QSR, Restaurant and Food Service Trends

As if unemployment rates, home foreclosures and the deepening recession weren't enough, the beleaguered casual-dining industry has to fend off new, formidable competition: fast-food chains. As consumers increasingly trade down to fast food, several pla...

The province Alberta has put an end to Calgary's trans fat initiative. In January 2008, the Calgary Health Region began limiting the amount of trans fats restaurants could use to less than two percent. It was the first part of a multi-phase initia...

McDonald's Corp (MCD.N) posted a 1.4 percent rise in February sales at restaurants open at least 13 months, as strength in the United States helped offset the impact of the stronger dollar. Shares in the company -- one of the restaurant industry's to...

ConAgra Foods Lamb Weston is known for uncovering opportunities for the foodservice industry in even the most challenging of economies. And today, that opportunity comes via a program that delivers a most innovative kind of support during these tough t...

Wendy’s/Arby’s Group Inc. posted a net loss of $393.2 million for its fourth quarter, as impairment charges and continued slow sales at the Arby’s chain weighed down results.The parent company to both the Wendy’s and Arby’s chains reported on Monday im...

Investment funds affiliated with Nelson Peltz, the well-known activist investor and nonexecutive chairman at Wendy’s/Arby’s Group Inc., have snatched up stock in quick-service and snack brands, and dumped holdings in casual-dining companies. Accordin...

Tracking data of the sales of frozen potato products to foodservice by the major US potato processors indicates a low single digit drop in pounds sold in the last quarter of 2008 and a high single digit dollar value increase. For entire 2008, the volume sold is flat. Export of frozen potato products is up, both in volume and dollar value, but export is relatively small (about 15%) compared to total sales. There is no clear sign in these tracking data that foodservice is moving away from higher priced specialties.

Dairy Queen’s Sweet Deals value menu may be rolling out nationally just in time to fight the recession, but it’s hardly a knee-jerk reaction to economic pressure, according to officials. The chain began testing the offer in 2007, before the downturn hi...

McDonald's Corp is not losing breakfast business to Starbucks Corp, McDonald's Chief Executive Jim Skinner said at a luncheon in Chicago on Friday.When asked if Starbucks, which recently revamped its morning menu with healthier choices, has taken a bit...

Cash-strapped consumers are getting reacquainted with cooking at home, and that's been bad news for restaurants and their stocks. The dining-out industry is suffering through a major fire in the kitchen.

Fast-food chains are targeting cash-strapped patrons of casual-dining restaurants with premium products that are blurring the line between the two dining categories. One chain boosting its high-end offerings is Burger King Holdings Corp. (BKC). The No....

Good news about fast-food french fries: Tests show they are free of artery-clogging trans fats. The chains stopped using trans fats to make fries over the past few years, but ShopSmart magazine from Consumer Reports, tested some  samples from Burger Ki...

National Restaurant Association Executive Vice President for Public Affairs Beth Johnson issued the following statement in response to today's U.S. Court of Appeals decision to uphold a New York City Board of Health regulation that dictates how nutrit...

McDonald's Corp on Monday posted a better-than-expected 7.1 percent rise in global January sales at restaurants open at least 13 months, driven by strength in nearly all of its markets.McDonald's and other fast-food restaurants have benefited as a glob...

Yum Brands Inc.'s (YUM) KFC brand plans to launch its first nationwide value menu next week as the company looks to reinvigorate its lagging chicken chain with a message targeting cost-conscious customers. The value menu, which will be backed by nation...

The recession is forcing consumers to cut back even more on dining out, particularly at higher-end restaurants, according to a new survey. The study by market research firm Morpace Inc. found that 48 percent of U.S. consumers are eating out less often ...

Burger King Holdings Inc.(BKC)reported a 10% decrease in second-quarter net income, as a stronger U.S. dollar took a toll on earnings despite improved sales.The quarter's results were below analysts' expectations, and the stronger dollar prompted the f...

A new survey conducted by foodservice consultants Technomic, Inc. revealed that the mandated calorie disclosure for New York City restaurants with 15 or more units is affecting what items consumers order and which restaurants they visit. Technomic fou...