Legacy chains like Chick-fil-A are seeing customer satisfaction scores hold even as growth slows, opening doors for challenger QSRs. Meanwhile, full-service dining has largely stumbled amid rising prices.
McDonald’s is bringing back its Snack Wrap after a nine-year hiatus, tapping into the booming demand for portable, boneless chicken options. With major chains embracing the wrap resurgence, savvy restaurant operators will leverage the trend for easy, profitable menu innovation.
Peach-enhanced menu items are growing in popularity, now on 19.8% of foodservice menus, according to one report. The fruit has found its stride in beverage innovation, with legacy brands experimenting with the flavor.
Despite rising costs, 2025 is shaping up to be a fairly strong year for many restaurant chains, with top players like Cava and Chick-fil-A thriving by mastering efficiency, marketing, and customer experience. The smartest brands are pricing strategically and leveraging technology to drive success.
Despite sluggish sales and weak traffic in Q1, fast-food giants like McDonald’s and Wendy’s have seen their stocks rebound, reflecting investors’ confidence in pricing adjustments to revitalize the sector. QSRs are positioning themselves for a more efficient, profitable future.
Wendy’s has set aspirational financial goals for the next few years and is leveraging innovative practices to achieve them. Capitalizing on various dayparts with compelling value propositions and tapping collaborations are key tools the brand is using to achieve a new era of growth.
The Magnetic 100: Restaurants report by dcdx reveals the top brands captivating Gen Z, with McDonald’s, Wingstop, and Starbucks leading the pack due to their organic online engagement and unique customer interactions.
Dave’s Hot Chicken has been named America’s fastest-growing restaurant chain, with over 700 locations in the pipeline. The chain’s success is largely attributed to its massive social media following.
In an era of heightened consumer feedback, CEO John Mazur feels managing a brand’s reputation requires constant vigilance. Recent QSR reputation rankings highlight the importance of listening and authentic engagement.
Mike Tyson is investing in a QSR chain dubbed the “vegan McDonald’s.” However, the rapidly expanding brand has locations in California, where the recent minimum wage increase played a major role in the demise of Kevin Hart’s similar concept last month.
Del Taco, a restaurant chain nearing its 60th anniversary, has never been hotter, winning top marks in a recent best fast-food list.
Tuesday brought big business news, as Chipotle announced that its chairman and CEO, Brian Niccol, had accepted a similar post at Starbucks.
While restaurant chains like McDonald’s have had notable swings and misses regarding AI, business leaders insist the technology offers invaluable uses to food companies, aiding personalized offers, sales forecasting, and more.
The so-called fast-food “value wars” are ramping up. First McDonald’s and Taco Bell tried to undercut each other; now Sonic’s $1.99 meal has taken things to another level.
U.S. consumers love fast food and those who follow a plant-forward diet are no exception. Which quick service restaurants (QSRs) are plant-based consumers seeking out this year?
The latest Food Institute Fast Break news podcast touches on the decline in Americans’ coffee consumption.
All of a sudden, $5 value meals are everywhere, from fast-food chains to major retailers. Industry insiders say the deals are simply a short-term solution, however.
Join The Food Institute at NRA’s 2024 Restaurant Show as we investigate the innovations of Raydiant, a company that provides digital tools for Restaurants. From digital menu boards to point-of-sale integration and even AI-triggered promotional …
The latest FI Fast Break news podcast touches on Target’s plans to reduce prices on several items this summer.
According to a new survey from Lending Tree, a staggering 80% of consumers now consider fast food a luxury because it’s so expensive.
The latest Food Institute Fast Break news podcast touches on Kraft Heinz’s possible sale of the Oscar Mayer brand.
The latest Food Institute news podcast touches on Gen Z’s mounting credit card debt, Gen Alpha’s love of cooking, and more.
The latest Food Institute news podcast touches on a very unique new collection of products from the Dunkin’ chain.
The latest Food Institute news podcast touches on the potential impact of a TikTok ban on the food and beverage industry.
Yelp has released its first-ever list of the 50 fastest-growing brands in the U.S. Restaurant chains dominate the top ten, half of which are “challenger brands” – businesses that are not market leaders but aim to compete by disrupting their industries.
The latest Food Institute news podcast touches on soaring cocoa prices and their impact on the global food industry.
The latest Food Institute news podcast touches on the demise of the open-all-night restaurant in the United States.
Major fast-food restaurants have raised prices by 60% on average between 2014 and 2024. McDonald’s is the worst offender with average menu prices increasing more than three times the national rate of inflation over the past decade.
The latest Food Institute Fast Break news podcast updates the Avian flu’s recent impact on American agriculture.
Limited-time offers (LTOs) continue to drum up significant business for restaurants, particularly among fast-food chains, in 2024.
The latest Food Institute news podcast touches on fast-food employee pay, America’s favorite pizza toppings, and other trending news.
The annual State of Digital Report by Qu revealed that food kiosks are the top priority this year for QSRs and fast-casual restaurants.
The latest FI Fast Break news podcast touches on Amazon’s newest plans for Whole Foods locations in urban areas.
Employees at Chick-fil-A’s 3,000-plus locations “are trained to genuinely care about the customer’s experience,” said Courtney Haywood, a brand manager and the CEO of Courtney Haywood Agency Partners.
