UK

The Great Tastes of America promotion is back at McDonald’s for a tenth year, with authentic new flavours.

UK consumers are united in not tolerating poor food hygiene ratings and simply won’t visit places that have had food safety issues, no matter what type of restaurant they are. 61% won’t eat at a restaurant, takeaway, coffee shop or pub that has a low Food Standards Agency (FSA) Food Hygiene Rating while three quarters (75%) said they wouldn’t risk dining at a restaurant that had been implicated in a food hygiene incident, even if recommended by someone that they trust.

A survey by the FSA and Allergy UK has shown there have been improvements for those with allergies since new labelling rules came in, but more needs to be done.

According to a story by The Connexion, the brand is set to open its first restaurant at Cour Saint-Emilion in Bercy Village in Paris in July, and a second venue is slated for Gare du Nord in 2017.

According to a story by Reuters, the fast food chain said its lawyers were investigating after entrepreneurs in eastern Ukraine started selling McDonald's-style hamburgers out of a restaurant that the company shut down two years ago.

The bakery chain launched a new balanced choice menu for lighter and healthier lunchtime options.

Levant Restaurants Group, the company behind Lebanese restaurant chain Comptoir Libanais, announced its plans to float on the stock exchange.

Pret A Manger announced that a new store is scheduled to open in Terminal One at Manchester Airport on Friday 29th April.

According to a story by the Crain's Chicago Business, the fast food chain is rolling out a new 'simpler recipe' for its Chicken McNuggets that will remove artificial preservatives.

The casual dining steak house group announced Middle Eastern expansion plans, starting with six restaurants by the end of 2017.

Here's what the QSRs were up to on social media last week.

The brand aims to change the Chinese food takeout and delivery industry by offering a modern, fresh and healthy alternative.

Shelley Sandzer has been appointed by Casual Dining Group to act on rent reviews and lease renewals for all sites within the M25 Greater London area. This includes approximately 60 sites across the group’s full roster of brands: Café Rouge, Bella Italia, Las Iguanas, La Tasca, Belgo and Huxleys.

The brand announced the addition of Cameron Lawrence to its UK team in the position of ‘Head of Acquisitions’.

American-themed barbecue pits, smokehouses, burger bars, and diners could replace Mexican outlets as the biggest growth area on the UK’s eating out scene over the next few years, according to Horizons’ latest Ones To Watch research.

LDC announced that it has invested over £8 million in the management buyout of Vital Ingredient to support the roll-out of the group both within London and throughout the UK. Santander will provide a further £4 million of funding to support the expansion.