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☆ Chain restaurants like Chili's are coming for fast-food giants in the latest bout of the value wars
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-30 | by ( Erin Mcdowell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

As fast-food prices increase, customers are finding more value in chain restaurants. Chains like Chili's are rolling out deals and portion sizes that could best fast-food chains. Chili's new Big Smasher burger is the latest offensive move in the value wars. The Big Smasher burger, Chili's newest menu item, was served in the company's test kitchen before its official launch on April 29. And if the sheer size and taste of the Chili's burger are anything to go by, it has a shot at beating fast-food chains in the value wars.

Persons: —, margarita, It's, Applebee's, John Peyton, Cate Gillon, Ian Borden, Scott Rodrick, Chris Kempczinski, Borden, McDonald's, Erin McDowell, We've, we've, Brian Paquette, Paquette, Big, Chili's, Richard Levine, Corbis, Felix Organizations: Service, Dallas, Mac, Business, Dine, Restaurant, UBS Global Consumer, Retail Conference, CNN, CBS News, Getty, Bloomberg Locations: New York, New York City, California, , New York

☆ Frankenstein restaurants like a Taco Bell-Pizza Hut combo are popping up everywhere
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-25 | by ( Alex Bitter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

AdvertisementIn 2008, Hip Hop trio Das Racist caught the attention of the internet with their song "Combination Pizza Hut and Taco Bell." Its most recent dual-branded restaurant opening was in Leon, Mexico, and the company is contemplating opening more in the US, CEO John Peyton said. The 2002 annual report for Yum Brands, the parent company of Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, and KFC, among other restaurant chains, lays out why the much-memed combination Taco Bell-Pizza Hut existed in the first place. In the past, some restaurant brands have put together brands that don't complement each other, said Rob Seely, associate vice president of operations, strategy, and design at WD Partners, which advises restaurant brands. Do you work at a major restaurant like McDonald's, Pizza Hut, or Taco Bell and have a story idea to share?

Persons: —, Bell, It's, John Peyton, Dine, Payton, Peyton, Das, Taco Bell, David Novak, Novak, Yum, Frankenrestaurants, hasn't, Long John Silver, John Silver, Long John Silver's, Rob Seely, Seely, Taco Organizations: Service, Dine Brands, Yum Brands, KFC, Bell, Brands, Darden, Business, WD Partners, Taco Bell Locations: Leon , Mexico, Applebee's, IHOP, Pizza, Taco, Kentucky

☆ Frankenstein restaurants are popping up everywhere, but they aren't actually that successful
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-23 | by ( Alex Bitter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

AdvertisementIn 2008, Hip Hop trio Das Racist caught the attention of the internet with their song "Combination Pizza Hut and Taco Bell." Its most recent dual-branded restaurant opening was in Leon, Mexico, and the company is contemplating opening more in the US, CEO John Peyton said. Related storiesSo Yum turned to Frankenrestaurants — like the combination Pizza Hut-Taco Bell — to offer a wider variety of options under one roof. Major restaurant brands also frequently change ownership, making it hard to decouple multi-branded locations if a company decides to sell one. In the past, some restaurant brands have put together brands that don't complement each other, said Rob Seely, associate vice president of operations, strategy, and design at WD Partners, which advises restaurant brands.

☆ The best and worst restaurant chain apps, from Starbucks to McDonald's
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-06 | by ( Nancy Luna | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

We can order food, earn rewards, and find unique online-only offers. McDonald'sAfter lagging behind rivals for years, the chain's app now has over 57 million active members. That feature has been around since Dunkin's mobile app first launched in August 2012. The chain first began testing mobile ordering in a handful of markets in 2009 before going national in 2011. For example, the Chipotle app gives you uber-specific portion size choices such as "normal," "extra" or "light' servings.

Persons: —, Taco Bell, Dunkin, Taco, Brian Niccol, it's, Wendy's, Burger King, Domino's, They've, I'm, Joe, Chipotle Organizations: Starbucks, Service, Subway Subway, Subway, Restaurant, Taco Bell, Burger, Chipotle Locations: Cava, Burger

☆ I visited Chip City and could see why this cookie chain backed by Shake Shack's founder is rapidly expanding to new cities
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( Jennifer Ortakales Dawkins | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Chip City has a goal to open 40 locations by the end of the year. The cookie chain is known for its unique and seasonal flavors. Then in 2022, Shake Shack founder Danny Meyer and his investment firm, Enlightened Hospitality Investments, poured $10 million in Chip City to help the company open more locations. Crumbl is much larger in comparison, with 800 store locations, though Chip is showing that perhaps slow and steady wins the race. I visited the Astoria, Queens, flagship store to see why the cookie chain is so popular.

