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☆ Fast-food workers will make $20 an hour in California. Here's why Panera Bread was exempted from the new law.
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-29 | by ( Nancy Luna | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A new California law increases the hourly wage for fast-food workers to $20 an hour in April 2024. AdvertisementAdvertisementStarting next April, 557,000 fast-food workers in California will get a nearly 30% pay increase to $20 an hour at 30,000 restaurants in the state. It's unclear how restaurant chains like Panera Bread came to be exempt from the fast-food law. Under the new law signed by Newsom, thousands of fast-food workers making minimum wage in the state will get another increase to $20 an hour in April. Besides dropping the minimum wage boost to $20 an hour, the new law allows a fast-food council to adjust only wages.

Persons: Gavin Newsom, —, Newsom, Boudin Organizations: Service, California Gov, FAST Locations: California

☆ I tried the salads and savory bowls at Sweetgreen and Cava. Both chains are Gen Z favorites — but there's a clear winner.
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-28 | by ( Nancy Luna | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Cava, billed as a Mediterranean version of Chipotle, went public in June. AdvertisementAdvertisementNewly minted Wall Street darling Cava is a fast-casual chain that sells grain bowls and pitas in an assembly-style format. Rival Sweetgreen, whose shares have plummeted since the company went public in 2021, sells premium salads and warm bowls. It's about two miles from a Cava restaurant in Orange County, the home base of top fast-food brands such as Chipotle and Taco Bell. So, I decided to try the two chains to see why they have such a devoted following among Gen Y and Gen Z consumers.

Persons: —, Sweetgreen, Taco, I've, Gen Y Organizations: Service, Taco Bell, Tender Greens Locations: Los Angeles, Naperville , Illinois, Cava, Tustin , California, Orange County, Base

☆ DoorDash, Instacart, and GrubHub drivers say they're being booted from their delivery jobs without notice — and the services won't tell them why
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( Alex Bitter | Nancy Luna | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +13 min

Unexplained deactivations are commonplace for some gig workers, according to accounts from drivers. The agent on the other end approved it, he told Insider, and assured him that it wouldn't negatively affect him. Sudden, unexplained deactivations have become commonplace for workers on gig delivery apps, according to accounts from these workers. Grubhub and DoorDash told Insider that employees determined the deactivations of drivers. Do you work for Instacart, DoorDash, Uber Eats, or another delivery service and have a story idea to share?

Persons: —, Uber, would've, they'd, Steve, Jason Picon, Jason, Grubhub, Michael Loccisano, Instacart, Rikki Nudelman, I've, DoorDash, Nudelman, we're, New York City, Sergio Avedian, Guy, Avedian, Carsten Koall, Uber hadn't Organizations: Service, Grubhub, Santa Barbara, DoorDash, New York Daily News, Tribune, Getty, Walmart Locations: Oregon, Virginia, Texas, California, Central California, Los Angeles, Santa, New York, New York City Ribeiro, New, Seattle, deactivations, Berlin

☆ McDonald's franchisee group pushes back against 'detrimental' fee hike
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-25 | by ( Nancy Luna | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

McDonald's is increasing its royalty fee from 4% to 5% of gross sales for select franchisees. AdvertisementAdvertisementMcDonald's decision to increase its royalty fee for the first time in 30 years is sparking a backlash from a key franchisee advocacy group representing about 1,000 McDonald's franchisees. AdvertisementAdvertisementThe email was sent after McDonald's told operators and employees it plans to increase its monthly royalty fee, formerly called a service fee, from 4% to 5% of gross sales. McDonald's told Insider on Monday that the "claim that McDonald's is getting rid of services simply isn't true." The royalty fee hike comes as McDonald's plans to increase its new unit growth.

Persons: —, McDonald's, NOA, Joe Erlinger Organizations: Service, National Owners Association, CNBC

☆ See Chipotle's new robots that can crank out nearly 200 burrito bowls an hour
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-22 | by ( Nancy Luna | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Chipotle is working with Hyphen, a startup that uses robotics to make up to 180 bowls per hour. The chain is testing an automated kitchen line by Hyphen to prepare digital orders, a $3 billion business for Chipotle. But unlike other tech firms, Hyphen has buy-in from Chipotle, one of the industry's most innovative brands. Chipotle invested in Hyphen in 2022 and started piloting its robotics this year in a lab near the chain's Newport Beach, California, headquarters. Based in San Jose, California, Hyphen recently gave Insider an exclusive first look at how it uses robotics to make up to 180 bowls per hour.

