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

Burger King in Mexico launched a campaign poking fun at US tourists with a spicy burger dubbed “Only for Mexicans’. Burger King global CMO Fernando Machado told AdWeek that they hoped the Mango Habanero King will be seen as “self-deprecating and funny.” Read more here.

Amid the ongoing chicken sandwich craze in the US, McDonald’s is bringing back seasonal items for the holidays, including the McRib. According to the fast food giant, the item is set to return for a limited time in more than 10,000 U.S. restaurants. Read more here.

Wendy’s in the US is getting into gaming with its first tabletop role-playing game (RPG) called "Feast of Legends”, Marketing Dive reports. The RPG involves "a realm threatened by frozen beef" called "Beef's Keep," where "only true heroes will rise to defend freshness." Read more here.

Tim Hortons is now selling cans of their soups and chili at select stores across Canada. The Toronto Sun reports that the coffee chain has started selling the canned versions of their soups and chili at select locations of Sobey’s, Freshco, Shoppers Drug Mart, Save On Foods and Fed Coop. Read more here.

Shake Shack has promotes Tara Comonte to an expanded role of president and chief financial officer, the company said in an announcement. She has more than 20 years of strategy, finance, technology and operations experience in the public and private sector, spending much of her career at global media and advertising companies. Read more here.

Photo credit: Wendy's YouTube

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

Yahoo! News reports a Subway in the US was shut down following a surprise inspection by the Chicago Department of Public Health. The inspection came after a video showing an employee wiping down the soda counter using a mop that had also been used to clean the restaurant floor went viral. Read more here.

Fast food competitors Burger King and McDonald’s have teamed up to fight cancer in Argentina. As Grit Daily reports, BK’s ‘Day Without Whopper’ campaign sees them stopping the sale of their top-selling product for a day in order to redirect and increase sales to McDonald’s, helping them with their annual fundraising campaign of donating $2 to Children With Cancer for every Big Mac and signature burger sold. Read more here.

McDonald's in Canada announced the 12-week test of its new plant-based burger made with a Beyond Meat patty. The P.L.T., which stands for Plant. Lettuce. Tomato, will be trialled in 28 restaurants in Southwestern Ontario, starting 30 September. Read more here.

In the US, McDonald's has also launched "Apply-Thru", a new voice experience for both Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant for applications. Engadget reports that job seekers need to say "Alexa/OK Google, help me get a job at McDonald's" or "Talk to McDonald's Apply Thru." to get started. Read more here.

Domino’s chief executive in the US is saying no to partnerships with third-party delivery apps. As CNBC reports, Rich Allison says he wants to focus on those “really core” to their business, such as their point-of-sales system and digital ordering capabilities. Read more here.

DoorDash announced that hackers accessed the company’s data system and stole the personal information of approximately 4.9 million users — including partial bank and credit card information. As reported by CNBC, the hack occurred in May, affecting customers who joined before April 5, 2018. Read more here.

Uber in the US announced that its namesake ride-hailing app will be merged with its Uber Eats food delivery app. The Guardian also reported that Uber Eats will open more “digital-only restaurants” – businesses with no brick-and-mortar outlet where customers can only order food from the app, including a partnership with celebrity chef Rachael Ray. Read more here.

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

KFC in the US announced it will be testing a new combination of fried chicken and glazed doughnuts beginning 16. As reported by CNN, customers have two options: a chicken and doughnut basket meal for $5.49, which includes chicken tenders or bone-chicken and a doughnut; or a chicken sandwich for $5.99, featuring a fried chicken patty between two doughnut buns. Read more here.

Panera in the US is adding a new category to its lineup: warm grain bowls. In a company release, the chain says the move is the next step in its “evolving mission to offer more grains, plants and proteins on its menu.” Read more here.

Fast casual chain &pizza has partnered with food-tech startup Zume to roll out a fleet of mobile kitchens in the US - a bid to assist the former’s delivery and expansion efforts. As reported by Business Insider, &pizza CEO Michael Lastoria estimates that thousands of mobile kitchens will be "on the road in the near future." Read more here.

