Weekly Global News Wrap: Panera calls off SPAC deal; McDonald’s virtual camp; Taco Bell experiments with snack foods again
Here is a summary of the most interesting QSR news stories of the week from around the world.
Panera Bread and Danny Meyer’s special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) have called off a deal to take the chain public again, citing market conditions. Panera went private in 2017 after JAB Holding bought the company for US$7.5 billion. Read more from CNBC.
McDonald’s U.S. business will debut a month-long virtual camp, which will offer the brand’s smartphone app users food deals, menu hacks, merchandise and exclusive concerts. Read more from Nation’s Restaurant News.
Sweetgreen said its app and website got an upgrade, offering customers rewards for meeting challenges the company sets, part of the company’s strategy to create a loyalty program that focuses on personal preferences and values. Read more from Restaurant Dive.
The CEO of Grubhub said company parent Just Eat Takeaway.com hopes to find a strategic partner to invest in the U.S. online ordering company, but added an outright sale is not off the table. Read more from the Wall Street Journal.
Taco Bell in the U.S. is testing two new menu items featuring Kellogg’s Cheez-Its, continuing its string of brand mash-ups. Read more from CNN.