Culver's Announces the Retirement of CEO and President Joe Koss

Culver Franchising System LLC announced today the retirement of CEO and President Joe Koss at the end of 2020.

After 23 years with this growing organization, to what is now nearly 770 restaurants, Koss made the decision to retire and spend more time with his family.

"Joe has positively impacted so many facets of our company in his time with us, especially his leadership through this unprecedented set of circumstances we've successfully navigated recently," said co-founder Craig Culver. "That said, we certainly know how important family is and fully support his decision to focus there..."

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...

Dunkin' Delivery with DoorDash Now Available at 3,500 Restaurants Nationwide

Dunkin' and DoorDash have teamed up to make delivery available at approximately 3,500 Dunkin' restaurants across the country, with further expansion planned over the coming months. To officially kick off the relationship, DoorDash is treating guests with a special offer. Starting September 15 through September 21, consumers that spend $10 or more on Dunkin' through DoorDash will be eligible for a free 25-count box of Munchkins and a $0 delivery fee.

According to Brandy Blackwell, Director of New Business, Delivery & Catering, for Dunkin' U.S., "Dunkin' guests know they can count on us to offer the most convenient ways to enjoy their favorite coffee and...

White Castle Introduces the Crave Clutch

White Castle is once again disrupting how customers transport its famous Sliders. The restaurant is adding yet another unique container – the Crave Clutch – to its lineup of iconic packaging. The colorful clutch makes its debut in all White Castle restaurants and will be available for a limited time. It's the first new package since White Castle introduced the 100-count Crave Crate in 2004.

Holding 20 Sliders of any variety, the Crave Clutch sits nicely between the classic 10 Sack and the 30-Slider Crave Case, making it the perfect choice for family meals and small gatherings. That's especially helpful now as people spend more time at home or outdoors in response to...

ANALYSIS: Q4 Wing and Tender Performance Dependent on Price and Seasonality

It is certainly a relief to have our daily lives slowly returning to something we might recognize as normal. There is no doubt that is the case for...

White Castle Launches Craver Nation Loyalty Program 

White Castle has launched its first loyalty program, Craver Nation. The program will provide valuable discounts and special offers to customers based on their individual purchase history at White Castle restaurants. Members will receive a free combo meal with four Original Sliders, a small order of fries and a small soft drink when they sign up.

"No two customers are quite alike, which is why we're offering a personalized experience that's not based on points or the number of purchases, but instead on their individual preferences at White Castle," said Lisa Ingram, president and CEO of White Castle and fourth generation family member. "We're looking forward to providing these special offers and...

McDonald's to Test Reusable Cup Model for Hot Beverages 

McDonald’s Corporation has announced a global partnership with TerraCycle’s circular packaging service, Loop, to test a new reusable cup model for hot beverages. The initiative, which will first be trialed in 2021 across select McDonald’s restaurants in the UK, helps customers enjoy their favorite McDonald’s hot drink in a reusable cup, while cutting down on packaging waste. The model marks significant progress toward innovative circular packaging solutions that help protect the planet for communities today, and in the future.

This unique new partnership will conveniently allow customers to reduce waste by choosing a durable Loop-created cup, for a small deposit. The deposit can then be redeemed by returning the cup to participating McDonald’s UK restaurants in order to be...

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...

Bojangles Names Monica Sauls as the Company’s First Chief People Officer

Bojangles, Inc. announced that leading human resources and change management strategist Monica Sauls will join the company as Chief People Officer, effective Sept. 15. In this newly defined position that goes beyond the traditional human resources role, Sauls will drive the company’s culture, developing current team members and attracting new talent to support the company’s growth.

Reporting directly to Bojangles CEO Jose Armario, Sauls will lead talent acquisition, talent development, employee relations, diversity and inclusion and culture stewardship. She is the first African American to serve on Bojangles’ senior leadership team in the company’s...

Kentucky Fried Chicken Announces Partnership with DoorDash

Kentucky Fried Chicken announced that its world-famous fried chicken is now available for order and on-demand delivery through DoorDash. To celebrate the new partnership, KFC and DoorDash are offering fried chicken fans across the U.S. an irresistible deal: Beginning September 8, through Thursday, September 17, customers will receive 12 free chicken tenders with the purchase of select KFC bucket meals on orders placed through the DoorDash website or app with promo code KFC12.

To sweeten the deal, customers will also receive $0 delivery fees alongside their select bucket meal purchase, available from more than 3,000 KFC restaurant locations through September 17.

Since 1952, KFC has helped families enjoy a bucket of fried chicken practically anywhere, traveling easily while staying fresh and ready-to-eat. Some might even say...

Sami Siddiqui Appointed President of Popeyes Americas

Restaurant Brands International Inc. announced that Sami Siddiqui has been appointed President of Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen for the Americas.

Sami has most recently served as President of Asia-Pacific for RBI, leading the growth of Popeyes, Burger King and Tim Hortons throughout the region, including introducing the Popeyes brand in China and the Philippines.

Jose Cil, Chief Executive Officer of RBI commented, "I'm very proud to announce that Sami will be leading Popeyes through our exciting next phase of growth across the Americas. Popeyes is a brand with...

Yum China Announces Pricing of Global Offering

Yum China Holdings, Inc., China's largest restaurant company in terms of 2019 system sales, announced the pricing of its global offering of 41,910,700 new shares of common stock, which comprises an international offering and a Hong Kong public offering. The final offer price for both the international offering and the Hong Kong public offering has been set at HK$412.00 per Share (or approximately US$53.16 per Share).