Taco Bell in the US has unveiled its Halloween-themed costumes, including ones for babies. As Yahoo! reports, the collection revolves mostly around the restaurant’s signature sauce packets — hot, fire, diablo and verde. Read more here.

Chipotle in the US announced the addition of carne asada to its menu for a limited time. As reported by Restaurant Business, Chipotle Rewards members were the first to learn about the new item, with some loyalty members invited to early tasting events in New York and Los Angeles. Read more here.

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.

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

Del Taco is considering a sale, receiving interest from both investment firms and other restaurant chains including private equity firm Oak Hill Capital and restaurant company Dine Brands Global. As reported by Restaurant Business, the 583-unit Mexican chain reported 2.2% same-store sales growth in Q2. Read more here.

Domino’s in the US has opened a 33,000-square-foot “Innovation Garage” where team members can create and test new ideas for the brand. The hub features collaborative workspaces, private meeting rooms, space for delivery innovations and a pizza theater where technology such as ordering kiosks can be tested. Read more here. 

McDonald’s in the US has launched a campaign where 500 pre-selected “do-gooders” were given gold “McCafe It Forward” cards, entitling them to free coffee. Nation’s Restaurant News reports that cardholders are encouraged by the fast food giant to pass the cards to friends, family or strangers. Read more here.

Dunkin’ put a spin on their previous Dunkin’ bowls by introducing two new burrito bowls available at participating restaurants in the US for a limited time. This follows the reported success of the Dunkin’ bowls which were first made available in April for a limited time. Read more here.

Tim Hortons in Canada has partnered with food delivery network SkipTheDishes for its first delivery service in the country. Customers in the Greater Toronto Area can order from the restaurant’s full menu through the SkipTheDishes mobile app or online. Read more here. 

Taco Bell in the US has launched a back-to-school merch collection for fall. Delish reports that the line includes food-themed pencils, backpacks and hoodies. Read more here.

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

Taco Bell’s parent company Yum Brands has appointed current COO David Gibbs as CEO, effective Jan. 1, 2020. As reported by CNBC, he will replace Greg Creed, who is retiring after being with Yum for 25 years. Read more here.

Domino’s in the US is planning to launch an e-bike delivery program nationwide this year. As CNBC has reported, the pizza company said electric bikes improved their delivery and increased its hiring pool in market tests. Read more here.

McDonald’s in the US has a new look for its McCafé, the fast food giant said in an announcement. The new brand identity includes an updated logo, new golden cups and a new brand tagline: “Good is Brewing.” Read more here.

A departure from its simplicity, Chick-fil-A has added a new item to its permanent menu. As reported by USA Today, the chain’s new Mac ‘n Cheese is their first addition to the menu since 2016. Read more here.

The chief executive of Red Lobster has expressed confidence in remaining a private company. In an interview with Cheddar, Kim Lopdrup said the brand is experiencing rapid growth in delivery, positive same-store sales, and is exploring a range of new concepts to modernize. Read more here.

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

Subway is the latest fast food chain in the US to enter the plant-based arena, announcing a partnership with Beyond Meat to test a faux meatball marinara sub at over 600 restaurants. Read more here.

McDonald’s in the US is trying another buy-one, get-one for US$1 nationwide in a bid to woo value customers. As Restaurant Business reports, the limited-time offer allows customers to mix and match between a Big Mac, Filet O’ Fish, 10-piece Chicken McNuggets or Quarter Pounder. Read more here.

Impossible Foods has partnered with food and facilities management company Sodexo to roll out eight new items, including their signature Impossible Burger, at over 1,500 retail locations in the US. Read more here.

Shake Shack in the US has announced a partnership with mobile ordering and delivery company Grubhub. The integration will see the burger chain have potential reach of more than 20 million diners in the platform. Read more here.

Papa John’s in the US is starting its marketing push featuring its newest board member Shaquille O’Neal. According to the pizza chain’s latest results, their US$80 million investment in marketing and royalty relief for its franchise system began in Q3 2019 and will run through the fourth quarter of 2020. Read more here.

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

Burger King in the US is going to sell its plant-based Impossible Whoppers nationwide for a limited time starting 8 August. As CBS News reports, diners can also have the Impossible Whoppers delivered via the Doordash or Burger King mobile apps. Read more here.

