In a major merger announced Thursday, Panera Bread joined forces with Caribou Coffee and Einstein Bros. Bagels to form Panera Brands. The new group includes more than 4,000 fast-casual restaurants. The pact sent reverberations throughout …
This week, in The Food Institute’s quick-hitting, audio news podcast, we examine Kroger’s unique new ghost kitchen setup, how restaurants are addressing wage “compression,” and the dwindling American beer market. The Food Institute Podcast · …
One of the most successful limited time offerings (LTOs) over the past year has been McDonald’s “Famous Orders” celebrity collaborations. McDonald’s has been utilizing LTOs to attract consumers for years with items such as the …
This week, in The Food Institute’s quick-hitting, audio news podcast, we break down the surging prices of both seafood and coffee, vaccination requirements in California, and new unemployment statistics. The Food Institute Podcast · FI …
Whether there’s something fishy or not about Subway’s tuna, the fast-food chain has a real public relations problem. Couple that with franchisees chafing at corporate rules and negative reviews of its new menu options, and …
This week, in The Food Institute’s quick-hitting, audio news podcast, we break down the major ingredient shortages multiple QSRs are dealing with, the growth of online grocery shopping, and the future of alternative seafood. The …
This week, in The Food Institute’s quick-hitting, audio news podcast, we break down a few innovative strategies for navigating the labor shortage, examine a major new company entering the cultured-meat market, and more. The Food …
The statistics are staggering. According to a recent poll conducted by job site Monster.com, 95% of respondents were “currently considering changing jobs,” and 92% said they’d switch industries to get a new job. The top …
Here are trending economic and food industry data points, as well as major economic and company earnings releases for the coming week: grocery inflation, menu price hikes, cost saving ideas, and more. Don’t be surprised …
Chick-fil-A was rated America’s top fast-food restaurant for a seventh straight year, according to the latest American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI), which provides customer satisfaction benchmarks for major companies in the foodservice sector. At the …
This week, in The Food Institute’s quick-hitting, audio news podcast, we break down the latest customer satisfaction ratings for fast-food chains (featuring a surprising last-place finisher), the increasing global demand for poultry, and more. The …
Fast-food chains, such as McDonald’s and KFC, appear to be cutting discounts and pushing more expensive meals post-pandemic. QSRs are cutting back on $5-and-under “value” menu items in favor of $10-$30 meal combinations in order …
Vegetables that don’t lend themselves to the “eat fresh” mantra. The inability to close more than once a year unless an “Act of God” occurs. No leniency in a labor market that can best be …
Many fast-food chains, including Chick-fil-A, Wendy’s, and Burger King, continue to expand their ghost kitchen operations and lean further into the delivery space. But with dining restrictions easing and restaurant traffic on rise — why …
Breaking up is hard to do, but Walmart and McDonald’s seem to have made the split on decent terms. McDonald’s recently announced plans to shutter hundreds of its locations positioned within Walmart stores. After the …
While the fast-food “chicken wars” have been going on for some time, Taco Bell and Chipotle are now headed for battle on another front. The two largest Mexican-food chains are testing new items and jockeying …
Fast-food restaurant chains are turning their attention to food trucks as a way to give pandemic-beleaguered franchisees an alternative channel to boost sales damaged by restrictions on the number of customers who can dine in …
Wendy’s relaunched its national breakfast menu just weeks before states began issuing stay-at home orders due to COVID-19. While breakfast sales at most fast-food chains stagnated during the pandemic, the Wendy’s breakfast menu performed surprisingly …
Plant-based companies are finding a home in fast-food, as demand for meat-free options grows among consumers. About one-third of consumers said their consumption of various meat alternatives has increased over the past year, according to …
Lizzy Freier, senior research manager of menu at Technomic, spoke with The Food Institute’s Susan Choi about the so-called chicken sandwich wars in the quick service restaurant segment, the impact of the pandemic on sales, …
Now, more than ever, food companies are leveraging loyalty programs to generate sales. At the same time, customers are demanding them. Wade Hanson, Principal with Technomic Inc., said the Baby Boomer generation especially values loyalty programs like the Royal Perks initiative recently launched by Burger King. “Boomers are …
By most accounts, it’s not a matter of if, but when. The minimum wage appears to be headed towards $15 in much of the U.S., if not all, in the near future. And restaurant chains are bracing for that impact. “Restaurants need to engineer …
Shake Shack is starting 2021 by spicing up fast food’s chicken sandwich war. The chain is rolling out the Korean-style Fried Chick’n Sandwich and Korean-style Gochujang Chick’n Bites, reported CNN (Jan. 5). Though the new …
Several leading foodservice companies have revealed plans for more convenient store models that are designed with pickup and delivery in mind. Chipotle Chipotle is opening its first digital-only restaurant called the Chipotle Digital Kitchen. Located …
Aphria, a Canadian cannabis company, plans to acquire Atlanta’s Sweetwater Brewing Co., which is known for its “420” beer. The $300 million deal is the latest hook-up between the alcoholic beverage and pot industries, and …
Wendy’s posted its highest same-store sales growth performance in more than 15 years in its third quarter, reported Nation’s Restaurant News (Nov. 4). The chain was buoyed by breakfast sales, a daypart that’s been a …
Some restaurants are enforcing time limits to keep the numbers of visitors up during COVID-19 restrictions, reported The Wall Street Journal (Oct. 5). Two hours or 90 minutes are the preferred time limits. The idea …
Fast food may weather winter better than casual dining as the pandemic continues and flu-season arrives, reported MarketWatch (Sept. 21). Analysts are boosting their ratings and targets for fast food companies, in large part, due …
Food Institute Focus – How COVID-19 is Impacting Eating
Food Institute Focus – Fast Food Business Model Pays Off
Food Institute Focus – Is PPP Really Aiding ‘Small’ Businesses?
Food Institute Focus – Fast Food Chains Struggle with Breakfast
Food Institute Focus – Larger Orders Rise, But Many Chains Still at Risk
Food Institute Focus – Foodservice Struggles, Packaged Food Sales Up
Food Institute Focus – The Battle for Breakfast Heats Up
