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☆ Why one fast-casual restaurant is a Wall Street favorite, even with a recession looming
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-13 | by ( Carmen Reinicke | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

One fast-casual restaurant chain has remained a favorite on Wall Street even as the U.S. grapples with a potential looming recession. Over the past 15 months, the burrito chain has introduced three rounds of price increases that boosted the cost of its products 13% from a year earlier. In addition, many Wall Street analysts are forecasting a mild recession, which is better for fast-casual restaurants as the hope is consumers won't have to pull back very much or for very long. Potential for growth Another reason that Wall Street likes Chipotle is that it has solid potential for growth in the coming months and years, according to Zackfia. Overall, however, Wall Street sees fast-casual restaurants holding up to economic weakness.

☆ Pizza Hut is bringing back a fan favorite from the ’90s
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-10 | by ( Jordan Valinsky | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

New York CNN —Pizza Hut is bringing back a fan favorite after a nearly 25-year hiatus. Despite it being sold for a brief time in 1999, the extra large pizza quickly became a favorite, and fans have been asking for Pizza Hut to bring it back ever since. The “Big New Yorker” is indeed big: It’s a 16-inch pizza that features six oversized and foldable slices. There’s a Change.org petition begging Pizza Hut to bring it back that has collected nearly 4,000 signatures. “It was the only good pizza that Pizza Hut ever offered,” one signatory pleads.

☆ Chili's CEO bought grills that can cook a medium steak in under 3 minutes — and says they could shave more than $5 million in losses from unhappy customers
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-09 | by ( Nancy Luna | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Over the summer, Chili's was testing drone delivery and dining-room robots to improve operations. But, under new CEO Kevin Hochman, Brinker-owned Chili's ditched robots in favor of kitchen automation. "The robotics were slower than what our servers can do," Hochman told Insider. "The robotics were slower than what our servers can do," Hochman told Insider. That alone is likely to save the company millions of dollars from having to comp steaks sent back by unhappy customers.

☆ Domino’s, Pizza Hut and Other Pizzerias Work to Recruit Delivery Drivers
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-31 | by ( Heather Haddon | Photographs Sophie Park For The Wall Street Journal | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Pizza-delivery drivers, who helped chains such as Domino’s Pizza Inc. and Pizza Hut boost their sales during the Covid-19 pandemic, have become one of the $45 billion industry’s biggest problems. Chain executives said a shortage of drivers is costing them sales and frustrating customers with long wait times. Rising fuel and car-maintenance costs have made the job less appealing over the past year, workers said, as most drivers need to use their personal vehicles for pizza runs, and some said they deal with crime. Pizza restaurants’ often rigid schedules also make it harder to recruit and retain drivers, some operators said, versus more flexible food delivery apps such as Uber Technologies Inc.’s Uber Eats and Grubhub Inc.

☆ McDonald's and KFC pulled out of Russia after Putin invaded Ukraine but Domino's is still operating — for now
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-29 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Domino's is still selling pizza in Russia but its master franchisee says it has limited investment. DP Eurasia owns the Domino's stores in Russia, as well as Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Georgia. A Domino's Pizza restaurant in Moscow in July 2017. At the end of October, DP Eurasia had 171 Domino's stores in Russia, 103 of which were run by franchisees. DP Eurasia subsidiary Domino's Russia has a master franchise agreement with Domino's Pizza International to operate stores until 2030.

☆ China is rolling back much of its Covid controls. That could spell a buying opportunity for these stocks
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-28 | by ( Sarah Min | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

A reopening in the world's second-largest economy could spell a buying opportunity for investors as China unwinds much of its Covid restrictions. Investors have taken the recent developments as a signal to start snapping up China equities. What's more, they say that Chinese equities are cheap on a historical basis, and cheap compared to their emerging market peers. This month, Morgan Stanley said that Chinese equities have a "steep climb" after their underperformance during the pandemic. Yum China is the fourth-largest position in the Thornburg Developing World Fund (THDAX) , which has a roughly 29% allocation to China.

