Burger King CMO, Fernando Machado, Talks Plant-Based Burgers at the 2020 Urner Barry ECGPS

During our second day of packed content and industry leading insights at Urner Barry’s Executive Conference and Global Protein Summit, participants were fortunate to hear from Chief Marketing Officer, Fernando Machado of Restaurant Brands International, which operates popular quick service restaurant (QSR) brands like Burger King, Tim Hortons, and Popeyes. Leading with a presentation on how QSRs have navigated the global COVID-19 pandemic, Machado was asked to comment on how consumer demand behavior has shifted between the Impossible Whopper, traditional beef Whopper, and chicken sandwiches.

Reinforcing Burger King’s commitment to monitoring how consumers preferences evolve and shift, Machado affirmed, “Our demand for beef burgers is there and continues to grow. The traditional Whopper is still, by far...

The Whopper Is Now Free of Colors, Flavors and Preservatives From Artificial Sources

Today, Burger King^® restaurants are proud to announce the Whopper^® sandwich now features no colors, no flavors and no preservatives from artificial sources in all markets across the United States. It’s the Whopper^® and nothing but the Whopper. The milestone is one of various efforts and substantial changes Burger King has made to its menu to promote real food and high-quality ingredients for its guests. In the U.S., 85% of the Burger King permanent food menu is now free of colors, flavors, and preservatives from artificial sources, and the brand is striving to achieve 100% by the beginning of next year...

Adapt and Move Fast: A Q&A with Restaurant Brands International CMO Fernando Machado

We caught up with Fernando Machado, Global CMO at Restaurant Brands International, to talk about his perspective on the pandemic and foodservice impacts ahead of his much-anticipated appearance at Urner Barry’s upcoming Executive Conference and Global Protein Summit, broadcasting exclusively online October 6-9, 2020. Fernando’s focus is infusing Burger King, Popeyes and Tim Hortons with purpose, improving product quality, overall sustainability, modernizing design, and inspiring the organization around tech, digital and brand development...

Burger King Launches Plant-Based Chicken Nuggets in Germany 

Burger King has added plant-based chicken nuggets to the menu at locations in Germany. The nuggets were created by The Vegetarian Butcher, a Holland-based brand that was acquired by Unilever in 2018. Burger King stated that the launch was in reaction to the trend of a growing number of consumers looking for plant-based options when dining out.

Hugo Verkuil, CEO of The Vegetarian Butcher, said, "The nuggets are soft and meat-like on the inside, crispy and golden on the outside and offer a delicious vegetable-based alternative for...

Burger King Unveils New Restaurant Concept 

Burger King has unveiled two new restaurant designs that provide guests with a touchless experience, complete with solar panels and conveyor belts that deliver orders to customers and outdoor seating. Burger King is the latest chain to announce changes to its restaurant concept since the pandemic caused a shift in consumer behavior. According to the NPD Group, drive-thru visits increased about 26% during April, May, and June.

“In March our in-house design and tech team accelerated new restaurant design plans and pushed the limits of what a Burger King restaurant could be,” said Restaurant Brands’ Chief Operating Officer Josh Kobzar.

Designed by Restaurant Brands International's in-house group, the new concept boasts an enhanced dining experience. For drive-in, customers will be able to...

Technomic Analyzes Wendy's Breakfast Performance 

In a recent analysis, Technomic used its Ignite Consumer tool to look at how Wendy's breakfast performed amid several challenges. Wendy's has had a long experience with testing breakfast menu items, dating back to the 1980s. From adding and removing breakfast items at different locations and trying out omelets on the menu, this daypart has represented an ongoing battle for the quick service chain.

In March 2020, Wendy's launched a new campaign focused on breakfast and started to spread the word with a Twitter war. The breakfast battle started with a tweet calling out McDonald's, who did not respond. Wendy's then followed up...

Restaurant Brands International Reports Second Quarter 2020 Results

Restaurant Brands International reported financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2020.

Jose Cil, Chief Executive Officer of Restaurant Brands International Inc. ("RBI") commented, "The COVID-19 pandemic has introduced a host of unprecedented challenges, but our proactive and coordinated response across the globe has helped drive a significant recovery in performance since March. I am so proud of our restaurant owners, our restaurant team members, and...

NCBA CEO Colin Woodall Responds to Burger King #CowsMenu Campaign

The following statement was provided by Colin Woodall, CEO of the National Cattlemen's Beef Association:

"Members of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association are disappointed by the release of Burger King’s #CowsMenu campaign. The nation’s burger restaurants can, and many of them do, play a vital role in helping improve beef’s sustainability and reducing its environmental footprint. Unfortunately, Burger King has chosen a different path, relying on kitschy imagery that misrepresents basic bovine biology – cattle emissions come from burps, not farts – and on the potential impact of a single ruminant nutrition study that was...

Burger King Introduces Burger Made from Cows on Low-Methane Diet 

Committed to the simple principle of doing what’s right, as one of the world’s largest and fastest growing quick service restaurants, Burger King will work to help address a core industry challenge: the environmental impact of beef.

According to the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization, livestock is responsible for approximately 14.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Cows release methane, a greenhouse gas that traps the sun's heat and warms the planet, as a by-product of their digestion.

To help tackle this environmental issue, the Burger King brand partnered with top scientists to develop and test a new diet for cows, which according to initial study results, reduces up to...