Persons: Chipotle, Brian Niccol, Niccol Organizations: Service, Chipotle Locations: Wall, Silicon, Chipotle, Beach , California, San Jose , California

☆ Starbucks' dome lids are infuriating baristas and embarrassing customers
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-21 | by ( Gloria Dawson | Nancy Luna | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Some Starbucks baristas say the company's dome lids are difficult to attach to cups. The dome lids are also getting heat from Starbucks customers. "This is our plea to Starbucks to make the tall dome lids differently because they don't work," she says. A Starbucks spokesperson told Insider, "Dome lids are used for any cold beverage that is topped with whipped cream." AdvertisementAdvertisement"When the TikTok community cancels us because we have dome lids instead of flats."

Persons: it's, Laxman Narasimhan, They've, I've, TikTok, Juice Organizations: Starbucks, Service Locations: Wall, Silicon, Ohio, Virginia

☆ I compared Jersey Mike's sandwiches to Subway's new deli-sliced subs. The contest was closer than I expected.
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-20 | by ( Nancy Luna | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

This summer, Subway introduced a new line of meat and cheese-heavy sandwiches dubbed Deli Heroes. We compared the subs to equivalent sandwiches at Jersey Mike's. Jersey Mike's hand-slices its meat and cheeses before customers, so comparing the two brands seemed like a legit mano a mano challenge. Still, some might think it's an unfair matchup to compare Jersey Mike's to Subway, as my friend suggested. All subs were purchased at restaurants in Orange, California, so prices may vary elsewhere.

Persons: munching Organizations: Service, Subway, Jersey Locations: Jersey, Wall, Silicon, Orange , California

☆ Woman sues McDonald's over hot coffee spill nearly thirty years after the original infamous coffee lawsuit
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-19 | by ( Nancy Luna | Jennifer Ortakales Dawkins | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

A San Francisco woman is suing McDonald's over a hot coffee that spilled and burned her. The coffee spilled and gave her severe burns in her groin area, the court filing said. The most famous scalding incident came in 1994 when 79-year-old Stella Liebeck sued McDonald's for a hot coffee burn. Liebeck initially received a $2.9 million jury award after receiving third-degree burns from spilled McDonald's coffee. Years later in 2014, a Los Angeles woman sued McDonald's for allegedly serving her a hot coffee drink that badly burned her.

Persons: McDonald's, Mable Childress, San Francisco McDonald's, Childress, Peter Ou, Stella Liebeck, Liebeck Organizations: Service, San Locations: Francisco, Wall, Silicon, San Francisco, Los Angeles

☆ Chick-fil-A plans UK restaurants opening after previously facing backlash from LGBTQ+ rights activists
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-18 | by ( Nancy Luna | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Chick-fil-A pulled out of the UK in 2019 after it faced backlash from LGBTQ+ activists. The chain no longer makes those donations and now plans to return to the UK with five stores. It's been four years since the chain retreated from the country after facing backlash for its history of donating to anti-LGBTQ+ organizations. But the chain's reputation for making significant donations to right-wing groups with a history of anti-LGBTQ+ work prompted waves of protests. "From our earliest days, we've worked to positively influence the places we call home, and this will be the same for our stores in the UK," Symonds said in a statement.

Persons: It's, Dan Cathy, Chick, Truett Cathy, Joanna Symonds, we've, Symonds Organizations: Service, of Christian Athletes, Salvation Army Locations: Wall, Silicon, Europe, Asia, North America, The Atlanta, Reading, Berkshire, England

☆ McDonald's fans are mourning the loss of self-serve soft drinks, saying it's the 'end of an era' and a 'tremendous loss'
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( Jennifer Ortakales Dawkins | Nancy Luna | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

McDonald's is nixing its self-serve soft drinks and customers are expressing their dismay. Fans of the fast-food chain said the switch was the "end of an era" and a "tremendous loss." Some people expressed concerns about the cleanliness of the soda machines and that perhaps the new method would be more sanitary. "I went to a McDonald's that was doing this already I waited for 15 mins for a refill on the drinks," wrote Alexis Coon. "They aren't staffed to refill drinks," wrote Wil Rabquer.