☆ Jim Cramer likes these 7 consumer discretionary stocks for 2023
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-23 | by ( Krystal Hur | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

CNBC's Jim Cramer on Friday offered investors a list of seven stocks he believes could be great additions to investors' portfolios. The consumer discretionary sector is down about 37% for the year. But "while most consumer discretionary stocks have been horrendous this year, we've had some pools of strength, too, and many of them can work in 2023," according to Cramer. Here are his picks:Genuine Parts , O'Reilly Automotive and AutoZoneCramer highlighted these three auto parts stocks as potential buys, stating that AutoZone is his favorite. He added that because TJX operates discount retailers, its stock is a winner during times of recession, when consumers tend to trade down.

☆ The best food marketing stunts of the year
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-23 | by ( Danielle Wiener-Bronner | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

“The Big Cheez-It Tostada and Big Cheez-It Crunchwrap are in such Big demand that our limited offer is no longer available,” the chain said. Diane Bondareff/AP Images for Fancy FeastOver the summer, Fancy Feast invited people to answer the question: What does cat food taste like? The restaurant dishes drew inspiration from Fancy Feast Medleys, cat food that is itself inspired by human food like salmon primavera and turkey florentine. The restaurant’s menu was created by Amanda Hassner, in-house chef for Fancy Feast, as well as restaurateur Cesare Casella, a Michelin star winner, according to a Fancy Feast press release. Papa JohnsAs a permanent addition to the Papa Johns menu, the no-crust, toppings-only Papa Bowls are technically not a stunt.

☆ Restaurants open on Christmas Day 2022: McDonald's, IHOP, Denny's, and more
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-23 | by ( Nancy Luna | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Benihana: Open Christmas Day and Christmas Eve. Bar Louie: Open Christmas Day and Christmas Eve. May be open Christmas Day, depending on location or franchiseGolden Corral: Some locations will be open Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Closed Christmas Day, but open Christmas EveTaco Bell: Restaurants are open on Christmas Eve. Friendly's: Open on Christmas Eve until 6 p.m.In-N-Out: Open from 10:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Christmas Eve.

☆ King Charles' III property empire includes 7 McDonald's, a Victoria's Secret, and an Apple store
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-23 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The Crown Estate owns properties worth $17.6 billion, including farmland and seabeds. It also owns retail parks with stores including McDonald's, Starbucks, KFC, and Victoria's Secret. The Crown Estate, which generates profits for the UK Treasury, is owned by the reigning monarch and control was passed down from Queen Elizabeth II to King Charles III upon her death in September. Lingerie and sex-toy shop Ann Summers also has a store at the Westgate shopping mall in Oxford, as does Victoria's Secret. Regent Street in central London, which is owned by the Crown Estate.

☆ Taco Bell may add fries to its menu permanently to compete with McDonald’s
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-14 | by ( Danielle Wiener-Bronner | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

To compete with rivals such as McDonald’s during lunchtime, the chain is considering permanently adding fries to its menu, Taco Bell CEO Mark King said during an investor event Tuesday. Taco Bell has put nacho fries, its take on French fries, on the menu periodically as a limited-time offering since the item launched in 2018. Taco Bell is considering adding fries to the menu permanently. Craig Barritt/Getty Images for Taco BellBut by keeping fries on the menu year-round, Taco Bell could potentially steal some of its rivals’ customers. In the past, Taco Bell has tested nacho fries topped with steak and ranch sauce, and is currently offering seven-layer nacho fries loaded with beef, black beans, guacamole and more.

☆ I tried Taco Bell's Beyond Meat quesadilla at the only place it's available in the US. The meatless 'steak' could've fooled me, and I now want to try it on everything.
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-13 | by ( Cassy Crabtree | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

I tried Taco Bell's Beyond Meat quesadilla at the only place it's available in the US. Cassy Crabtree tried Taco Bell's Beyond Carne Asada Steak Quesadilla. Cassy Crabtree On October 13, Taco Bell introduced its new Beyond Meat Carne Asada Steak Quesadilla. Taco Bell I visited my local Taco Bell in Tipp City, Ohio (a suburb of Dayton). I tried Taco Bell's Beyond Carne Asada Steak Quesadilla.

☆ Taco Bell's latest plan to take on McDonald's includes keeping fries on the menu forever and committing to breakfast
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-13 | by ( Nancy Luna | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Yum Brands, the parent of Taco Bell, KFC, and Pizza Hut, hosted an investor day conference Tuesday. Taco Bell CEO Mark King spoke about competing with McDonald's at breakfast and lunch. His playbook: make fries a forever menu item, and "commit" to breakfast. During the pandemic, Taco Bell lost momentum at breakfast when it temporarily paused the morning meal offering as offices shut down. Six years later, the Southern California-based chain, known for its Millennials and Gen Z appeal, added Nacho Fries to its menu.