The Company has set the Offer Price by taking into consideration, among other factors, the closing trading price of the shares on the New York Stock Exchange on September 3, 2020 (the last trading day before pricing). Subject to approval from The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited, the Shares are expected to begin trading on the Main Board of...

Taco Bell Completes 2020 Menu Revamp

Taco Bell is putting the finishing touches on its new streamlined menu in order to make room for new innovations. It is also dedicated to creating a faster and more seamless restaurant experience than ever before, which means evolving the menu, restaurant designs, and operations to better serve both guests and team members alike.

“We’re constantly evaluating ways to provide a more efficient restaurant experience, and have already begun to see progress from streamlining our menu,” said Mike Grams, Taco Bell President, Global COO. “While we know fans may be understandably sad to see some of their favorites go, this evolution...

Del Taco and Beyond Meat Team Up with DoorDash to Offer Free Delivery this Labor Day Weekend 

Del Taco Restaurants announced a new way to relax and enjoy a plant-based meal at home this Labor Day weekend, thanks to the brand’s partnership with Beyond Meat and DoorDash. Starting this Friday, September 4, through Monday, September 7, fans can use the DoorDash app to receive free delivery on all orders that include any Epic Burrito with Beyond Meat.

Del Taco’s foil-wrapped Epic Burritos deliver fast-casual quality with fast food convenience and value. Each burrito weighs about one pound, and are loaded with premium, fresh ingredients, and offered in combinations including...

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...

U.S. Restaurant Drive-Thrus are Proving Their Value During the Pandemic and Beyond 

Drive-thru restaurants have always been the ultimate in convenience and speed but during the pandemic, especially during the mandated dine-in closures, they were also a lifeline for the restaurants that had them, reports The NPD Group. Drive-thru restaurant visits increased by 26% in the April, May, and June quarter and represented 42% of all restaurant visits.

In July when more restaurants were reopened, drive-thru visits still increased by 13%, the highest visit increase among the service modes of on-premises, carry-out, and delivery, according to NPD’s daily tracking of U.S. consumers’ use of restaurants and...

It's Officially Footlong Season at Subway Restaurants

Subway restaurants, the new, exclusive Official Sandwich Sponsor of the National Football League (NFL), is adding its own flavor to the game with plans to turn the 2020 football season into "Footlong Season." Throughout the 2020 NFL Season, and debuting with a television spot featuring NFL Coach Bill Belichick, fans can make a good call all season long with Subway.

Joining Coach Belichick this season will be NFL star brothers J.J., T.J. and Derek Watt, and NFL Hall of Famer Deion Sanders, for Subway's new national marketing campaign that will leave fans craving footlong sandwiches while cheering on their team. The star-studded line-up will be featured in television commercials, along with...

Wendy's Adds Pretzel Bacon Pub Cheeseburger to Menu 

Wendy's is introducing the Pretzel Bacon Pub Cheeseburger. After a few years out of the pretzel-bun game and some self-reflection, the new and improved Pretzel Bacon Pub Cheeseburger is back. In between the soft pretzel bun lies a quarter pound of fresh, never frozen beef topped with Muenster cheese, three strips of Applewood smoked bacon, smoky honey mustard, warm beer cheese sauce, crispy fried onions, and pickles.

"We love working with our Culinary Innovation team to deliver on emerging food trends and flavors that customers can't get enough of," said Carl Loredo Chief Marketing Officer for The Wendy's Company. "Like we did with Spicy Nuggets, we've been watching and listening as customers have been...

The Nature Conservancy, Cargill, McDonald’s and Target Unite to Invest in Beef Sustainability 

The Nature Conservancy, McDonald’s, Cargill and Target are coming together to launch a new five-year, $8.5 million project aimed at working with Nebraska farmers to advance proven soil health practices to help mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and help farmers adapt to climate change. Overall, this effort has the potential to sequester 150,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide over the course of the project – equivalent to removing over 32,000 cars from the road in one year.

Nebraska is one of the top states for U.S. beef production and among the top three states for corn production, a key ingredient for cattle feed. This project will work with interested farmers to reach...

KFC Welcomes John Mays as New Director of Equity and Inclusion 

Kentucky Fried Chicken announced the appointment of John Mays as director of equity and inclusion for KFC U.S. In this newly formed role, Mays will lead the development and implementation of KFC’s equity and inclusion vision and strategy to help position the brand as an industry leader across the United States.

As director of equity and inclusion, Mays will lead organizational changes, raise awareness of equity and diversity issues and develop policies to address equity from the restaurant level to franchisees and the brand headquarters.

“At KFC, we have a passion for food and serving it with pride; we are also a people-first culture, and John embodies this culture day in and day out, making him...

Church's Chicken Introduces New "Go Box"

Originally established as Church's Fried Chicken To Go, Church's Chicken was built on the idea of convenience and accessibility for quality, value, and Texas-inspired flavor – which has become an even more pronounced focus for the brand today.

With COVID-19 significantly shifting consumer habits and increasing demand for off-premise dining, Church's is reconnecting with its to-go roots by offering a signature carrier option for guests to grab and go. Church's new "Go Box" provides...

U.S. Restaurant Chain Transaction Declines Improve Into Single-Digits for the First Time Since March

In the week ending August 16, customer transaction declines at major restaurant chains improved into the single-digits after 21 weeks of double-digit declines, reports The NPD Group.

Customer transactions were down 9% in week ending August 16 compared to year ago, a 35-point gain from the steepest decline of 44% in week ending April 12, according to NPD’s CREST Performance Alerts, which provides a rapid weekly view of chain-specific transactions and share trends for...