Persons: Chip City, —, Peter Phillips, Teddy Gailas, Phillips, Danny Meyer, Meyer, Chip Organizations: Service, Food Institute, Shake Shack, Enlightened Hospitality Investments, Nation's, Astoria , Locations: Astoria , Queens, Miami Beach , Florida, Fairfield , Connecticut, Chip City, New York City, Long, New Jersey, Connecticut, Astoria

☆ These 53 college towns 'eat the most Chipotle' — and the chain will reward them by staying open until midnight on Halloween
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( Nancy Luna | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Chipotle said it plans to keep 53 college-town stores open until midnight on Halloween. The chain said it is targeting college towns popular with Gen Z, a group that likes to eat late. But instead of going national with its late-night business, Chipotle is targeting "college towns that eat the most Chipotle," the chain announced Wednesday. The fresh-Mex chain, which has more than 3,250 restaurants, said 53 college towns will stay open until midnight on Halloween – a busy night for the brand. "Over the past two years, Chipotle has seen a 30 percent increase in transactions after 8 p.m. on Halloween and 81 percent of 18- to 26-year-olds surveyed reported wanting to see Chipotle open until midnight," the chain said.

Persons: Chipotle, Gen Z, —, Gen, Wendy's, Ann Arbor Organizations: Service, Nation's Restaurant, Way, University Avenue South, Fowler, Boulevard Georgia, Ponce De, State Street, College, Salisbury, State Street East, Street New, Broadway, Tryon, Franklin, Court Street Oxford, Clifton, Clemson, Street, State, Montgomery, Ogden Locations: North Carolina , Ohio, Florida, Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Arizona, Tempe, Flagstaff, Way California, La Jolla, Berkeley, Angeles, Colorado, Boulder, Gainesville, University Avenue South Miami, Tampa, Orlando, Atlanta, Ponce, Ponce De Leon Ave, Athens, Illinois, Champaign, Indiana, West Lafayette, State Street Bloomington, Kirkwood Avenue Louisiana, Baton Rouge, Maryland, Salisbury, Salisbury Boulevard Michigan, State Street East Lansing, Minnesota, Minneapolis, Mississippi Oxford, Missouri, Columbia, Street New York, Vestal, York, Broadway North Carolina, Raleigh, Charlotte, Greenville, Wilmington, Ohio, Columbus, Cincinnati, Dayton, Oklahoma, Carolina, Tennessee, Nashville, Knoxville, Avenue Texas, Waco, Lubbock, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Utah, Salt Lake City, Wisconsin, Madison, Street Milwaukee, Ogden Avenue Washington

☆ Starbucks is closing 7 San Francisco stores, as it expands delivery and new store formats. Here's the full list of closing locations.
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-04 | by ( Alex Bitter | Gloria Dawson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Starbucks is closing seven locations in San Francisco as the chain cuts back on a dense store network. Many retailers have closed stores in downtown San Francisco, citing low foot traffic and crime. AdvertisementAdvertisementStarbucks is closing seven stores in San Francisco as it renovates others and adds a pickup-only location. AdvertisementAdvertisementEven without the planned closures, Starbucks operates fewer stores in San Francisco than it did several years ago. Starbucks has "opened or re-opened" three locations in San Francisco over the last six months, the company spokesperson told Insider.

Persons: it's, —, Geary, Van, Yves Saint, Laurent Organizations: Starbucks, Service, San Francisco Business Times, Safeway, Geary St, California St, Employees, Business Times, Times, Restaurant, Nordstrom Locations: San Francisco, California, Van Ness

☆ Chick-fil-A drive-thrus are dreadfully slow, but customers don't seem to care
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-03 | by ( Jennifer Ortakales Dawkins | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

AdvertisementAdvertisementChick-fil-A's drive-thrus are among the slowest in the industry, but customers don't seem to mind. In a new survey of 10 top fast-food chains, Chick-fil-A ranked last for speed of drive-thru service. The chain's drive-thru customers waited an average of 5 minutes and 12 seconds between ordering and receiving their food, according to the survey by QSRmagazine. Of the chains studied, Chick-fil-A had the most accurate orders, with a 92% rate of accuracy, including any special requests. Customer experience solutions company Intouch Insight conducted the study using mystery shoppers who visited each drive-thru to test speed and accuracy.

Persons: — Organizations: Service, Wendy's, KFC, Intouch

☆ The decline of Boston Market: Why the chain that sparked the rotisserie chicken craze has closed dozens of stores
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-19 | by ( Nancy Luna | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Boston Market, founded in 1985, sparked the rotisserie chicken craze in the late 1980s and 1990s. Between 2017 and 2022, the Golden, Colorado-based chain closed 161 stores, according to market research firm TechnomicAbout 50 more stores have closed this year. "Boston Market repeatedly has breached its payment obligations to US Foods," the suit states. Boston Market began serving its homestyle meals of spit-roasted rotisserie chickens, made-from-scratch cornbread, and creamy mac and cheese in 1985. Boston Market also faced competition from grocery stores like Costco and Kroger, which began selling rotisserie chickens in 1994.

