QSR, Restaurant and Food Service Trends

Hey, kids: wanna chow down on hot fries — or chilled apple slices cut to look like fries?Burger King (BKC) on Wednesday announced that the apple slices — served in a french-fry-like cup — are on tap to add a fresh fruit option to kid-targeted meals. ...

Fast-food giant McDonald's Corp. said Tuesday its global same-store sales rose 8.1 percent in August. The chain said its U.S. same-store sales grew 7.4 percent during the month due to the company's breakfast menu, beverages and new food offerings. The...

Last night the California Assembly passed a bill requiring calories on fast-food menu boards and additional nutrition information on chain-restaurants’ printed menus. Later today, the state’s Senate will consider separate legislation that would requir...

A judge struck down a New York City rule Tuesday that required fast-food restaurants to post calorie counts on their menus.   U.S. District Judge Richard J. Holwell said he determined the rule conflicted with federal law. Businesses had claimed that t...

A 20-year-old McDonald's employee spent a night in jail and is facing criminal charges after a police officer complained that the burger she prepared with too much salt made him sick. Kendra Bull was charged with misdemeanor reckless conduct and arre...

The 350 to 400 Wendy's workers who lost their jobs in July finally may be able to get their unpaid wages covered by a $350,000 gift fund set up by Wendy's International. The Dublin, Ohio-based restaurant chain announced today that the money has been ...

Louisville, Ky.-based Kentucky Fried Chicken's $2.99 Deals was recently introduced. The marketing campaign is focussed around the idea that the smell of KFC in American offices will lure customers into the chain. To carry out the "scent-focused&...

Wendy's International Inc. has gone from being a case study for activist investing to a poster child for waning interest in mergers and acquisitions. Before Wendy's disclosed that billionaire investor Nelson Peltz would gain access to see confidential...

Burger King Holdings Inc said on Wednesday it will use the "strong and consistent cash flow"it expects this fiscal year for plans such as share repurchases, debt retirement and the payment of its dividend. The world's No. 2 hamburger chain al...

Wendy's International Inc. has agreed to let a major shareholder have access to crucial information about the third-largest hamburger chain so he can decide whether to bid for the company. Billionaire investor Nelson Peltz has said his company, Triarc...

Mr Skinner has masterminded a comeback at McDonald's. The global restaurant chain lost customers in the late 1990s and early 2000s as it focused on expansion at the expense of the quality of its food and service.   A fast talker who likes to use his ha...

Boston Market Corp. gained a new president and CEO Monday as private-investment firm Sun Capital Partners Inc completed its acquisition of the restaurant chain from McDonald's Corp. Richard K. "Rick"Arras was named president and CEO of Gol...

Comparable-store sales for Burger King Holdings Inc. rose 3.4 percent for the 2007 fiscal year ended June 30. The company reported worldwide comparable sales increased 4.4 percent for the fourth quarter, making it the 14th consecutive quarter of posit...

Jim Delligatti took two years to convince McDonald's that the Big Mac was a good idea but 40 years on he takes pride in having invented one of the world's most widely eaten foods that is getting its own museum. In 1967, the McDonald's franchisee got ...

After a three-year search -- and an extensive amount of testing and consumer research -- the perfect French fries to complement Hardee's Angus-beef Thickburgers have been found. Beginning today, guests who order a combo meal or a side of fries will be...

McDonald's customers have shown strong support for the new Angus Third Pounders that debuted in Southern California last March. Positive customer feedback has prompted McDonald's marketing co-ops in New York and Central Ohio to introduce the newest lin...

Wendy’s International Inc. quietly sold its 18-unit Café Express fast-casual chain at the end of July, according to a securities filing by the company. The No. 3 burger brand sold Baja Fresh Mexican Grill during the fourth quarter of 2006 and Tim Hort...

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission issued subpoenas to 44 food and beverage companies including Coca-Cola Co., McDonald's Corp. and Procter &Gamble Co., seeking information on how they market to children. The companies have 90 days to respond to th...