players Justin Jefferson, Jared Goff, and George Kittle for a marketing campaign.
Red Robin reported its highest traffic in over three years, attributed to value meal offerings and staffing optimization as part of its ongoing turnaround effort.
McDonald's has added Red Bull energy drinks to its menu, a move that signals potential interest in capturing afternoon daypart traffic when beverage sales typically lag.
Beyond Juicery reports that all franchise owners adopted its new pricing strategy while maintaining customer traffic in a difficult operating environment.
Denny's is expanding its catering business, with CEO Chris Bode noting that two major competitors generate roughly $150 million in combined annual catering sales compared to Denny's $1.5 million last
Pizza Hut is featuring NFL quarterbacks like Josh Allen in its advertising while shifting its brand positioning to emphasize value.
DoorDash launched a season-long rewards program called 'Don't Fan for Free' tied to college football, aiming to capture fan engagement and order frequency during the 2026 season.
la Madeleine introduced a $9.99 weekday breakfast deal featuring Classic French Toast, signaling an effort to drive weekday traffic during a traditionally slower daypart for casual dining.
The Scream Truck is positioning itself for franchise expansion by adding brand partnership revenue opportunities alongside its ice cream operations.
Wendy's U.S. traffic declined 12.5%, prompting a five-point operational reset focused on value, branding, execution, digital, and unit economics—signaling management's attempt to arrest traffic loss t
McDonald's flagged operational shortfalls in its U.S. business during Q2, signaling the company is addressing value positioning, digital capabilities, and in-store efficiency—a shift suggesting execut
McDonald's US same-store sales growth has decelerated, with value promotions proving insufficient to attract the customer traffic needed to sustain momentum.