Carl's Jr. Launches New Angus Beef Burger 

In celebration of its newest craveable menu innovation, the Steakhouse Angus Thickburger, Carl's Jr. is offering an ultimate steakhouse dinner experience from the comfort of consumers' homes.

As many customers continue to look for new ways to elevate their nights in, Carl’s Jr. will partner with Nocking Point Wines to introduce a limited-edition “Carl’s Jr. x Nocking Point Wines Steakhouse Burger Box.” The box features a collection of...

McDonald's is Bringing a Spicy Spin to Its Chicken Nuggets 

McDonald's has announced a pair of menu innovations arriving to U.S. restaurants this fall: Spicy Chicken McNuggets and Mighty Hot Sauce. Both will be available September 16 for a limited time at participating restaurants nationwide.

Breaded with a sizzling tempura coating made of both cayenne and chili peppers, these Spicy Chicken McNuggets are joining...

Papa John’s Reports Continued Strong August Sales in North America

Papa John’s International, Inc. provided preliminary estimated comparable sales information for the August fiscal period. In light of the uncertainty and volatility related to the pandemic, the company has continued to provide this information on a monthly basis.

President & CEO Rob Lynch said, “Papa John’s sales, driven by product innovation, remained strong in August. As we have added new customers throughout 2020, our customer satisfaction and brand affinity scores also...

Papa John's Introduces New Grilled Buffalo Chicken Papadia 

Papa John’s is offering a new Grilled Buffalo Chicken Papadia for $6 until October 25.

The Grilled Buffalo Chicken Papadia is crafted from Papa John’s dough and comes loaded with grilled chicken and onions, held together by melty signature cheese, plus a three-cheese blend, all drenched in the saucey goodness of buttermilk-ranch and a tangy, fiery buffalo sauce.

For guests really looking to turn up the heat, Jalapeño Popper Rolls can be...

Domino's Introduces New Chicken Taco and Cheeseburger Pizzas 

Domino's has introduced its newest specialty pizzas, the chicken taco pizza and the cheeseburger pizza, which were created for delivery.

"We're excited to add even more options to our lineup of delicious specialty pizzas," said Art D'Elia, Domino's executive vice president-chief marketing officer. "Now friends and family who are craving a taco or cheeseburger on pizza night won't be disappointed. Domino's new taco and cheeseburger pizzas are sure to...

Yum China Opens Taco Bell Store in Beijing

Yum China Holdings, Inc. announced the opening of a new Taco Bell store in Beijing, its first store in the capital city. The new store, located in Beijing's Liangmaqiao district, will open its doors to the public today.

"After much anticipation we are thrilled to bring this iconic brand to Beijing. The new store integrates Taco Bell's signature food and spirit into the local community and we are excited to welcome new and...

White Castle Teams Up with Postmates 

Postmates has partnered with White Castle, America's first fast-food hamburger chain and the home of The Original Slider to offer customers on-demand delivery.

"White Castle has been serving its customers for almost 100 years, and we are proud to be a part of their...

Taco Bell Announces Plans for New Restaurant Concept

Taco Bell, a brand that prides itself in evolving to deliver on changing consumer behavior, is at it again. As seen in its recent menu evolution and digital rehaul, the brand has continued to redefine itself across all consumer touchpoints.

Now, Taco Bell is merging technological advancements, innovative operations and a people-first approach into its most modern Taco Bell expression yet: Taco Bell Go Mobile. The new restaurant concept allows Taco Bell, an industry leader in traditional drive-thru service, to push...

Jollibee Opens New Location in Texas 

Popular fast-food chain Jollibee, which hails from the Philippines, will open its first location in West Plano, Texas on Thursday, August 20, 2020. The store is located at 1016 Preston Road, Plano, Texas, 75093.

In the midst of the pandemic, Jollibee has continued to safely and successfully open stores across the country, opening its second location in the greater Houston area in Missouri City and third location in the greater Chicago area in June, as well as two locations across New Jersey in July...

ANALYSIS: Chicken Tenders: Rolling With the Punches

2020’s chicken market has been a far cry from conventional and the tender segment is no exception...

Wendy's Adds Spicy Chicken Sandwich to 4 for $4 Meal Deal

Wendy's is introducing its Spicy Crispy Chicken Sandwich to Wendy's 4 for $4. The latest addition brings the heat with a spicy all-white meat crispy patty, crisp lettuce, mayonnaise, and a warm bakery bun.

The restaurant will also be offering a Postmates code offering free 4 for $4 Meal Deals with any $10 minimum purchase for a limited time. The sandwich will be available nationwide at participating Wendy's restaurants.

The 4 for $4 Meal Deal was first introduced...

Papa John’s Announces Second Quarter 2020 Results

Papa John’s International, Inc. announced financial results for the three and six months ended June 28, 2020. The company also provided an update on the business impact of the global coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

“Faced with an unprecedented global challenge but guided by our values and purpose, Papa John’s achieved record sales in the second quarter,” said Rob Lynch, President & CEO. “Across the U.S. and those international markets where delivery-based businesses have remained open, we have safely and successfully met...

Domino's Pizza Announces Staff Changes 

Domino's Pizza announced the appointment of Executive Vice President, Supply Chain Services, Stu Levy, as the Company's Chief Financial Officer, succeeding Jeffrey Lawrence, who earlier announced his intention to retire from the Company this year. Levy will report to Domino's Chief Executive Officer Ritch Allison.

At the same time, Domino's announced the promotion of Cindy Headen to Executive Vice President, Supply Chain Services, succeeding Levy. She will join the Company's executive leadership team and will report to CEO Ritch Allison. These changes will be effective August 20, 2020.

