Global Foodservice News
Not all of the investment community is excited about Darden’s recent $715 million acquisition of Ruth’s Chris Steak House.
ANALYSTS HAVE QUESTIONED THE COMPANY’S ACQUISITION OF THE STEAKHOUSE, SAYING THERE’S TOO MANY SIMILARITIES WITH OTHER BRANDS IT OWNS . . . . BTIG analyst Peter Saleh said in a report that his company has a mixed opinion. They all understand the financial rationale (Darden’s fine-dining category grew from $830 million to almost $1.4 billion),…
Read MoreTexas has gained more residents in the past two years than any other state in the nation
Texas has gained more residents in the past two years than any other state in the nation, which is driving some optimism among restaurant operators . . . . The big Takeaway from the Texas Restaurant Association Show: Optimism I just returned from my very first Texas Restaurant Association Show, this year in Houston,…
Read MoreFormer Papa John’s executive to lead brand’s marketing and digital strategies
Wingstop Names Anne Fischer as Chief Growth Officer . . . . Wingstop Inc. has named Anne Fischer as chief growth officer and a senior vice president, the company announced Tuesday. The Dallas-based quick-service brand said Fischer most recently served as chief marketing and digital officer at Atlanta-based Papa John’s International Inc. Fischer has more…
Read MoreTaco Bell has Digitized its Iconic Coin Drop Game
The restaurant is bringing back its Coin Drop game for loyalty members and incentivizing round up orders for scholarships . . . . Following its campaign launch with Paris Hilton, Taco Bell is once again tapping into nostalgia by introducing a digitized version of its popular Coin Drop game. The countertop game was wildly popular…
Read MoreKCL Speaks Your Language
Leading Foodservice Design Software Now Available in Spanish, French, and Italian, as well as English . . . KCL, the industry leader in foodservice design technologies, announces that their BIM/CAD Designer software can now be used in English, Spanish, French, and Italian. KCL helps manufacturers distribute their CAD, Revit, and other product content while…
Read MoreChick-fil-A Launches Little Blue Menu Food Truck
Chick-fil-A’s Little Blue Menu virtual brand is hitting the road. The chain’s delivery-led concept, which first opened in Nashville in late 2021, has a new food truck that will initially visit Louisville, Ky., for a three-month stint in the Oxmoor Mall parking lot. The opening date has not yet been announced, but the food truck’s…
Read MoreGlobal Foodservice News – July 1, 2023 Edition
KFC’s new sandwich comes as several brands add variations to the high-demand offering, indicating we may be in a second phase of the so-called chicken sandwich wars . . . . KFC is Rolling Out its BBQ Chicken Sandwich Nationally KFC’s Ultimate BBQ Fried Chicken Sandwich test, launched in Tampa, Florida, in February, must…
Read MoreA Warmer World
Carbon accountants help firms keep their climate pledges The other day when Cooper Elsworth stepped into a Sweetgreen restaurant in Boston, he already knew what he was going to order. “I’m vegetarian, so I’ll probably go for the hummus crunch salad,” Elsworth said. “That’s the lowest-emissions salad at Sweetgreen.” He knows this arcane fact because…
Read MoreRestaurant brands are starting to pilot artificial intelligence to streamline food service
How Restaurants Such as Panera and Chipotle are Dipping into A.I. to Streamline Food Prep and Ordering From drive-thru to back-of-house operations to predictive ordering for consumers, restaurant brands are starting to pilot artificial intelligence to streamline food service. The technology has yet to reach critical mass at major chains but has the potential to…
Read MoreVirtual Concepts have turned into Culinary Goldmines
Like many others, the fast-casual giant is learning how to unlock the true benefits of a virtual brand . . . . The Making of Chipotle’s Fresh-Forward Ghost Kitchen In the wake of COVID, virtual concepts have turned into culinary goldmines. The industry could potentially reach $1 trillion by 2030, according to research firm…
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