Weekly Global News Wrap Up: Starbucks shutters online store; McDonald's trials Vegan Burger in Finland; Shake Shack to launch cashless kiosk ordering system
Here is a summary of the most interesting QSR news stories of the week from around the world.
According to The Drum, Burger King Germany acknowledged Ronald McDonald with a movie marketing stunt at a showing Stephen King’s IT movie. It involved the projection of a message onto the theatre wall after it showed the movie, which reads “The Moral is: Never Trust a Clown… Burger King”.
Meanwhile in England, a group of 'Ronald McDonald's' stormed into Burger King to playfully taunt the fast-food workers for around five minutes, according to Fox News.
According to USA Today, moderately-priced restaurants – from Shake Shack to Cheesecake Factory – are losing their edge as diners seek out even cheaper alternatives, such as fast food. Instead of spending $8 to $20 for a meal in a restaurant, customers are seeking out fast-food counters where they will pay $4 to $8.
According to a release from Business Wire, Shake Shack has evolved its in-shack experience at Astor Place, New York City. The new Shack site will feature kiosk only-ordering, optimized kitchen and higher wages for best-in-class hospitality to heighten guest experience and convenience. Several kiosks will line the Shack and team members known as Hospitality Champs will be stationed around the kiosks to assist guests with their orders and answer any questions.
According to Glory Global’s research study which surveyed UK, US and Australian consumers, physical money offers familiarity, convenience and security well beyond other payment methods. Based on the findings, only 16% of consumers feel that electronic payment is more secure than cash. Glory’s data found that 54% prefer to use physical money in cafes, and 52% in fast food outlets. In the UK, 58% of consumers use cash to make pub/bar payments, while over a third (37%) of Americans prefer to pay by cash in restaurants.
According to a note Starbucks wrote for its US customers, the company has dissolved its online store as of October 1, 2017, 11:59 p.m. Store.Starbucks.com is no longer available for customers to purchase products online or by phone. Syrups and sauces which are originally sold in the online store will no longer be available for retail purchase.
According to Food & Wine, McDonald's Finland is testing a McVegan burger in its Tampere site from October 4 until November 21. McDonald's Finland marketing director Christoffer Rönnblad also noted that the fries served in the country's McDonalds are completely vegan as well.
