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

Arby’s, Panera Bread and Taco Bell operator Flynn Restaurant Group - also the largest restaurant franchisee in the U.S. - may get larger after agreeing to acquire Pizza Hut and Wendy’s franchisee NPC International out of bankruptcy for US$816 million. Restaurant Business reported the agreement is a “stalking horse bid” in bankruptcy court - considered a starting point in an upcoming auction for NPC. Read more here.

Chipotle has had to temporarily close its doors at some locations or limit store hours due to a surging number of workers getting sick during the COVID-19 pandemic. BloombergQuint reports that the chain’s CEO also predicts this phenomenon will get worse in the coming months. Read more here.

Krispy Kreme and McDonald's are just some of the major chains that gave away food during the United States’ Election Day, Business Insider has reported. Read more here.

McDonald's has also named a new chief of diversity and inclusion, who arrives as the fast food chain navigates charges of racism and harassment. As reported by USA Today, Reggie Miller, who previously served as vice president of global inclusion and diversity at VF (parent company of The North Face), will begin work by 9 November. Read more here.

Starbucks is closing an additional 100 locations in the U.S. in the next year as the company accelerates its shift away from poorer performing urban markets. As reported by Restaurant Business, the additional closures bring to 500 the number of cafes that the coffee giant expects to close in the country. Read more here.

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

Papa John’s in the U.S. has signed an agreement with franchisee HB Restaurant Group to open 49 new stores in the Philadelphia area from 2021 to 2028, its largest development deal in North America in 20 years. As reported by Restaurant Dive, the pizza chain reported a 27% increase in North American comp sales, its best month in its 35-year history. Read more here.

Starbucks is rolling out recyclable strawless cups for iced drinks across the U.S. and Canada, Business Insider reported. The new flat lids contain 9% less plastic than the coffee chain's previous lid-and-straw combo. Read more here.

Inspire Brands-owned Arby’s is now selling meat by the pound for a limited time in the U.S. as a response to the coronavirus pandemic. As reported by CNN, the chain is offering three of its sliced meats (roast turkey, ham and corned beef) in half-pound and pound packages at nine Atlanta-area locations. Read more here.

Sweetgreen is launching meals that will be available only through its mobile app. As reported by CNBC, the chain said its digital orders have soared 178% during the pandemic. Read more here.

White Castle continues its digital push with the launch of the 99-year-old burger chain’s first-ever digital loyalty programme, Nation Restaurant News has reported. Craver Nation offers personalized rewards and perks for members based on purchasing habits gleaned from their apps’ customer data. Read more here.

A chicken war may be brewing in Canada, with KFC and Popeyes releasing similar sandwiches. Read more here and here.

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

The row between McDonald’s Corporation and its former chief executive continued with the chain calling the dismissed CEO a liar and “morally bankrupt” for denying wrongdoing in what they are calling a deceitful coverup of sexual relationships with other employees, Nation’s Restaurant News reports. Read more here.

CNBC also reported that more than 50 former McDonald’s franchisees are also suing the fast food giant for racial discrimination, alleging it denied them the same opportunities as White operators and pushed them out of the system. Read more here.

McDonald's also confirmed it will serve up its first celebrity meal in nearly 30 years, offering the Travis Scott Meal at participating restaurants in the U.S. in a new partnership with the rapper. Read more here.

Dunkin’ will soon test an Amazon Go-style store in the U.S., Nation's Restaurant News has reported. The checkout-free pilot programme, which launches in October, allows a customer to walk into a store to grab coffee and baked goods without interacting with anyone or scanning anything at a kiosk. Read more here.

Burger King also unveiled two new restaurant designs, positioned to be fit amidst the pandemic. As reported by CNN, features include triple drive-thrus, burger pickup lockers, takeout counters and more. The chain plans to build some prototypes next year in Miami, Latin America and the Caribbean, and incorporate other elements into existing restaurants over time. Read more here.

