Weekly Global News Wrap: KFC's limited-edition shoes with Crocs; Popeyes' chicken sandwich drives FY 2019 sales; Jack in the Box's Snapchat lens
Here is a summary of the most interesting QSR news stories of the week from around the world.
KFC in the US has partnered with global shoe brand Crocs to launch a limited-edition KFCxCrocs shoe available for purchase in Spring 2020. Earlier, the brands introduced an avant-garde platform version of the shoe worn by Me Love Me a Lot during the New York Fashion Week. Read more here.
Jack in the Box US has partnered with Paramount Pictures in releasing a Sonic the Hedgehog augmented reality filter game on Snapchat to celebrate the upcoming feature film, AdWeek has reported. Users can access the new lens via Lens Carousel to launch the game. Read more here.
Restaurant Brands’ Burger King boasted its strongest year of growth in the past two decades with a systemwide sales growth of 9.3% to US$22.9 billion in FY 2019, Restaurant Brands International CEO Jose Cil said in their company’s latest financial disclosure. The global restaurant company posted a 8% system-wide sales growth in the year and opened more than 27,000 restaurants. Read more here.
Based on the same report, Popeyes’ systemwide sales also went up 18.5% to US$ 4.4 billion in the same period. This was seen to be driven by the chicken chain’s “game changer” chicken sandwich launched in August last year.
Tim Hortons recorded the only slow sales growth with systemwide sales down 0.3% to US$6.7 billion in the year. Meanwhile, the chain’s loyalty program, Tim Rewards, is slated for improvement with expanded menu items and exclusive offers. Read more here.
A&W in Canada posted a 1.9% decline in same-store sales (SSS) in Q4 2019 with general and administrative expenses rising by CA$106,000 (US$80,000). For the full year, the chain’s SSS fell by more than 5 percentage points to 4.1% from 9.8% in the previous year, earning a royalty income of CA$44.5 million (US$33.5m). Read more here.
Subway in the US has teamed up with digital ordering firm Olo to streamline its ordering system. The partnership will see digital orders from Olo’s Rails platform integrated with the chain’s POS. Read more here.
Sonic in the US has announced its plan to buy 73 franchised stores from SD Holdings after the franchisee filed for bankruptcy, Restaurant Business has reported. The franchisee, which also operates a few MOD Pizza shops, is facing $22.3 million in secured debt, exceeding its own value. Read more here.
Bloomin’ Brands, operator of Outback Steakhouse, has announced the resignation of its Board executive chairman Elizabeth Smith effective 6 March, though she will continue to serve as a director. She will be replaced by the company’s incumbent lead independent director James Craigie. Read more here.