Chick-fil-A has dethroned In-N-Out in a survey determining America’s favorite fast food restaurant. As told by Fox Business, Market Force's Fast Food Market Research Report evaluates input from 7,600 consumers to assess the winner. Read more here.

Chipotle has quietly expanded its testing of AI-powered voice assistants to 1,800 locations in the US this year. Vice president of digital strategy and product Nicole West told Nation’s Restaurant News that they plan to expand the AI voice system to its remaining US stores by the end of the year. Read more here.

Outback Steakhouse is undertaking two delivery-related initiatives in a bid to increase transactions, its parent company Bloomin’ Brands has announced. As reported by Restaurant Business, the steakhouse operation has developed a new interior design that features an “off-premise room” devoted to delivery, takeout and catering orders, and has negotiated a tentative deal with a third-party delivery service. Read more here.

Chuck E. Cheese’s (CEC) parent has terminated its proposed reverse merger with blank check company Leo Holdings. As reported by Restaurant Business, the deal would have reintroduced CEC as a public listed company on the New York Stock Exchange. Read more here.

Pizza Hut in the US is exploring temporary closures of up to 500 underperforming units in the next 24 months. As Restaurant Dive reports, Yum Brands president, CFO and COO David Gibbs explained the units will be remodeled and reopened with a focus on carryout and delivery. Read more here.

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

Yum! Brands announced that its Taco Bell and Pizza Hut brands will now have chief executive officers in a bid to bolster growth. Mark King, former president of Adidas Group North America, will helm the Mexican chain whilst Pizza Hut US president Artie Starrs is being promoted to the new role. Read more here.

Pizza Hut US is also testing a cubby-based pickup concept in Los Angeles, California. As Restaurant Business Online reports, customers can place an order and pay through any channel, either on the mobile app, online, by phone or in the store. Read more here.

Dunkin’ is now the latest major restaurant chain to sell meat substitutes in the US, announcing a partnership with Beyond Meat to sell a meatless sausage sandwich. As reported by CNN, the brand is selling the item at 163 locations across Manhattan, with plans to roll out the US$4.29 sandwich nationally at some point. Read more here.

Amid new partnerships, Beyond Meat also confirmed that it is working on fake bacon and steak. In an interview with CNN Business, CEO Ethan Brown says the upcoming products are "important as we build out the portfolio". Read more here.

In contrast, Chipotle chief executive officer Brian Niccol has said no to plant-based meat on their menus for now. In an interview with Bloomberg, he explained that does not fit with their “‘food with integrity’ principles because of the processing”. Read more here.

Starbucks announced plans to make its Starbucks Delivers available in the U.S. early next year through an agreement with Uber Eats. Read more here.

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

US-headquartered fast casual chain Slim Chickens announced an equity investment from private equity firm 10 Point Capital, fueling its goal of opening 600 new locations over the next ten years. The chicken chain currently has over 80 locations across 14 states, the United Kingdom and Kuwait. Read more here.

The plant-based meat market will grow by 28% a year and reach US$85 billion by 2030, UBS has forecasted. Business Insider reports the company also predicted that plant-based dairy alone could be worth US$37.5 billion by 2025. Read more here.

Domino's has released its second quarter earnings, disappointing investors who expected the chain's sales to grow at a faster clip. As reported by CNN, CEO Richard Allison says the chain continues "to see a significant amount of pressure" from  third-party delivery aggregators. Read more here.

McDonald’s has added DoorDash as a new delivery partner, bringing an end to its exclusive partnership with UberEats. CNBC reports that UberEats was the sole U.S. delivery provider for the fast food giant since 2017. Read more here.

Taco Bell has revealed the exclusive menu for their pop-up hotel, which sold out in just two minutes. The new items include the Fire Chip Chilaquiles that come with tomatillo salsa, Mexican crema, queso fresco, pico de gallo, and a fried egg; and the Avocado Toast-ada, served on local multigrain toast with avocado, breakfast radish, chipotle seasoned sorghum, and "Diablo puffs". Read more here.