Chipotle has launched its first digital fundraising programme, allowing customers to contribute to impactful organizations in their community through delivery and pick-up orders. Restaurant Business reports that 33% of sales under these efforts will go to educational organizations who use unique promotional codes. Read more here.

White Castle will test an AI-powered drive-thru system with license plate recognition, Nation's Restaurant News reported. Done with Mastercard, loyalty members can opt-in for personalized menu and payment experience featuring a digital voice assistant. Read more here.

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

Domino’s in the U.S. released the company’s first new pizzas in eight years: the chicken taco and cheeseburger pizzas. As reported by Nation’s Restaurant News, the chain’s latest pizza innovation is directly correlated with changing consumer needs during the pandemic. Read more here.

Panera Bread in the U.S. announced it will appear on Google Search, Google Maps and Google Assistant, in a move that will give the chain more access to customers who are increasingly ordering via digital channels. As reported by Restaurant Business, the Google integration is available at participating locations across the country. Read more here.

Starbucks said it will ensure that its baristas will not have to choose between working and voting as part of a nonpartisan push to raise turnout on the United States’ Election Day despite the coronavirus pandemic. As reported by CNBC, the chain intends to share more about its commitments to racial equity, justice and opportunity in coming weeks and months, including more transparency about diversity and inclusion data. Read more here.

McDonald’s has expanded its probe of fired CEO Steve Easterbrook, who the chain has accused of covering up relationships with other employees, approved stock grants and destroyed evidence. According to a report by the Wall Street Journal, the fast food giant now maintains that Easterbrook’s corporate deceit includes covering up “improprieties by other employees alongside allegations of potential misconduct within the human-resources department.” Read more here.

Papa John’s reported its preliminary estimated systemwide sales increased 24.2% in August in North America as consumers flock to carryout and delivery. As reported by CNBC, the pizza chain now has its eye on growing its digital and menu innovation under new CEO Rob Lynch. Read more here.

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

Domino's is the latest chain operating in the U.S. to announce a hiring spree, revealing plans to acquire more than 20,000 workers this year amidst rising sales. As reported by CBS News, the pizza firm is encouraging people who have lost jobs during the economic collapse that followed the coronavirus pandemic to apply. Read more here.

Taco Bell is debuting a new restaurant model next year, cutting back on seating, emphasising the drive-thru and limiting human interaction. As reported by CNN, the “Go Mobile” concept is described by the chain as “specifically designed for guests to order ahead through the brand's mobile app and enjoy the Taco Bell experience in a frictionless way." Read more here.

Up to 300 Pizza Hut locations are set to close across the U.S. after its largest franchisee, NPC International, filed for bankruptcy. As reported by Business Insider, the operator also plans to sell its Pizza Hut business, which currently consists of 20% of all Pizza Hut locations in the country. Read more here.

Dunkin’ collaborated with accessory company PopSockets to create a range of coffee sleeves, Thrillst reported. 50% of all sales go to the Dunkin’ Joy in Childhood Foundation, which supports health and hunger relief for children. Read more here.

The CEO of FAT Brands is seeing immediate growth opportunity in allowing franchisees to scale Johnny Rockets through virtual restaurants, Restaurant Dive reports. FAT Brands also plans to garner overhead savings for Johnny Rockets by integrating the diner into the company's existing structure of marketing, operations and legal, and to modernize the casual restaurant's menu with a plant-based burger option and potentially a vegan milkshake. Read more here.

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

Chipotle is looking to hire another 10,000 U.S. workers in the coming months amidst an economy impacted by the coronavirus pandemic, Reuters has learned. The fast-casual brand has already added about 8,000 of the 10,000 employees it targeted when it launched its last major hiring spree in May. Read more here.

FAT Brands Inc, the owner of the Fatburger restaurant chain, is buying 1950s diner-style chain Johnny Rockets from private equity firm Sun Capital Partners Inc for about US$25 million. As reported by CNN, the deal is expected to close in September. Read more here.