Persons: Brenda Rivera, Rivera, Seth Wenig, Joseph Petrecca, McDonald's, Jay, Pandya, Tim Powell, That's, It's, it's Organizations: Boston, McDonald's, Service, New Jersey's Labor Department, The, Boston Market, Engage Brands, Restaurant Business, US Foods, Costco, Kroger, Sun Capital Partners, Sun Capital, Restaurant, Group, Companies Locations: New Jersey, Wall, Silicon, California, Boston, , Colorado, Jersey, Massachusetts, Arizona, Orange County , California, Huntington Beach , California

☆ The average Chick-fil-A franchise makes nearly $8.7 million in sales and has one of the lowest fast-food franchise startup fee — here's how to open one
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-03 | by ( Hayley Peterson | Dominick Reuter | Nancy Luna | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Chick-fil-A 's fee for a new restaurant is $10,000 – one of the lowest of any major fast-food brand. In 2022, most locations average nearly $8.7 million in sales per year, up from $8.1 million a year ago, according to the chain's 2023 Franchise Disclosure Document. McDonald's, for example, requires potential franchisees to pay from $1.5 million and $2.5 million in startup costs — including a $45,000 franchise fee, according to the chain's 2023 FDD. Total costs to launch a franchised Chick-fil-A restaurant ranges from $518,385 to $2,803,435, according to the 2023 FDD documents. No transfer or sale of a Chick-fil-A business is allowed, not even family inheritance in the event of death or disability.

Persons: Mark Kalinowski, Chick, McDonald's, Noam Galai, Jay Reed Organizations: Service, Business, Taco Bell Locations: Wall, Silicon, York

☆ Taco Bell is fighting to cancel a rival's trademark on the phrase 'Taco Tuesday,' saying nobody should have 'exclusive rights'
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-16 | by ( Alex Bitter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Taco Bell is challenging trademarks on the phrase "Taco Tuesday" in a PR blitz. "Nobody should have should have exclusive rights in a common phrase," one of Taco Bell's petitions reads. Taco John's controls a trademark for "Taco Tuesday" in 49 states, according to Nation's Restaurant News. Taco John's website on Tuesday after it released its response to Taco Bell's petitions. "Taco John's, despite all of its claims to the contrary, did not invent Taco Tuesday — nowhere even close to inventing Taco Tuesday," Arellano told Marketplace.

☆ The buffet is back. Thank you, inflation.
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-08 | by ( Alex Bitter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Diners are looking for a good deal as inflation keeps restaurant prices high. Now, they're becoming destinations again, with society mostly open and inflation forcing consumers to stretch the money that they spend on eating out. Now, with restaurant prices rising fast thanks to inflation, all-you-can-eat buffets are attracting diners looking for a good deal. Golden Corral is one of the buffet chains that survived the pandemic. Some, like the company behind Furr's Fresh Buffet and Old Country Buffet, filed for bankruptcy and permanently closed locations.

☆ Dunkin' rolls out breakfast tacos as competition heats up for fast food morning grub
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-22 | by ( Nancy Luna | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Dunkin' added breakfast tacos to its menu on March 22. The move comes as McDonald's expanded its test of serving Krispy Kreme doughnuts in Kentucky. Today, Dunkin' launched breakfast tacos for under $3 each. At a December investor day conference, Taco Bell CEO Mark King announced plans to compete with McDonald's at breakfast and lunch. Wendy's, which introduced a new breakfast menu three years ago, told Nation's Restaurant News this month that breakfast sales have surpassed sales targets of $3,000 per week per restaurant.

☆ Former Domino's CEO bought nearly $4,000 worth of pizza in a year
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-14 | by ( Grace Mayer | Nancy Luna | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Former Domino's CEO Ritch Allison bought $3,919 worth of pizza in 2021, the Financial Times found. The former CEO was compensated for a nearly $4,000 personal pizza expense, the Financial Times reported, citing Domino's proxy filing from last year. As FT points out, the previous proxy shows Allison's nearly $4,000 in pizza in 2021 was relatively tame. During his tenure as CEO, Allison pushed innovation and a culture of risk-taking at the tech-forward company. Curious what $3, 919 gets you in Domino's pizza pies?