"In a relatively short period of time, both Stu and Cindy have made profound positive impacts on our Company," said Allison. "They are strong, capable leaders who are...

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...

Wendy's Reports Second Quarter 2020 Results

The Wendy's Company reported unaudited results for the second quarter ended June 28, 2020 and provided an update on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Company's business.

"I continue to be extremely proud of, and humbled by, the tireless efforts and dedication from our employees, franchisees and supplier partners across the globe as we successfully manage through COVID-19," President and Chief Executive Officer Todd Penegor said. "Our business and restaurant economic model continue to show incredible resilience as we build momentum with U.S. same-restaurant sales accelerating to high-single digit growth in July, driven by...

U.S. Restaurant Chain Customer Transaction Declines Remain Relatively Flat

U.S. major restaurant chain customer transactions were down 11% in the week ending July 26 versus year ago, reports The NPD Group. This is a modest improvement from the 12% decline versus year ago in the prior week, and a continuation of the relatively flat pattern seen over the last several weeks, according to NPD’s CREST Performance Alerts, which provides a rapid weekly view of chain-specific transactions and share trends for 75 quick service, fast casual, midscale, and casual dining chains representing 53% of the commercial restaurant traffic in U.S.

Customer transactions at major quick service restaurant chains were down 11% in the week ending July 26 compared to a year ago and were flat from the prior week, week ending July 19. Full service restaurants improved slightly with customer transactions down...

Jack in the Box Announces Departure of CFO

Jack in the Box announced that Lance Tucker, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, has provided his intent to resign and will be leaving the company effective within the next six weeks. The company has initiated a search for a new Chief Financial Officer. While the company searches to identify a successor, the senior members of the company’s finance department will assume Tucker’s responsibilities on an interim basis.

Dawn Hooper, the company’s controller, has been appointed to principal financial officer effective on Tucker’s last day. Hooper has been with Jack in the Box Inc. for almost 20 years, with her tenure in leadership positions within finance. She, in conjunction with Sean Bogue, the company’s treasurer, will ensure...

U.S. Full Service Restaurants Struggle as Visit and Transaction Declines Stay in the Double-Digits

Full service restaurants (FSRs) were still recovering from the Great Recession, which ended over ten years ago, when the COVID pandemic hit along with shelter-at-home orders and mandated dine-in closures. With most of FSR business being on-premises dining, these sit down, table service restaurants were hit hard.

Visits to FSRs were down 47% in the April, May, and June quarter, the height of the mandated dine-in closures, compared to same quarter year ago, reports The NPD Group. Quick service restaurants (QSRs), which already have developed off-premises operations like carry-out and drive-thru, realized...

The National Football League Announces Subway Restaurants as Official Sponsor of the NFL

Sandwich lovers and football fans just scored a major touchdown. The National Football League (NFL) announced that Subway restaurants, the world's largest sandwich chain, is now an Official Sponsor of the NFL.

As an official multi-year sponsor of the NFL, Subway will have exclusive marketing rights and activation opportunities at key NFL events and experiences. The brand will also sponsor NFL FLAG, the largest U.S. flag football league and support NFL PLAY 60, which is dedicated to keeping youth active and healthy. Subway will align with key teams, players and partners to bring the sponsorship to life.

The long-term sponsorship kicks off this fall with a new ad campaign featuring NFL talent and personalities and restaurant promotions, allowing Subway fans to...

Domino's Promotes Art D'Elia to EVP and Chief Marketing Officer

Domino's Pizza announced the promotion of Art D'Elia to executive vice president, chief marketing officer.

In this expanded role, D'Elia will run all global marketing initiatives for the brand, leading all U.S. marketing and advertising, and working with the brand's master franchise companies around the world. D'Elia will report to Russell Weiner, chief operating officer and president, Domino's U.S.

D'Elia joined Domino's in 2018 as senior vice president, chief brand and innovation officer, leading the Company's U.S. product development and innovation, national TV advertising, and field marketing efforts. Earlier this year, he gained responsibilities for...

Dunkin' Brands Reports Second Quarter 2020 Results

Dunkin' Brands Group, Inc., the parent company of Dunkin' and Baskin-Robbins (BR), reported results for the second quarter ended June 27, 2020.

"For Dunkin' U.S., same store sales improved sequentially throughout the quarter, largely as a result of our ability to pivot quickly and introduce new menu items designed to appeal to customers who are now visiting us later in the day. Our digital platform -- a cornerstone of our Dunkin' Blueprint for Growth -- drove significant customer engagement and rapid recovery during the quarter, and last week we announced...

Yum China Reports Second Quarter 2020 Results

Yum China Holdings, Inc. reported unaudited results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2020.

Impact of COVID-19 Outbreak and Mitigation Efforts

Second quarter operations improved since the COVID-19 outbreak. More than 99% of stores in China are now open, with sales and profits trending unevenly. Sales improved sequentially in April and May but softened in June. Sales were primarily impacted by significantly reduced traffic at transportation and tourist locations, delayed and shortened school holidays and resurging regional infections. These factors and the lingering effect of COVID-19 continue to...

Little Caesars Named Official Pizza Delivery of the National Hockey League

Little Caesars and the National Hockey League (NHL) announced a new North American partnership, naming Little Caesars the Official Pizza Delivery of the NHL.

The multiyear agreement offers Little Caesars an array of exclusive marketing rights and designations that will connect the brand with the NHL and its events. Fans will see the Little Caesars brand displayed in a corner in-ice ad position during every game of the 2020 Stanley Cup Qualifiers and 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs, as well as all exhibition games. The partnership begins immediately and runs through the 2020-2021 season.