McDonald’s former chief executive officer Steve Easterbrook fired back at his former company for suing to retrieve tens of millions of dollars in compensation, denying company claims he covered up sexual relationships with subordinates. As Bloomberg reported, the fast foot giant’s officials claimed they found new information that showed the former top executive “concealed evidence and lied about his wrongdoing.” Read more here.

The CEO of Chili’s Grill & Bar parent Brinker International said its virtual brand It’s Just Wings can grow into a US$150-million-a-year business in its first year. As reported by Nation’s Restaurant News, the new delivery-only business is posting $3 million in average weekly sales since debuting the last week of June. Read more here.

A Colombian fast food chain is planning to turn its branches into automated restaurants. As reported by the Associated Press, MUY has more than 30 restaurants in Bogota, and four in Mexico City. Read more here.

Photo credit: Johnny Rockets Facebook

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

Wendy’s is poised to amplify its commitment to the breakfast daypart in the U.S. by investing US$15 million in marketing it in the last half of the year. As reported by Nation’s Restaurant News, the fast food chain said the daypart contributed 8% of sales in Q2. Read more here.

Restaurant Brands International said its quarterly revenue plunged 25% as the coronavirus pandemic weighed on same-store sales at Burger King and Tim Hortons. As reported by CNBC, Popeyes reported same-store sales growth of 24.8%, powered by its popular chicken sandwich. Read more here.

McDonald’s is partnering with the Mayo Clinic as part of the fast food giant’s efforts to keep customers and employees safe during the pandemic. As reported by CNBC, the medical center will offer McDonald’s advice on best practices to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and review the company’s environmental health and safety precautions and some of its global standards. Read more here.

Chipotle is launching a responsibly sourced apparel collection made with organic cotton, and branded accessories available exclusively for its Rewards members. The collection will feature an open-looped line of Chipotle apparel, dyed with upcycled avocado pits from its restaurants as well as branded unisex gear. Read more here.

Toxic PFAS substances -- man-made perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl chemicals -- are located in the food packaging of Burger King's "Whopper," chicken nuggets and cookies; in Wendy's paper bags; and in McDonald's wrappers for the "Big Mac," french fries and cookies, according to a report from environmental advocacy groups Toxic-Free Future and Mind the Store. As reported by CNN, paper-fiber containers showed the highest levels of any packaging tested. Read more here.

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

McDonald’s expects to accelerate U.S. restaurant closures this year and permanently shutter about 200 locations. As reported by CNBC, the fast food giant said its U.S. same-store sales shrank just 2.3% in June. Read more here.

Dunkin' is permanently closing 8% of its U.S. locations, which amounts to roughly 800 restaurants. As reported by CNN, described the closures as "real estate portfolio rationalization" and said the affected locations are in "low-volume sales locations" that only represent 2% of its US sales as of 2019. Read more here.

Yum! Brands reported that global same-store sales fell 15% in the fiscal second quarter, led by plummeting sales across the KFC brand. However, as CNBC reports, the company also said sales have begun to stabilize in its open locations, with digital being a key factor. Read more here.

Starbucks will accelerate the rollout of pick-up hybrid stores in the U.S. amidst the ongoing pandemic. As reported by ABC News, the coffee company plans to have 50 of these stores over the next 12 to 18 months with a view to have several hundred in the U.S. over the next three to five years. Read more here.

KFC partnered with Crocs in the U.S. to release limited-edition footwear. As reported by USA Today, the fully-scented shoes went on sale for US$59.99 and sold out in under 30 minutes. Read more here.

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

McDonald’s and Chipotle are the latest chains to implement mandatory mask policies in their U.S. stores, Forbes has reported. The move comes as workers increasingly face conflict from anti-mask customers. Read more here.