☆ Sweetgreen is among the 12 chains Taco Bell owner, Yum Brands, could buy as the company's CFO tells investors it's hunting for an acquisition
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-30 | by ( Nancy Luna | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

A Yum Brands exec said the company was "scanning categories" that don't compete with its brands. Analyst Mark Kalinowski identified 12 chains Yum Brands could target, including Sweetgreen. Habit was Yum Brands' latest acquisition — it purchased the fast-casual chain in March 2020 in a deal valued at $375 million. Zoe's Kitchen could be a buy target for Yum Brands, a veteran analyst wrote in a research note last week. "It has a market cap bigger than I would have expected, so it'd be an expensive purchase for Yum Brands."

☆ UK strikes: Nearly 200,000 British workers are striking on Black Friday
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-25 | by ( Hanna Ziady | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Postal workers are planning further strike action for November 30 and December 1, following walkouts in August and September. “Customers should expect delays to items posted just before, during or just after strike action,” Royal Mail said in a statement. Amid worker strikes, Royal Mail vehicles remain parked at the Tonbridge Delivery Office in Kent, England on November 24, 2022. Strike action will also add to losses facing companies and could prompt further job cuts. Royal Mail says it has not yet been formally notified of these dates.

☆ KFC's Middle East and North Africa franchisee sets price range for IPO
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-14 | by ( Hadeel Al Sayegh | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

DUBAI, Nov 14 (Reuters) - Americana Restaurants, the Middle East and North Africa franchisee of fast-food restaurants KFC and Pizza Hut, is set to raise as much as $1.8 billion from its initial public offering after the company disclosed an indicative price range on Monday. The price range was set at 2.50 dirhams to 2.62 dirhams per share, the company said in a statement, implying an equity value for the group between $5.73 billion to $6.01 billion. The final price will be disclosed on Nov. 23, the company said. Retail investors in the UAE will be allocated 5% of the offering, while retail investors in Saudi Arabia will be offered 10%. Reporting by Hadeel Al Sayegh; Editing by Christian Schmollinger and by Janane VenkatramanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ This startup just hired a former DoorDash exec to bring robotic restaurant delivery to the masses
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-11 | by ( Nancy Luna | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

When it comes to amassing a large food-delivery footprint, the startup has hired a ringer in the delivery sector — the former DoorDash executive Prahar Shah. Serve's robots have the potential to be ubiquitous in our everyday lives, he said. This is "very similar to part of the playbook that we ran at DoorDash," Shah said. Most of Serve's restaurant partnerships have been with local restaurants in Los Angeles, such as Bossa Nova and Lala's Grill. As he approaches restaurant chains in his new role, he said most understand the necessity of automation.

☆ China vows commitment to growth as investors bet on easier COVID policy
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

Even though case numbers are rising and disruptive lockdowns continue with no clear exit strategy in sight, investors latched on to hope that China may ease its strict COVID policy in the coming months. Renewed COVID lockdowns are weighing heavily on China's business activity and consumer confidence. read moreOPEN-DOOR POLICYYi Gang, governor of the People's Bank of China (PBOC), said China will continue to deregulate its markets. While other countries have been tightening policy to battle rising prices, China has implemented an accommodative monetary policy to shore up sputtering growth, raising concerns about capital flight. With China's zero-COVID policy expected to remain in place through at least the winter, or longer, its near-term growth outlook is bleak.

☆ China vows commitment to growth as pressure on economy mounts
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Renewed COVID lockdowns are weighing heavily on China's business activity, consumer confidence and financial markets, adding to a sharp downdraft on the global economy from surging inflation and rising interest rates. OPEN-DOOR POLICYYi Gang, governor of the People's Bank of China (PBOC), said China will continue to deregulate its markets. With China's zero-COVID policy expected to remain in place through at least the winter, or longer, its near-term growth outlook is bleak. After surprisingly high gross domestic product growth of 3.9% in the third quarter, Nomura expects growth to drop again, with zero or even negative sequential growth from the previous quarter. "We maintain our GDP growth forecast of 2.8% year-on-year for the fourth quarter with a corresponding sequential growth forecast at 0.0%."