"Little Caesars is an enormous global restaurant chain with deep ties to our sport, both at the Club level with the Detroit Red Wings as well as through... 

Starbucks Reports Q3 Fiscal 2020 Results

Starbucks Corporation reported financial results for its 13-week fiscal third quarter ended June 28, 2020. GAAP results in fiscal 2020 and fiscal 2019 include items that are excluded from non-GAAP results. Please refer to the reconciliation of GAAP measures to non-GAAP measures at the end of this release for more information.

“Since the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak in January, we have taken a principled approach to navigate the crisis, true to our mission and values. Every step of the way, we have thoughtfully addressed the needs of Starbucks stakeholders and are particularly proud of the industry-leading investments we have made to support our partners while creating...

U.S. Restaurant Industry Recovery Stalls with No Improvement in Transaction Declines in Six Weeks

COVID case surges across the country and the subsequent rollbacks in re-opening plans have stalled the U.S. restaurant industry’s recovery, reports The NPD Group. Major restaurant chain customer transaction declines have been between 11% and 14% versus a year ago since the second week of June compared to the steady improvement in declines from the last week in April through the second week in June.

In the week ending July 19, major restaurant chain total customer transactions are down 12% versus year ago, compared to 14% in the prior week, according to NPD’s CREST Performance Alerts, which provides a rapid weekly view of chain-specific transactions and share trends for 75 quick service, fast casual, midscale, and casual dining chains representing...

Del Taco Reports Second Quarter Financial Results

Del Taco Restaurants reported fiscal second quarter 2020 financial results for the 12-week period ending June 16, 2020 and provided a business update related to the impact of COVID-19.

Management Commentary

John D. Cappasola, Jr., President and Chief Executive Officer of Del Taco, commented, “Our restaurant teams, franchise partners and support staff are doing exceptional work supporting our people, serving our guests and strengthening our brand as we successfully navigate the business recovery phase of our strategy while preparing for brand acceleration. Despite the pandemic-induced headwind affecting our industry, our system-wide comparable restaurant sales continue to improve sequentially and are...

McDonald's Reports Second Quarter 2020 Results

McDonald's Corporation today announced results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2020.

"Throughout our history, McDonald's has demonstrated the strategic foresight necessary to position our business for the future. Our strong drive-thru presence and the investments we've made in delivery and digital over the past few years have served us well through these uncertain times. We saw continued improvement in our results throughout the second quarter as markets reopened around the world," said McDonald's President and Chief Executive Officer Chris Kempczinski. "I'm especially proud of the way the McDonald's System continues to provide a safe environment for both customers and crew, building on...

Papa John’s Looks to Hire 10,000 More Team Members as the Pandemic Continues

Papa John’s International announced the company recently hired 20,000 team members, including many who were displaced during the COVID-19 pandemic, and is again stepping up efforts to hire another 10,000 additional team members over the next few months.

Papa John’s is also expanding its best-in-class college tuition benefit program, “Dough & Degrees,” including the addition of two new partners, Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) and University of Maryland Global Campus. Those schools join Purdue University Global in offering Papa John’s corporate and franchise team members, as well as...

McDonald's Introduces New COVID-19 Safety Precautions in the U.S.

From the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Mcdonald's has based decisions on its top priority: protecting the health and well-being of its employees and customers. In order to build on that commitment, McDonald's taking three important additional steps:

• Requiring customer face coverings in the restaurants
• Adding protective panels to front- and back-of-house
• Pausing dining room re-openings for an additional...

Dunkin' Brands Announces New Strategy Team

As part of its ongoing commitment to digital transformation, Dunkin’ Brands Group, Inc., the parent company of Dunkin' and Baskin-Robbins, announced today that Philip Auerbach will join the company in the newly created role of Chief Digital and Strategy Officer. Effective August 10, 2020, Auerbach will oversee a new Dunkin’ U.S. digital engagement team that includes consumer and business insights, digital marketing, media, and customer care. Auerbach will also lead Dunkin’ Brands global strategy and Information Technology (IT). He will report to Dave Hoffmann, Dunkin’ Brands CEO.

As key members of the new digital strategy team, Stephanie Meltzer-Paul and Santhosh Kumar have been promoted to Senior Vice President, Dunkin’ U.S. Digital Marketing, and...

Wendy's Launches 'Wendy's Rewards' Across the U.S.

Wendy's announced the national launch of 'Wendy's Rewards' loyalty program, allowing customers the opportunity to earn points to unlock rewards for their favorite menu items. To kick off Wendy's Rewards, fans can get double points on their first order for a limited time.

Scoring free Wendy's is easy with Wendy's Rewards. Simply make a purchase at Wendy's to earn points and keep track of them in Wendy's mobile app. Customers can earn points on nearly every way they get Wendy's, whether its placed via mobile order or by scanning their app at the pick-up window.

"Wendy's has some of the most loyal customers around, and we're thrilled to launch a program that rewards them for their excellent taste in craveable, high-quality food," said...

U.S. Quick Service Restaurant Chains Drive Customer Transaction Declines in Week Ending July 12 

Total customer transactions at major U.S. restaurant chains declined by 14% in the week ending July 12 versus year ago, compared to 11% in the prior week. Quick service restaurant (QSR) chains drove the decline, decelerating 4-points to 13% year-over-year while full service restaurant (FSR) chains improved declines by 3-points to 26% year-over-year.

A reversal from last week when FSRs drove the declines and QSRs fueled the improvement in declines, according to NPD’s CREST Performance Alerts, which provides a rapid weekly view of chain-specific transactions and share trends for 75 quick service, fast casual, midscale, and casual dining chains representing...