☆ Chipotle is launching Farmesa, a spinoff selling 'California-inspired' bowls of salmon, whipped potatoes, quinoa, and more
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-15 | by ( Nancy Luna | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Chipotle is launching a virtual restaurant brand featuring "California-inspired" bowls. The virtual restaurant makes its debut later this month in a ghost kitchen in Santa Monica, California. Farmesa will operate at the Kitchen United Mix food hall at Third Street Promenade, a tourist-heavy outdoor retail center in Santa Monica. Kitchen United is a Pasadena, California-based ghost kitchen operator with locations all over the US. Chipotle's new concept, Farmesa, is opening later this month at ghost kitchen/food hall Kitchen United Mix.

☆ Chick-fil-A just unveiled a fried cauliflower sandwich that took 4 years to develop — and it's nothing like the plant-based fast food at rivals like McDonald's
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-09 | by ( Nancy Luna | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Plant-based meat sales growth has flattened over the last several months. But, Chick-fil-A is debuting a cauliflower sandwich in three US markets next week. Next week, the Atlanta-based fried chicken chain plans to introduce its first plant-based meal, the Chick-fil-A Cauliflower Sandwich. Chick-fil-A's vegetable sandwich test also comes as demand for plant-based meats has slowed, prompting layoffs at Impossible Foods. "We explored every corner of the plant-based space in search of the perfect centerpiece for our plant-forward entrée," Stuart Tracy, culinary developer of the cauliflower sandwich, said in a statement.

☆ Starbucks customers may soon give up their afternoon caffeine kick and drop costly drink modifications like extra syrups, analysts warn
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-21 | by ( Nancy Luna | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Starbucks previously reported that premium add-ons like syrups are a $1 billion business. A drop in traffic amid a looming 2023 recession could also hit Starbucks. Jefferies is "baking into our forecast" that a recession will lower US same-store sales at Starbucks due to negative traffic growth, Barish said. Those modifiers are big business for Starbucks, according to Sara Trilling, president of Starbucks North America. Add-ons are a $1 billion "high margin" business for Starbucks that has doubled since 2019, the company said during the November call.

☆ Burger King's new 'Royal Reset' would reward 800 top restaurants but could punish thousands of others. Analysts worry it could kick off a 'Darwinian' battle for survival.
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-19 | by ( Nancy Luna | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Tim Powell, the managing principal at the consultancy Foodservice IP, said Burger King units were long overdue for modernization. But he questioned Burger King's "survival of the fittest" tactic. Jose Cil, the CEO of Burger King's Restaurant Brands International, said the turnaround plan was directed at lifting sales for all restaurants. "All of that will lead to an output which is increased traffic, increased sales, increased restaurant-level profitability, and growth for the brand, from a systemwide sales standpoint. US sales at Burger King increased nearly 4% in 2021.

☆ Burger King's $400 million turnaround plan favors 800 top-performing restaurants. It's a 'Darwinian' move analysts say could leave hundreds of franchisees in the lurch.
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-14 | by ( Nancy Luna | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Burger King unveiled a $400 million "Reclaim the Flame" turnaround plan last week. Burger King's $400 million "Reclaim the Flame" turnaround plan calls for upgrading 800 of the company's top restaurants, a "Darwinian" move that could hurt hundreds of poor-performing locations left without financial support, analysts say. Tim Powell, the managing principal at the consultancy Foodservice IP, said Burger King units were long overdue for modernization. Jose Cil, the CEO of Burger King's Restaurant Brands International, said the turnaround plan was directed at lifting sales for all restaurants. "All of that will lead to an output which is increased traffic, increased sales, increased restaurant-level profitability, and growth for the brand, from a systemwide sales standpoint.

☆ I ate the same meal at Texas Roadhouse, Outback Steakhouse, and LongHorn Steakhouse. Here's how they compared.
▼ + stars: | 2019-08-01 | by ( Irene Jiang | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Texas Roadhouse, Outback Steakhouse, and LongHorn Steakhouse are restaurant chains in America. Texas Roadhouse, Outback Steakhouse, restaurant chains in America. I went to the Outback Steakhouse in Manhattan, the LongHorn Steakhouse in Queens, and the Texas Roadhouse in Teterboro, New Jersey, to see how the dining experiences compared. Outback Steakhouse, LongHorn Steakhouse, and Texas Roadhouse are the three biggest steakhouse chains in America, according to a 2019 Nation's Restaurant News report. I went to three New York City-area locations — the Outback Steakhouse in Manhattan, the LongHorn Steakhouse in Queens, and the Texas Roadhouse in Teterboro, New Jersey — to see how the dining experiences compared.

Persons: margarita, — Organizations: Texas, LongHorn, America . Texas, Texas Roadhouse, Service, New Locations: America ., America, Manhattan, Queens, Teterboro , New Jersey, That's, New York City

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