Starbucks has joined the new Transform to Net Zero initiative as a founding member, aimed to accelerate the transition to a net zero global economy no later than 2050. The coffee giant says it “will open-source best practices, advocate for positive government policies, and support a just transition.” Read more here.

Dunkin’ Brands has appointed Phillip Auerbach to the newly created position of chief digital and strategy officer, effective 10 August. As reported by Nation’s Restaurant News, he will lead global strategy and information technology for the company, which owns the namesake chain and Baskin-Robbins. Read more here.

Sonic is now allows its U.S. customers to find locations and menu items via Amazon Alexa. The Amazon Alexa Skill was developed in partnership with Sonic’s digital content agency VaynerMedia. Read more here.

Burger King is running a new multichannel campaign to celebrate "Christmas in July". As reported by Restaurant Dive, the new video ad has been released as part of the campaign that features interviews with customers — all wearing face masks — who express a desire to "fast-forward" past a difficult period. Read more here.

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

Domino’s reported robust U.S. sales for its latest quarter amidst coronavirus-related lockdowns. As reported by the Wall Street Journal, U.S. comparable sales rose 16% for its fiscal second quarter ended 14 June, ahead of analysts’ forecasts. Read more here.

Taco Bell is cutting 12 items from its menu as it plans to make room for plant-based items and streamline operations. As reported by Nation’s Restaurant News, the downsizing, which starts 13 August, also comes less than a year after brand cut nine items from its menu last year. Read more here.

Burger King is now selling a Whopper made from cows on a low-methane diet at select U.S. locations. As reported by CNBC, the burger chain worked with scientists to find that adding 100 grams of lemongrass to a cow’s diet reduces their methane emissions by a third. Read more here.

KFC is now bringing its plant-based Beyond Meat chicken to 50 locations in the U.S. after a one-day test last year. As reported by Restaurant Business, the outlets trialling the items are in Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego and surrounding areas, close to the headquarters of Beyond Meat. Read more here.

White Castle is trialing a burger-flipping robot in one of their U.S. restaurants in September. As reported by CNN, the privately held restaurant chain announced a partnership with California-based startup Miso Robotics to introduce Flippy, an automated kitchen assistant. Read more here.

Chipotle intends to hire 10,000 more workers in the coming months to support their growing drive-thru business and other initiatives. In an announcement, the chain is also set to celebrate the opening of its 100th “Chipotlane” later this month. Read more here.

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

Starbucks will now require customers in the U.S. to wear masks at company-operated stores amidst rising coronavirus cases in parts of the country. The Wall Street Journal reports the move will cover about 8,900 locations. Read more here.

Uber has officially acquired Postmates for US$2.65 billion. In an interview with Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi, Fast Company suggested Postmates’ technology and people will very likely be used to deliver home products, aside from a widened food delivery reach. Read more here.

Larger restaurant chains in the U.S. have largely recovered from the coronavirus pandemic, whilst the rest of the industry is taking longer to bounce back, according to a Bank of America study. As CNBC reports, spending at small chains and independent restaurants lagged large chains by about 20%. Read more here.

Ghost kitchens, or facilities that produce food only for delivery with no dine-in or customer facing areas, could create a US$1 trillion global opportunity by 2030, according to a Euromonitor International. As reported by Restaurant Dive, the firm predicts cheaper, faster and more reliable delivery could help this segment capture 50% of drive-thru service (US$75 billion), 50% of takeaway foodservice (US$250 billion), and 35% of ready meals (US$40 billion). Read more here.

Yum! Brands has named Cameron Davies to the new role of chief data officer. As reported by Nation’s Restaurant News, he will be responsible for modernizing the foundation of Yum’s data capabilities, including reliable data storage and access, monitoring and reporting. Read more here.

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

U.S. food delivery company Postmates is filing for paperwork to go public, after receiving acquisition offers from Uber and a special purpose acquisition company, Fox Business reports. Uber turned its attention to acquiring the former after its deal to buy Grubhub fell apart. Read more here.