☆ KFC's Middle East and North Africa franchisee plans dual listing in UAE, Saudi
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-02 | by ( Hadeel Al Sayegh | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

DUBAI, Nov 2 (Reuters) - Americana Restaurants, the Middle East and North Africa franchisee of fast-food restaurants KFC and Pizza Hut, said it planned to launch an initial public offering (IPO), followed by a dual listing in the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. Adeptio Investments, an investment vehicle jointly-held by Dubai businessman and founder of Emaar Properties (EMAR.DU) Mohammed Alabbar and Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, is offering about 2.53 billion existing ordinary shares, representing 30% of the company, Americana said in a regulatory filing on Wednesday. The IPO would start from Nov. 14 to Nov. 21 for retail investors in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, and Nov. 14 to Nov. 22 for institutional investors in both the countries. Following its public share-sale, it expects to list on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange and the Saudi Exchange on or around Dec. 6, it said. Reporting by Hadeel Al Sayegh; Editing by Rashmi AichOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Strong dollar weighs on Yum Brands even as sales rise at KFC and Taco Bell
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-02 | by ( Amelia Lucas | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Revenue came in above expectations, however, as same-store sales rose at its KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell chains. KFC reported same-store sales growth of 7%, beating Wall Street's estimates of 2%. Taco Bell's same-store sales rose 6% in the quarter, falling short of expectations of 7.5%. In the U.S., same-store sales rose 7%. Pizza Hut reported same-store sales growth of 1%, beating Wall Street's projections that its same-store sales would decline.

☆ From Apple to Disney, China's Covid curbs are again hurting business Apple to Disneyland, everyone is suffering under China's draconian Covid curbs
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-02 | by ( Diksha Madhok | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

New Delhi CNN Business —It has been almost three years since Covid-19 first hit China, but the country’s relentless adherence to lockdowns continues to hobble business and the economy. On Wednesday, authorities imposed a seven-day lockdown of the area that houses China’s biggest iPhone assembly factory, in the central city of Zhengzhou. State media has said that many Foxconn workers are among those walking miles on the highways to escape the factory. On Wednesday, Chinese state media outlet National Business Daily said that electric carmaker Nio (NIO) shut down two factories in the eastern city of Hefei because of Covid curbs. Authorities have ramped up Covid restrictions after Xi’s sweeping power grab at the Communist Party Congress last month, and cases are rising.

☆ Saudi Arabia approves dual listing of Pizza Hut, KFC franchisee
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

DUBAI, Oct 31 (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia's market regulator said on Monday it had approved a concurrent and dual listing of Americana Group, the Middle East and North Africa franchisee of fast-food chains KFC and Pizza Hut, in the kingdom and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Americana has approval to sell 30% of its shares, which will be the first to trade in both the UAE and Saudi Arabia. The Capital Market Authority said the approval was for a dual registration in the two countries and an offering of 2.53 billion shares. Americana is owned by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) and an investment consortium led by Dubai businessman Mohammed Alabbar, founder of Dubai-listed Emaar Properties (EMAR.DU). ($1 = 3.7568 riyals)Reporting by Hadeel Al Sayegh Editing by Mark PotterOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

The back half of the earnings season gets underway this week, with key companies across different sectors set to report. FactSet data shows that slightly more than 70% of the S & P 500 that have reported earnings have beaten earnings expectations. Tuesday Advanced Micro Devices is set to report earnings after the bell, followed by a conference call at 5 p.m. Wednesday Yum Brands is set to report earnings before the bell, with management holding a call at 8:15 a.m. EBay is set to report earnings after the bell, followed by a call at 5 p.m.

☆ I tried Pizza Hut's new Melts and they can be a better alternative to a personal pizza — if you're all about convenience
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-26 | by ( Sarah Jackson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: 1 min

"We like to say – pizza is for WE, Melts are for ME because sometimes you want the delicious taste of pizza all for yourself without having to order and share an entire pie," said Lindsay Morgan, Pizza Hut's chief marketing officer, in a press release. Pizza Hut"With Melts, now there's a new way to get the bold flavors of your favorite pizza – or what you might get on your favorite sandwich – just for you, whenever and wherever you want," she added.

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