Weekly Global News Wrap: Great demand for KFC's ‘Beyond' chicken; Highest-paid fast casual CEOs revealed; McDonald's holds anti-harassment training

Here is a summary of the most interesting QSR news stories of the week from around the world.

Panera Bread in the US has partnered with third-party delivery services DoorDash, GrubHub and UberEats with the aim of gaining new delivery customers. In a report by CNBC, the company says that delivery has been the top growth driver for the last several years, accounting for 7% of its sales. Read more here.

McDonald’s in the US said it will introduce a new workplace training centered on harassment and workplace safety as it faces scrutiny over how it handles sexual harassment complaints in its restaurants. CNBC reports that restaurant supervisors and employees will receive the training in October and will include topics such as mitigating workplace violence and anti-bullying tactics. Read more here.

Taco Bell in the US has announced it will declutter its menu starting 12 September in an attempt to highlight its best sellers and “most popular” combo meals. Nation’s Restaurant News reports that nine items are coming off the menu permanently including Fiery Doritos Locos Tacos and Beefy Mini Quesadilla. Read more here.

Starbucks introduced a new pumpkin drink called Pumpkin Cold Brew, sixteen years after it introduced the Pumpkin Spice Latte. CNBC reports that the new drink will be launched Tuesday alongside the rest of its fall menu. Read more here.

KFC in the US has announced that its plant-based Beyond Meat Fried Chicken was sold out in less than five hours at one of its stores in Atlanta, according to a report by Vox. Beyond Meat produces plant-based products that imitate the taste, texture and nutrient profile of meat without any animals involved. Read more here.

Papa John’s has announced that former Arby’s president Rob Lynch is now its new CEO, Restaurant Business Online reports. Lynch replaces Steve Ritchie, who guided the Kentucky-based pizza chain in a period that saw the company in turmoil after former CEO and founder John Schnatter admitted making a racial slur during a conference call in 2018. Read more here.

Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc. CEO Brian Niccol is highest-paid CEO in the fast casual industry in 2018 in the US, according to Nation’s Restaurant News research. Niccol brought home US$33.5m last year, followed by CEO Charles Morrison of Wingstop Inc., who had a total pay of US$4.5m. Read more here.

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