Burger King Restaurants Launch the Impossible Croissan’wich

Burger King today announced it is lauurger nching the new Impossible Croissan’wich sandwich nationwide. After a successful test earlier this year in select U.S. markets, BK guests across the country can now get the same Croissan’wich sandwich they know and love with a delicious Impossible breakfast plant-based patty. This new menu item makes Burger King the first national restaurant to offer an Impossible breakfast plant-based patty on a breakfast sandwich. The all-new, limited-time-only Impossible Croissan’wich features a toasted flaky croissant, fluffy eggs, melted American cheese and a seasoned breakfast plant-based patty from Impossible Foods...

Restaurants Offer Deals to Boost Traffic During the Coronavirus Pandemic 

Now that President Trump has extended social distancing guidelines until April 30th, consumers should expect to get food delivered, takeout, or from the drive-thru for the next month when they want to dine out. Restaurants are offering incentives to get consumers to eat away from home to generate income during these unprecedented times.

Taco Bell announced that the chain wants to give back to Americans this Tuesday, with a free Doritos Locos Taco for drive-thru guests. The restaurant is also offering free delivery through GrubHub on all orders more than $12.00. The chain will also be transforming its Taco Bell Trucks to...

Burger King Launches Ad Campaign About Removing Artificial Preservatives from the Whopper

The Burger King brand has pulled a surprising, global, integrated advertising campaign showing its iconic Whopper sandwich covered in mold. Yes, you read it right. A Whopper sandwich covered in mold.

Instead of featuring its product with the classic, flawless, and often perfect photographic style commonly used to showcase fast food products, the Burger King brand let its most iconic product rot to make a powerful statement: The brand has achieved a milestone by...

Restaurant Brands International Reports Full Year and Fourth Quarter 2019 Results

Restaurant Brands International Inc. today reported financial results for the full year and fourth quarter ended December 31, 2019.

Jose Cil, Chief Executive Officer of Restaurant Brands International Inc. ("RBI") commented, "We have three iconic restaurant brands that are together growing rapidly around the world. Last year, we shared a long-term aspiration to build the most loved restaurant brands in the world and have more than 40,000 restaurants open within 8-10 years. I'm proud that our 2019 results have us solidly on track."

"Burger King delivered its strongest year of restaurant growth in the last two decades. Popeyes launched an iconic Chicken Sandwich that has proven to be a game changer for the brand in every way. At Tim Hortons, our performance did not...

Rabobank Talks Alternative Protein Surprises

Rabobank kicks off the first note of the decade by sharing some of the main highlights from their annual ‘We Didn’t See That Coming’ survey of food trends. At the end of every year, for the past five years, Rabobank has asked in confidence the simple but highly revealing question: “In the world of food, what surprised you the most over the last twelve months?”

The main surprise can be summed up as the ‘the rapid growth and consumer acceptance of alternative proteins.’ For ease of digestion Rabobank has broken it into four sections...

Burger King Adds the Impossible Whopper to the 2 for $6 Lineup

Burger King restaurants are jazzing up the popular 2 for $6 promotion, now with the Impossible Whopper sandwich. Available for a limited time only, guests can choose between the Impossible Whopper, Spicy Crispy Chicken, Crispy Chicken and Whopper sandwich.

“We are excited to offer our guests a plant-based product like the Impossible Whopper as part of our 2 for $6 promotion,” said Chris Finazzo, President, North America, Burger King Corporation. “This unbeatable deal gives friends and family a new reason to come in and try the Impossible Whopper and other BK favorites at an amazing value.”

Burger King restaurants rolled out the Impossible Whopper sandwich with a patty made from plants nationwide last year following...

Burger King Tests the Impossible Croissan’wich

Burger King restaurants announces today it is testing the new Impossible Croissan’wich sandwich. Starting late January in select test markets across the U.S. market, BK guests can now get the same breakfast Croissan’wich sandwich they know and love with a plant-based patty. The all-new, limited-time-only Impossible Croissan’wich features a toasted croissant, egg, cheese and a seasoned plant-based sausage from Impossible Foods. This test makes Burger King the first restaurant to test Impossible Sausage made from plants on a breakfast sandwich.

Participating Burger King restaurants in Savannah, GA, Albuquerque, NM, Montgomery, AL, Lansing, MI and Springfield, IL will be testing the Impossible Croissan’wich. The Impossible Croissan’wich is made with...

Axel Schwan Joins Global Leadership Team at Restaurant Brands International

Restaurant Brands International CEO Jose Cil announced that Axel Schwan will join the global leadership team of the company. Mr. Schwan was appointed the Regional President of Tim Hortons for Canada and the US in October.

"I am very proud to welcome Axel to the leadership team. I have worked closely with him in Europe, the U.S. and now in Canada and he has proven himself to be a valuable leader of our Tim Hortons business, as well as a strong leader of people and teams," said Mr. Cil.

Axel Schwan will add the Latin America region to his accountabilities. Other international Tim Hortons locations and...

Burger King Announces Plan to Develop More Than 100 New Restaurants in Canada 

Burger King is announcing plans to open more than 100 restaurants in Ontario and Manitoba over the next five years. To drive growth in the underpenetrated burger market of Canada, Burger King Canada has inked a new five-year expansion deal with long-time partner, Redberry Restaurants ("Redberry"), to grow the number of Burger King restaurants in Canada by 25% so even more guests can enjoy the iconic flame-grilled Whopper sandwich, chicken fries and other Burger King favourites.

"For far too long, Canadian burger lovers have not had enough flame grilled options to choose from," said Matt Wright, General Manager, Burger King Canada. "Premium ingredients and signature recipes have defined Burger King for 50 successful years in Canada. We're excited that even more Canadians will be introduced to...