Taco Bell to Simplify Menu in August  

Beginning August 13, Taco Bell is simplifying its menu. This evolved menu approach comes after months of analyzing the new way Taco Bell is running its restaurants. The company wants to ensure an easy and fast ordering experience for guests and team members, while simultaneously opening up opportunities for even more innovation.

While some old favorites may be retiring, the continued creativity coming from Taco Bell's Food Innovation Team is non-stop. Since the start of COVID, the company has made changes at the restaurant level with the safety of Team Members and guests as the top priority, but Taco Bell didn’t just stop there. The new normal has also transformed the way the company looks at...

Kentucky Fried Chicken and 3D Bioprinting Solutions to Use a Bioprinter to Produce Nuggets 

Kentucky Fried Chicken is taking the next step in its innovative concept of creating a "restaurant of the future" by launching the development of innovative 3D bioprinting technology to create chicken meat in cooperation with the 3D Bioprinting Solutions research laboratory.

The idea of ​​crafting the “meat of the future” arose among partners in response to the growing popularity of a healthy lifestyle and nutrition, the annual increase in demand for alternatives to traditional meat and the need to develop more environmentally friendly methods of food production.

The project aims to create the world's first laboratory-produced chicken nuggets. They will be as close as possible in both taste and appearance to the original KFC product, while being more...

Kentucky Fried Chicken to Offer Plant-Based Chicken in Southern California 

Beyond Fried Chicken is back! Kentucky Fried Chicken and Beyond Meat announced today a sneak peek of Beyond Fried Chicken, their plant-based chicken collaboration, in Southern California. Beginning July 20, Beyond Fried Chicken will be available for customers in more than 50 select KFC restaurants in the Los Angeles, Orange County and San Diego areas, while supplies last.

Beyond Fried Chicken is plant-based protein that boasts the flavors of KFC’s world-famous fried chicken and has a texture that looks and pulls apart like a chicken breast. KFC and Beyond Meat worked together to develop a plant-based fried chicken that would appeal to...

Lightlife Launches Plant-Based Burger at All Harvey’s Restaurants Across Canada

Lightlife, owned by Greenleaf Foods, launched its reinvented Lightlife Burger at more than 250 Harvey’s locations across Canada. The new Plant-Based Burger recipe includes only simple ingredients like pea protein, coconut oil and garlic powder, and has 17 grams of protein and only five grams of saturated fat.

“Our partnership with Harvey’s reflects our shared food philosophy that embraces balance and eating fresh ingredients. We’re excited for new and loyal plant-based consumers alike to taste the difference in our reinvented Plant-Based Burger that’s made-to-order and...

Domino's Pizza Announces Second Quarter 2020 Financial Results

Domino's Pizza announced results for the second quarter. Global retail sales increased 5.7% in the second quarter, or 8.1% excluding foreign currency impact. Global retail sales in the second quarter were positively impacted by U.S. same store sales, but were negatively impacted by temporary store closures in certain international markets. U.S. same store sales grew 16.1% during the quarter versus the year-ago period and were positively impacted by customer ordering behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic, continuing the positive sales momentum in the Company's U.S. stores business.

The international business also posted positive same store sales results, with growth of 1.3% during the quarter. The second quarter marked the 106th consecutive quarter of international same store sales growth 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...

U.S. Quick Service Restaurant Chains Fuel Improvement in Customer Transaction Declines

Customer transactions at major U.S. restaurant chains declined by 10% in the week ending July 5 compared to same period year ago, an improvement over last week’s decline of 14%, reports The NPD Group. All of the improvement in the week sources to major quick service restaurant chains (QSRs) where customer transaction declines improved by 4-points from the prior week’s decline of 13% versus year ago.

Full service restaurants (FSRs) continued to struggle in the week with customer transactions down 30% compared to year ago, a 5-point decline from the prior week, according to NPD’s CREST Performance Alerts, which provides a rapid weekly view of chain-specific transactions and share trends for...

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...

Tim Hortons U.S. Partners with Grubhub for Delivery in Select Markets

Tim Hortons U.S. is partnering with Grubhub, a leading online and mobile food-ordering and delivery marketplace, to offer delivery in select regional markets, including Grand Rapids, Michigan, Detroit, Michigan, Rochester, New York, and Columbus, Ohio. For a limited time, Tim Hortons guests can receive free delivery and a free 10-pack of Timbits on orders of $10 or more exclusively through Grubhub.

From bakery favorites, including the new line of Dream Donuts, to Tim Hortons signature coffee, it has never been easier to get Tim Hortons delivered. Guests in select markets can now easily order all their Tim Hortons favorites through...

Beefing Up Our Coverage: Enhanced Imported Beef Reporting

This week we answered your requests for a show around beef with none other than Urner Barry CEO Joe Muldowney. Laura and Joe discuss international trade and demand impact on the imported beef market, consumer trends related to COVID-19 and...

COVID-19 Case Spikes Continue to Hinder U.S. Restaurant Recovery in Week Ending June 28

The recovery of U.S. restaurant customer transactions has stalled for the second week in a row as COVID-19 cases continue to increase in a number of states, reports The NPD Group. For the week ending June 28, total customer transactions at major U.S. restaurant chains are down 14% versus the same week a year ago.

Last week, week ending June 21, total transactions were down 13% versus year ago, according to NPD’s CREST Performance Alerts, which provides a rapid weekly view of chain-specific transactions and share trends for 72 quick service, fast casual, midscale, and casual dining chains.