KFC in Russia has launched a hat that looks similar to their classic chicken bucket. As AdWeek reports, the Bucket Hat was created by agency Wieden + Kennedy Amsterdam in partnership with St. Petersburg-based streetwear brand Mam Cupy. Read more here.

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

Tim Hortons will soon add meat-free burgers featuring vegan Beyond Meat to its menus in Canada. In a report by Live Kindly, the chain has been secretly selling Beyond Burgers in select locations. Read more here.

Subway says more than 10,500 of its US restaurants will be remodeled with a new design and décor by the end of 2020. These remodeled locations will join the nearly 1,400 global remodels already completed and the nearly 900 global remodels currently underway. Read more here.

Burger King announced plans to sell $1 tacos nationwide for a limited time. As reported by CNBC, tacos had briefly been on the burger chain’s menu in 2010. Read more here.

Bonchon has hired a new CEO tasked to steer the chicken chain’s growth in the US and other markets. As reported by Restaurant Business Online, Dekker, who previously served as CMO of Wingstop, will take over the day-to-day leadership from Jinduk Seo, who will continue to serve on the chain’s board. Read more here.

Starbucks’ limited ‘tie-dye’ frappuccino was met with mixed reception, Yahoo! Lifestyle has reported. Aiming to evoke summer, the drink features red, blue and yellow tie-dye swirls, topped with vanilla whipped cream, and dusted with red, blue and yellow powder. Read more here.

Photo credit: Starbucks

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

Impossible Foods’ signature plant-based burgers will be cheaper than meat in three years, according to its founder and CEO. Speaking to Grist, Pat Brown says this will be the case as “soon as the company is big enough to capture the efficiencies of mass production.” Read more here.

Investors in Panera Bread Co. claimed company directors bungled the US$7.5 billion sale of the restaurant chain to JAB Holding Co., alleging that the business was “railroaded” because the founder wanted to cash out his stake. Bloomberg reports that disgruntled stockholders said in a filing that directors shouldn’t have let Ron Shaich, who founded Panera in 1981, handle the JAB negotiations in 2017 without the assistance of a special board committee. Read more here.

Subway announced a partnership with Halo Top Creamery to test hand-spun Halo Top milkshakes at nearly 1,000 participating Subway restaurants across the US. From 22 July through September 4, guests can enjoy the brands’ three milkshake flavors in six test markets. Read more here.

Dairy Queen is now selling a Sour Patch Kids Blizzard in the US. Insider reports that the cross-promotion comes days after the candy company announced that pickier fans of the candy could now buy entire bags of just red or blue Sour Patch Kids. Read more here.

Uproxx listed all the National Fried Chicken Day deals offering in the US, including free delivery by KFC via GrubHub. Read more here.

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

Subway franchise owners in the US are reportedly being forced out of business due to the chain's questionable management practices, according to multiple lawsuits and an exposé in the New York Times. Read more here.

McDonald's Corporation is planning to launch two new spicy items, the Spicy BBQ Sandwich and Spicy BBQ Glazed Tender in mid-September, according to leaked documents shared with Business Insider. The new menu items are said to be intended to boost short-term sales and traffic at the fast food giant. Read more here.

For the fourth consecutive year, Chick-fil-A has found itself at the top of the American Customer Satisfaction Index ranking of fast food chains. In a report by Fast Company, the chains were evaluated based on courtesy, food quality, restaurant cleanliness, and mobile app quality. Read more here.

Reservations for Taco Bell’s pop up hotel sold out in just two minutes. CNBC reports that some users attempting to book a room received a message saying the website was experiencing “higher than normal traffic” and to “keep your crossed fingers on that refresh button.” Read more here.

KFC announced that its Cheetos Sandwich will be available in their US stores through the end of July. Forbes reports that the new item has been in test since at least January. Read more here.

In response to the meat-free trend, Arby’s has created the "Marrot", a carrot made entirely of meat. In a report by CNN, the company clarified that it does not plan to sell them in stores. Read more here.

Photo credit: Arby’s YouTube

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

Taco Bell unveiled its latest campaign for the fourth limited-time run of its Nacho Fries. The movie-themed campaign stars Hollywood actor Darren Criss as Zack Collins, a singer discovered while he croons about the fries. Read more here.

