Submit comment or question
Note: All comments are displayed with user's screen name. If screen name is not present, user's full name will be used. Please go to My Account to update your screen name.
Comment Policy: Urner Barry has made the comment feature available to encourage further discussion of our news stories. Defamatory or offensive comments, or comments deemed not relevant to the story will be removed, and if necessary, Urner Barry may restrict the right of individual subscribers to offer comments. In all cases, comments represent opinions of the poster only, and do not represent fact, news, opinions or estimates put forward by Urner Barry.
Email Address is required. Password is required.
Burger King Evolves Visual Brand Identity Marking the First Complete Rebrand in Over 20 Years
Burger King is making a leap forward by introducing a completely new visual design that will be present throughout all touchpoints of the guest experience. Inspired by real and delicious food, the more modern look marks the first complete rebrand in over 20 years and will more authentically represent Burger King values. The announcement signals a commitment to digital-first expression and recent improvements to taste and food quality, through the removal of colors, flavors, and preservatives from artificial sources from menu items, as well as...
Britain’s Drive Thru Spend Up 45% September to November 2020
The trend for ordering food and drinks from our cars at Britain’s growing number of drive-thru restaurants soared from September to November 2020 according to global information company The NPD Group. There were 121 million visits to Britain’s 2,000 quick service restaurants (QSR) that offer drive-thru in those three months in 2020, a 14% increase on the same period last year. Spend was up 45% to £723m over this time frame, with consumers tending to place larger-than-average orders at the drive-thru window.
According to footfall analysis from NPD’s SnapMyEats data, the growth in drive-thru in these three months was a result of consumers switching from eating in and takeaway options during lockdowns and tiering, rather than...
Burger King is Launching a Dollar Menu, Reviving the Fast-Food Value Classic
Burger King is launching a dollar menu as many Americans struggle financially during the pandemic-induced recession.
On Monday, Burger King announced it would debut a $1 Your Way menu on December 28. The menu will consist of four items priced at $1: a bacon cheeseburger, a Chicken Jr. sandwich, fries, and a soft drink.
"The dollar menu is back," Ellie Doty, Burger King North America's chief marketing officer, told Business Insider, adding that a lot of customers...
Burger King Opens 300th Restaurant in Canada
Burger King has proudly opened its 300th restaurant in Canada, located in Richmond Hill, Ontario.
The new restaurant features Burger King's latest design elements, interactive features such as outdoor digital menu boards, a freshly designed interior and an eye-catching newly designed exterior.
"We're extremely excited to be opening our 300th Burger King restaurant in Canada," says Chris Finazzo, President, Burger King Americas.
"This is a big step in our journey to offer more and more Canadians close and convenient access to...
Restaurant Brands International Reports Third Quarter 2020 Results
Restaurant Brands International Inc. reported financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2020.
Jose Cil, Chief Executive Officer of Restaurant Brands International Inc. ("RBI") commented, "Our results this quarter are once again a testament to the incredibly hard work our team members, restaurant owners and employees have put in to re-open our restaurants and continue serving millions of guests every day. Looking forward, we are very well-positioned to navigate through a wide range of possible scenarios, especially given the strength of our network of drive-thrus and fast-growing delivery channel."
"Despite our continued near-term focus on confronting the challenges presented by this global health crisis, we continue to make progress behind our long-term vision for the business, including modernizing our brands by...
Burger King, Tim Hortons, and Popeyes to Modernize Its Drive Thru Experience
Restaurant Brands International Inc. announced that it is modernizing the drive-thru experience at more than 10,000 Burger King and Tim Hortons locations, with Popeyes beginning its own rollout later this year. More than 40,000 digital screens are being installed with powerful 'predictive selling' technology, integration with restaurant loyalty programs and the ability for remote, contactless payment, reflecting the strategic importance and value of the drive thru experience to RBI's iconic restaurant brands.
"Our guests have sought out our drive-thru lanes for our iconic food and beverages throughout the COVID-19 pandemic – even in the face of mandated dining room closures around the world," said Jose Cil, CEO of RBI. "We believe strongly that it is time to...
Burger King to Pilot Reusable Containers Through Partnership with Loop
Burger King restaurants are continuing efforts to minimize environmental impact across the globe by testing a new reusable packaging model that will help cut down on packaging waste. The brand, as part of its Restaurant Brands for Good framework, has launched a partnership with TerraCycle’s circular packaging service, Loop, to pilot a closed-loop system with zero-waste packaging that can be safely cleaned and refilled to be reused, again and again.
Together with Loop, the trial will offer restaurant guests the option to conveniently reduce waste when ordering their favorite Burger King brand staples like...
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...
FEATURED STORIES
The Latest Market Briefing is Here!
Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Strikes South Korea’s Layer Houses
U.S. Department of Agriculture Announces Key Staff Appointments
Urner Barry Releases January Emerging Plant Protein Report
Sysco Releases New Foodie Solutions Toolkits
URNER BARRY INDICES