The rise in COVID-19 case counts is causing local and state authorities to delay reopening, and in some cases, reinstating on-premise restaurant dining restrictions. In Texas, for example, restaurants may continue to...

Taco Bell Unveils Grilled Cheese Burrito

Taco Bell is now introducing grilled cheese, thanks to the all-new Grilled Cheese Burrito. The burrito draws inspiration from the classic grilled cheese sandwich. It features fan favorite fillings like seasoned beef, seasoned rice, a three-cheese blend, crunchy red strips, chipotle sauce and reduced fat sour cream, all wrapped with a warm flour tortilla hugged by a warm layer of grilled cheese. Guests can also enjoy a vegetarian version by simply asking to swap beans for meat.

Available for a limited time and while supplies last, the Grilled Cheese Burrito is served at participating U.S locations a la carte for $2.99, or part of a $5 Box and comes with a Crunchy Taco, Cinnamon Twists and a medium soda drink. It was first tested in...

After Two Months of Steady Improvements, Restaurant Recovery Hits a Bump as COVID-19 Cases Surge

Customer transactions at major U.S. restaurant chains declined by 13% in the week ending June 21 versus the same week a year ago, which is slightly softer than the 12% decline in the previous week, reports The NPD Group. This is the first time since the week ending April 12 there has not been an improvement in the year-over-year trend. COVID-19 case surges in a number of states contributed to the backtrack in decline improvements. The current period also included Father’s Day, which unlike Mother’s Day, is more of a backyard BBQ occasion than a restaurant dining event.

With new COVID-19 cases suddenly surging across multiple states, some of the states that have been reporting the highest number of new cases experienced steeper declines in major restaurant chain customer transactions in week ending June 21. Arizona, with a well-publicized surge in cases, saw a 5-point decline in...

Taco Bell Amps Up Digital Experience with New Loyalty Program

Taco Bell is now expanding its digital experience for customers to make it even more rewarding.

“We’re excited to elevate our digital ecosystem and bring our biggest fans an even more convenient, safe, and rewarding experience at Taco Bell,” said Taco Bell’s Vice President of Digital, Zipporah Allen. “Exclusive experiences in our app - like a free Chalupa Cravings Box and earning points towards free food with Taco Bell Rewards - are just the start of the many digital initiatives that we plan to bring fans throughout the year.”

The brand is also launching a beta version of Taco Bell Rewards, a way for fans to earn free tacos (and more) for eating tacos. The loyalty program begins to rollout via the Taco Bell app nationwide in...

Papa John’s Provides Business Update on Ongoing Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic

Papa John’s International, Inc. provided an additional update on the ongoing business impact of the global coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, including preliminary estimated comparable sales information for the June month and second quarter fiscal periods. In light of the uncertainty and volatility related to the pandemic, the company has continued to provide this information on a monthly basis.

Rob Lynch, President & CEO said, “In June Papa John’s delivered a third consecutive month of double-digit sales growth in North America and strong growth internationally. Continued strong results reflect both the hard work of our team members and local franchisees, as well as the trust that we have earned from millions of customers who have...

Restaurant Brands International Provides Business Update 

The following letter was provided by Jose Cil, Chief Executive Officer of Restaurant Brands International:

"This week marked 100 days since COVID-19 turned business in our home markets upside down.

In March, April and May, we shared an update on how we've been managing the crisis and driving substantial change at Restaurant Brands International . As we finish the last week of our second quarter, I wanted to share one more update on the recovery of our business, a return to growth in certain parts of our business and some reflection on long-term priorities; including...

Papa John’s and Shaquille O’Neal Launch New Shaq-a-Roni Pizza

Papa John’s announced today the launch of the new Shaq-a-Roni pizza in collaboration with board member and restaurant owner Shaquille O’Neal. Designed to deliver a bigger pizza experience, Papa John’s will donate one dollar from every Shaq-a-Roni sold through August 23, 2020 to The Papa John’s Foundation for Building Community, which supports communities as they work together for equality, fairness, respect and opportunity for all.

“It was important to me for the Shaq-a-Roni to be bigger than just pizza. By giving my new pie a try, one dollar will be donated to The Papa John’s Foundation for Building Community to support COVID-19 relief...

Domino's Introduces Carside Delivery 

Domino's Pizza is offering customers of the brand yet another way to carry out their favorite pizza: via Domino's Carside Delivery. Domino's Carside Delivery is a new contactless carryout option that customers can choose when placing a prepaid online order, and it is now available in stores across the U.S.

"Domino's is all about providing a delicious, hot meal, the way customers want it – whether via carryout or delivery," said Dennis Maloney, Domino's senior vice president-chief innovation officer. "Domino's Carside Delivery gives customers the option to stay in their vehicle while...

Church's Chicken Rallies in Q2, Sets Sights on Continued Growth and Positive Momentum

Just six months ago, Church's Chicken turned in its best performance in ten years for comparable same-store sales, and made 2020 the launch date for the brand's five-year strategic plan. Then, like all restaurants and businesses, plans were set back due to COVID-19 and the brand enacted a refocused action plan in response. Overall, the COVID-19 sales challenges were only temporary for Church's, as it reports that domestic sales have returned to pre-pandemic positive trends the past two months.

"Without question, our ability to weather this crisis is due to our entire franchise community, corporate and restaurant team members coming together to quickly and effectively adapt to a changing market and continue to...

Spikes in COVID-19 Cases in Open States are Not Yet Impacting Restaurant Recovery

The spikes in COVID-19 cases in states that have reopened restaurant dine-in services haven’t yet impacted the continuing improvement in major restaurant chain transaction declines as more states reopen, reports The NPD Group. Arizona, California, and Florida, three states that reported an uptick in COVID-19 cases, showed several points of improvement in restaurant chain customer transaction declines at full service restaurants — the restaurant segment most affected by dine-in closures — in week ending June 14 compared to the previous week, according to...