A Pizza Hut and Wendy’s franchisee in the U.S. filed for bankruptcy, looking to sell its burger restaurants as it continues to hold talks over the fate of its pizza outlets. The Wall Street Journal reports that NPC International Inc. had been struggling even before the coronavirus pandemic forced many of its restaurants to close. Read more here.

McDonald's is hitting pause on dine-in reopenings as COVID-19 cases rise across the U.S. As reported by Business Insider, the fast food giant would for three weeks before adding dine-in to their delivery, takeaway and drive-thru operations. Read more here.

Starbucks said it will pause advertising on “all social media platforms”, the latest major advertiser to make such an announcement amidst a boycott that began with Facebook. As reported by NBC News, the coffee giant pledged to have discussions internally and with media partners and civil rights organizations to stop the spread of hate speech. Read more here.

Taco Bell has launched a Grilled Cheese Burrito, dubbed as their “cheesiest new menu item of the year so far.” Taking inspiration from a grilled cheese sandwich, it is served at participating U.S. locations. Read more here.

Photo credit: Postmates Facebook

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

The parent company of drive-thru brands Checkers and Rally’s has reportedly solicited the help of financial advisers to explore a potential restructuring. According to the Wall Street Journal, Checkers has nearly $300 million in debt from its 2017 buyout by Oak Hill Capital Partners. Read more here.

Record cases of COVID-19 in some U.S. states are reportedly forcing restaurant operators to rethink their opening strategies, with some voluntarily shutting down for dine-in service again. Nation’s Restaurant News reports that the governors of Texas and Florida have moved to close bars for on-premise service. Read more here.

Yum! Brands revealed plans to invest $100 million to fight inequality, aiming to improve opportunities for frontline restaurant workers and increase the diversity of the company’s executive teams. As reported by Restaurant Business, the company said it will continue rolling out inclusive leadership and anti-racism training across the system. Read more here.

Online spending for U.S. fast-food chains’ breakfast items nearly doubled between the weeks of March 16 and April 13, according to data from Edison Trends. As reported by CNBC, such spending for breakfast meals peaked the week of May 11 and has since fallen slightly. Read more here.

Starbucks has partnered with Impossible Foods to add a new plant-based breakfast sandwich to its summer menu. As reported by Business Insider, the "Impossible Breakfast Sandwich" is made with a cage-free fried egg and cheddar cheese on ciabatta bread. Read more here.

Chuck E. Cheese’s parent company is set to close 34 of its U.S. locations permanently after filing for bankruptcy. As reported by USA Today, the company said it hopes to use the process to shed debt and emerge as a more sustainable operation. Read more here.

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

McDonald’s expects to hire 260,000 workers in the United States as it reopens dining rooms. In an announcement, the company said it has implemented nearly 50 new safety procedures to protect employees and customers. Read more here.

Burger King is now the first national chain in the U.S. to add Impossible Foods’ sausage to a breakfast sandwich. As reported by USA Today, the Impossible Croissan’wich will be available for a limited time at participating locations. Read more here.

DoorDash has raised an additional US$400 million in equity financing led by Durable Capital Partners and Fidelity, pushing its valuation to US$16 billion. As reported by CNBC, its U.S. sales have surged, placing it well above rivals Grubhub and Uber Eats. Read more here.

Taco Bell is working to “clarify” its mask policy after an employee in the U.S. was told he could not wear a Black Lives Matter-themed face covering. As reported by Nation’s Restaurant News, the chain said it has been working closely with their franchisee that operates their Ohio location to address the issue. Read more here.

Chipotle has added chatbot ordering in the United States in a continued bid to enhance and optimize their digital capabilities. As reported by Restaurant Business, customers can access the Pepper chatbot on Chipotle’s Facebook page. Read more here. 