Starbucks Corporation will power 3,000 locations with clean energy by 2021 via a partnership with LevelTen Energy. A data-sharing collaboration between the project developers and LevelTen will allow the coffee giant to monitor its renewable energy generation, track portfolio performance and streamline contract management. Read more here.

McDonald’s Corporation announced its International Currency Exchange, where the fast food chain will take any amount of foreign currency customers may have in exchange for one of the items from its international menu. Read more here.

Chipotle announced its 'Love What Makes You Real' campaign for Pride month. As reported by Yahoo! Finance, the chain will celebrate the LGBTQ+ community with limited edition pride gear benefitting The Trevor Project and will be participating in parades across the United States. Read more here.

Jamba Juice is dropping “Juice” from its name. As reported by Business Insider, the name change is part of a brand relaunch and plans to remodel all of its 800-plus franchise locations within 18 months. Read more here.

Photo credit: Taco Bell

Find out what QSRs have been up to on social media this week.

BRAND AND STORE UPDATES

Sblended Milkshakes celebrated its Secret Blend fruit smoothies with the release of ‘The Garden of Lost Secrets’ book.

ShakeAway brought back its Dance Troupe competition, the lucky winner will win a workshop with the cast of Dirty Dancing the Musical.

NEW ON THE MENU

Hummingbird Bakery released its Chocolate Guinness Cake for Father's Day, made with chocolate sponge with a hint of Guinness beer.

Wasabi Sushi & Bento unveiled its newest avocado hosomaki set.

Wrap it Up! introduced its newest Lebanese wrap made with roast aubergine, red pepper, falafel, red pickled slaw, tumeric pickles, tabbouleh all with tahini dressing and garlic mayo.

Farmer Food announced its new and improved breakfast menu and is also set to unveil its summer menu next week.

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

Chick-fil-A turned to artificial intelligence to spot signs of foodborne illness. As reported by The Science Times, the fast food chain uses algorithms to analyze social media posts for food safety issues with 78% accuracy. Read more here.

Pizza Hut revamped its original pan pizza for the first time after 40 years. In a report from CNN, the brand’s pan pizza now includes a new cheese blend, sauce and a crispier crust. Read more here.

Chipotle announced that it will offer up to US$1 million free burritos. As reported by IndyStar, fans will have a chance at a free burrito every time a principal play-by-play announcer, color commentator or sideline reporter uses the word "free" during the NBA finals game. Read more here.

Dairy Queen announced its free burger giveaway to celebrate National Hamburger day. According to a report from Penn Live, customers can score a free burger when they buy a malt or shake through the Dairy Queen mobile app. Read more here.

FAT Brands opened its 54th location in Canada. In a report from Businesswire, Fatburger and Buffalo’s Express’ parent company announced the opening of its newest co-branded location in Vancouver island. Read more here.

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

Papa John’s founder John Schnatter sold parts of his US$9.8 million shares. As reported by the Courier Journal, Schnatter has sold a combined US$3.8 million shares for at least US$50 per share through investment advisers UBS. Read more here.

McDonald’s unveiled tiny replica of its restaurant dubbed the ‘McHive’. As reported by the Irish Examiner, the beehive replica is designed to look like a McDonald’s restaurant and features seating, a drive-through and an entrance. Read more here.

Burger King announced that it’s helping select graduates pay off student loans. In a report from USA Today, students have to download the Burger King app, make a purchase and enter their monthly debt repayment amount to qualify and have their loans covered by the company. Read more here.

Little Caesars and Impossible Foods teamed up for Impossible Supreme Pizza. According to a press release, Little Caesars is the first national pizza chain to offer plant-based meat on its signature pies, the Impossible Sausage already trialled in the brand’s three markets. Read more here.

MOD Pizza raised US$160 million in an equity financing. According to a press release, the company expects to reach approximately 1,000 locations over the next five years, creating more than 14,000 new jobs and enhance the experience it provides customers through investments in off-premise and digital capabilities. Read more here.

Photo credit: McDonald's Facebook