McDonald’s is launching a Chicken Big Mac, a limited-time twist on its iconic Big Mac, starting October 10 at participating U.S. locations. The chain piloted the sandwich at an LA pop-up and is promoting it through a social media-driven campaign.
One of the biggest changes in the market over the past 10-15 years is that investors have succeeded solely by buying the best business, not necessarily the best stock. Focusing on fundamentals over quality has …
New employee compensation initiatives at employers like McDonald’s and Walmart aim to make on-the-job experience count toward college credits.
The latest FI news podcast touches on the La Niña weather pattern that’s likely to form later this year and how it could impact ag.
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.
Grillers rejoice. Hosting a July Fourth cookout could cost less than it did in 2023 (if consumers prep more staples at home).
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.
The most recent rising trend in retail is lowering one’s expectations of retail. This year, clothing companies tended to fall the worst, followed closely by QSRs, big box stores, and grocers, in that order.
Food prices are up; consumer confidence is down. Many QSRs and retail outlets reported losses in the last quarter. The Value Wars are here.
McDonald’s Execs Promise to be Price Sensitive in Q2, as ‘All Income Cohorts Are Seeking Value’
Among CPG energy drink brands, Celsius over-indexes with teens, with 17% citing it as their favorite energy drink brand (vs. ~12% market share) while Monster and Red Bull under-index. Among snack brands, Campbell’s Goldfish are still most preferred. Teens report highest intentions to eat more or the same amount of Mondelez’s Clif Bar and Hershey’s products.
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 arrival of McDonald’s new CosMc’s concept sent a wave of excitement rippling through the fast-food world.
Limited-time offers (LTOs) continue to drum up significant business for restaurants, particularly among fast-food chains, in 2024.
They say when one door closes, another opens. That may very well be true, but for restaurant brands and their clientele, the wrong door can sometimes lead down a disastrous path – just look at …
Chicken listings on restaurant menus have grown 6.4% in the past five years, outpacing the 4.7% of burgers and other beef-based items.
The recent uproar over a McDonald’s in Darien, Connecticut, that charged a whopping $17.59 for a Big Mac combo meal is more than just local news; it’s a snapshot of the changing economic landscape.
Has the would-be darling of the pandemic-era – ghost kitchens – been resurrected by a partnership between Denny’s and Franklin Junction?
Limited-time offers (LTOs) significantly impact consumer behavior within the foodservice industry. In fact, 91% percent of consumers are more inclined to visit establishments that provide new items, according to a recent report from Circana.
In terms of the beverage industry overall, this is a very smart play for McDonald’s and other brands will follow.
Lizzy Freier, Director, Menu Research & Insights at Technomic discusses restaurant traffic, international cuisines, LTOs and more.
McDonald’s has nearly as much brand magnetism with Gen Z as Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson or Ariana Grande. And in 2023, the purple-hued force of attraction that connected the burger giant with young consumers was …
Teens are trendsetters. They are typically early to the next big thing and most of their spending is discretionary, making them a lucrative demographic to study.
The latest Food Institute news podcast discusses which food and beverage brands resonate with Gen Z consumers.
QSR jobs will be in high demand once the law passes as workers try to reduce their dining expenses in lieu of high food costs and an inflationary environment. More importantly, however, California just bolstered the prospects of hundreds of thousands of current and (more importantly) future fast-food workers.
While 40% of India’s residents are vegetarian, there’s still a large addressable market open to omnivore cuisine. Plus, much of the country is infatuated with western culture – a fact QSRs are taking note of.
The heck is an NFT? Their precursors in the ‘90s were called pogs – often cheap and of limited variety for the average consumer, easily tradable and without much long-term staying power. Non-fungible tokens (NFTs) …
On a recent earnings call, Yum Brands announced its goal to make 100% of its global system sales digital transactions.
Average unit volume (AUV) speaks to a chain’s operational efficiency and overall success, indicating the average annual sales that a brand earns per restaurant—a reflection of how consumers feel about the brand itself. These are the top five highest-grossing fast-food chains in the U.S. by AUV.
Audacious, sublime, organic – these are the hallmarks of profit for brands wise enough to be confident in their values and lucky enough to thread the needle between quality-controlled seriousness and edge-of-the-internet frivolity.
Though McDonald’s McCafé Bakery concept worked to an extent, it didn’t translate to more snack and coffee sales between mealtimes.
Gen Z and millennials may be coming into their own, but those aged 18-43 differ markedly from both Gen Xers and baby boomers when it comes to restaurant habits, and attitudes toward loyalty programs. A …
With price hikes easing and food company earnings strong, it appears resilient consumers aren’t going anywhere – yet.