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

Dunkin’ is looking to hire 25,000 employees as the U.S. restaurant industry tries to bounce back from the coronavirus pandemic. As reported by CNBC, the chain is launching its first advertising campaign centered on hiring to tout the benefits of working at its restaurants. Read more here.

U.S.-headquartered delivery platform Grubhub is merging with European delivery giant Just Eat-Takeaway for an estimated US$7.3 billion. As reported by Tech Crunch, the combined operation — which processed 593 million orders in 2019 — will have over 70 million combined active customers globally. Read more here.

A day after its acquisition, GrubHub was sued by Yum! Brands for allegedly reaching the parties’ five-year food delivery contract by “unilaterally imposing a new pricing structure” to the company’s franchisees without warning. As reported by Nation’s Restaurant News, the operator of KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell invested US$200 million in Grubhub in 2018 to help expand its U.S. delivery network. Read more here.

McDonald’s franchisees in the U.S. are clamoring for corporate to retain the chain's limited menu. As reported by Restaurant Dive, the menu is said to have improved sales and expedited wait times. Read more here.

As many as 85% of independent restaurants in the U.S. may permanently close because of the pandemic by end-2020. Business Insider reported that the Independent Restaurant Coalition is also pushing for US$120 billion in grant funding from its Congress. Read more here.

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

Fast food CEOs have spoken out against racial injustice and police brutality in the United States. Business Insider compiled statements from Chick-fil-A, McDonald's, and Taco Bell, who have released statements in recent days supporting protests. Read more here.

The U.S. restaurant industry is showing signs of recovery as states across the country reopen their economies. Citing data from The NPD Group, CNBC reported that transactions for 70 quick-service, fast-casual and full-service restaurant chains declined just 18% during the week ended May 24. Read more here.

The U.S. restaurant industry also brought back 1.37 million workers in May. As reported by Restaurant Business, federal stimulus dollars and unexpected sales gains helped the industry bring back laid off workers. Read more here.

Sales of Dunkin’ Brands’ chains are improving in the U.S. As reported by Nation’s Restaurant News, the company said Dunkin’ sales improved for the first three weeks in May. For the week ended May 23, same-store sales were down by 15% compared to the same week last year. Baskin-Robbins, meanwhile, indicated that sales have returned to 2019 levels. Read more here.

DoorDash is sponsoring a set of augmented reality (AR) lenses that lets Snapchat users immerse in virtual versions of restaurant chains. As reported by Mobile Marketer, Baskin Robbins, Buffalo Wild Wings, Cheesecake Factory, Chili's and Outback Steakhouse are some brands featured in the AR experiences. Read more here.

Photo credit: DoorDash

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

Popeyes’ U.S. same-store sales soared more than 40% as of the third full week of May amidst the pandemic. As reported by CNBC, the latest results are an improvement from the second half of March, when Popeyes’ same-store sales were flat compared with the year-ago period. Read more here. The chicken chain also announced that it would roll out a new logo, restaurant design, and food packaging. As reported by Business Insider, the chain's new look is part of "The Modern Popeyes Renaissance," a larger initiative to expand the chain's presence around the world. Read more here.

Subway franchisees in the U.S. are pushing back against another attempt to bring back the US$5 Footlong. As reported by Restaurant Business, the company’s franchisee association urged operators not to go along with the program unless it is strictly tied to ordering through the company’s mobile app. Read more here.

Panera Bread has hired Eduardo Luz as its chief brand and concept officer. As reported by Fast Casual, he will be overseeing marketing, digital, strategy/insights and culinary teams. Read more here.

Dine Brands, the parent company of Applebee’s, has started its search for a new CEO. In an announcement, the company retained executive search firm Spencer Stuart to assist them in finding a successor for Steve Joyce, whose employment agreement will expire in February 2021. Read more here.

U.S. burger concept Wahlburgers has appointed industry veteran John Fuller as its new president and CEO. Fuller previously served as president and CEO of The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf and Johnny Rockets. Read more here.