Subway Restaurants to Add 50,000 Jobs

With record unemployment levels across the country, Subway Restaurants announced its local Franchise Owners seek to hire approximately 50,000 jobs in North American restaurants. This effort further deepens the brand's community connections as Subway can be found in almost every community across the U.S. and Canada, and directly addresses some of the devastating effects of the COVID-19 crisis.

Subway recognizes the importance of supporting its communities and providing safe, reliable job opportunities to those seeking employment – now more than ever. Starting this summer at participating North America restaurants, thousands of job opportunities will be available ranging from entry-level to management.

"As our business continues to see a growing demand for our value offerings, curbside pick-up and delivery, we are happy to support such a large-scale employment opportunity to meet...

McDonald's Restaurants Anticipate Hiring Approximately 260,000 this Summer

As states and communities continue to re-open their economies, McDonald’s restaurants are expecting to hire approximately 260,000 restaurant employees in the U.S. this summer. This comes as McDonald’s restaurants begin to welcome customers back into dining rooms with extra precautions in place.

McDonald’s has implemented nearly 50 new safety procedures to protect crew and customers. These include wellness and temperature checks, social distancing floor stickers, protective barriers at order points, masks and gloves for employees with the addition of new procedures, and training for the opening of dining rooms.

“We are excited to welcome new employees to our McFamily, and we want candidates and their families to know we have one goal – to keep our people safe. We’ve put new minimum national standards and nearly 50 new processes in place in our restaurants as they continue to...

McDonald's Reports April and May 2020 Comparable Sales and Provides COVID-19 Business Update

McDonald's is providing comparable sales results and an update on the COVID-19 impact to the Company's operations ahead of the second quarter earnings announcement.

Highlights:

• 95% of McDonald's restaurants around the world are open to serve customers.
• Comparable sales have improved sequentially from late March through May.
• The Company is investing in the System to accelerate recovery.

"Our strong foundation and the unique advantages of the McDonald's System, including...

U.S. Restaurant Chain Transaction Declines Continue to Soften, Down 14% in Week Ending June 7

U.S. major restaurant chain transactions were down 14% in the week ending June 7 versus the same week a year ago, a 29 point gain from the steepest decline during the COVID-19 pandemic of  43% in week ending April 12, reports The NPD Group.  Sixty-nine percent of restaurant units are now in geographies that permit some level of on-premise dining and the number should increase to 74% in week ending June 14.

Major full service restaurant (FSRs) chains are still seeing the most improvement of restaurant segments as more dining rooms open and those already open increase capacity...

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...

Taco Bell Owner Sues Grubhub, Claiming it Violated Distribution Agreement

Taco Bell owner Yum Brands is suing Grubhub, claiming that it violated its distribution agreement.

Yum bought a 3% stake in the third-party delivery app in 2018 as more national chains looked to lift sales by offering delivery. As part of the deal, the two signed a contract that required the delivery app to give Yum favorable pricing and service levels for thousands of Taco Bell and KFC restaurants, which are largely operated by franchisees...

Dunkin' Franchisees Plan to Hire Approximately 25,000 Restaurant Employees Nationwide

At a time of record unemployment, Dunkin' has been an essential, trusted part of the communities it serves, with approximately 90% of Dunkin' restaurants open to help keep Americans running and provide some sense of normalcy for loyal guests. Now, as more of America opens up, Dunkin' franchisees are seeking to hire up to 25,000 new restaurant employees at Dunkin' locations, from front-counter to restaurant management, creating immediate jobs that offer long-term education benefits and key career skills for people all across the U.S.

To support its franchisees, who are independent business owners, in hiring and retaining employees who embody the brand's core values, Dunkin' is taking several steps to welcome new restaurant employees and...

Wendy's Provides Business Update on COVID-19

Wendy's announced an update on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Company's business.

COVID-19 Updates

Global same-restaurant sales have improved each week throughout the fiscal month of May after being impacted by the previously disclosed disruption in beef supply at the beginning of the month. Global same-restaurant sales for the last week of May turned positive in the low single digit range.

Breakfast in the U.S. continued to perform very strongly in...

Restaurant Transaction Declines Continued to Improve in Week Ending May 31

Nearly three months have passed since most U.S. restaurant dine-in operations were ordered to close to prevent the spread of COVID-19, and this week more than 68% of all restaurant units are in states, counties, or municipalities where they are permitted to reopen their on-premise dining service. This does not mean all restaurants in those areas have reopened, but it is an indicator of loosening regulations.

With a growing number of restaurant dine-in services reopening, major restaurant chain customer transactions have been improving, reports The NPD Group. In the week ending May 31, U.S. restaurant chain transactions declined by 18% compared to same period year ago, a 3%...

Checkers & Rally's Launches New Chicken Sandwich 

On Monday, June 8, Checkers & Rally's launched the "Mother Cruncher" chicken sandwiches.

In true Checkers & Rally's fashion, The Mother Cruncher is no ordinary chicken sandwich. The new sandwich features an all-white chicken breast coated in the "mega crunch" breading, topped with pickles, crisp iceberg lettuce and a slice of ripe red tomato, served on a toasted bun and finished off with Checkers & Rally's new top-secret, creamy, signature Squawk Sauce.

"We've always stood behind our steadfast commitment to providing our guests with the most indulgent, craveable menu items — and we've outdone ourselves with...