Persons: Hali Palombo, refills, Drew Powell, Meg Herman, McDonald's, Mike Schario, Karen Henderson, McDonald's didn't, that's McDelivery, Hannah Wismer, Alexis Coon, Wil Rabquer, Steve Tuck, Joseph Hall Organizations: Service, Beverage, Facebook Locations: Wall, Silicon, McDonald's, California, Nebraska, Northern California

☆ From taking orders to cutting avocados, AI is solving the labor shortage problem for fast-food chains
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( Nancy Luna | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Checkers & Rally'sLast year, Checkers & Rally's became one of the first big chains to implement widespread use of AI-powered voice assistants. Out of the 803 Checkers and Rally's restaurants, voice AI was live in 390 as of August. AdvertisementAdvertisementSoundHound, best known as a music-recognition app, has spent years perfecting its conversational voice AI bots. Sister burger chains Carl's Jr. and Hardee's also announced plans to test Presto's AI voice bots this year. Hardee's and Carl's Jr. are also testing voice AI bots by OpenCity.

Persons: DoorDash, Deloitte, Keyvan Mohajer, it's, Mohajer, Schier, Rally's, Domino's, ConverseNow, SoundHound, SoundHound's Mohajer, Beef, Chippy, Rebecca Harrington, McDonald's, Carl's Jr, Del, Carl's, Hardee's, Presto, Taco, Chris Turner, Turner, Taco Bell Organizations: Service, Chipotle, Industry, National Restaurant Association, Deloitte, Wingstop Tech, Anthony's, Slim, Dialog, Taco Bell, Taco, Yum Brands Locations: White, Wall, Silicon, McDonald's, Texas, California , Texas, Florida, Chicago, Thai, Newport Beach , California, Del Taco, Mexican, Southern California, Taco Bell's

☆ Burger King and Wendy's are trying to start the chicken wrap wars. But their messy meals made us yearn for the return of McDonald's iconic snack wraps.
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-13 | by ( Nancy Luna | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Wendy's and Burger King launched this year copycats of the iconic McDonald's chicken wraps. Wendy's was the best, but it fell apart as did the Burger King wraps. Seven years later, the burger chain's arch rivals, Burger King and Wendy's, are filling the chicken wrap gap with their own versions. Burger King debuted three snack-wrap-style chicken wraps in August, while Wendy's debuted a grilled chicken ranch wrap in March. AdvertisementAdvertisementI set out to see if these wraps would fill the void left by the McDonald's snack wrap.

Persons: Burger King, Wendy's, Burger Organizations: Service, Burger King, BK Locations: Wall, Silicon

☆ Say goodbye to self-serve soft drinks at McDonald's
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-11 | by ( Nancy Luna | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Self-serve soda fountains allow consumers to refill multiple times at fast-food restaurants. But, McDonald's said it is phasing out soda fountain machines in dining rooms across the US. The news was first reported by the State Journal-Register, citing several franchisees in Illinois. "McDonald's will be transitioning away from self-serve beverage stations in dining rooms across the U.S. by 2032," McDonald's said in a statement to Insider. " Self-serve soda fountains allow fast-food consumers to refill multiple times.

Persons: McDonald's, that's McDelivery, refills, Charlie Neibergall, Mikel Petro Organizations: Service, State, - Locations: Wall, Silicon, Illinois, Orange , California

☆ I bought meals from Chipotle, Chick-fil-A, and McDonald's in-store and online. I was shocked by menu markups as high as 38% for the delivered food.
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-09 | by ( Nancy Luna | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

At a McDonald's in Orange, California, Insider found that a Quarter Pounder with Cheese meal cost $10.19. DoorDash said it encourages restaurants to "maintain delivery menu prices that more closely reflect in-store menu prices." "There is a premium associated with the delivery channel," Chipotle told Insider, adding that its delivery prices are about 30% above in-store and order-ahead menu prices. ChipotleInsider food correspondent Nancy Luna found delivery prices about 30% higher at Chipotle compared to in-store prices. "This is one reason – among many – why DoorDash encourages restaurant partners to maintain delivery menu prices that more closely reflect in-store menu prices."

Persons: DoorDash, Chipotle, Uber, Nancy Luna, queso blanco, Shouldn't, It's, McDonald's, Ashwin Kamlani, Kamlani Organizations: Service, Chipotle, Chapman University in, Wall Street Locations: Wall, Silicon, Chipotle, Orange , California, Chapman, Chapman University in Orange, queso, McDelivery, That's

☆ A Chick-fil-A in Texas is using a robot named Wall-E, instead of employees, to deliver food to dine-in customers
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-06 | by ( Nancy Luna | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

A restaurant in Texas is using a robot named Wall-E to deliver food to dine-in customers. Someone in Schier's LinkedIn network said he, too, spotted a robot at a Chick-fil-A in Dripping Springs, Texas, nine months ago. At Chick-fil-A, Schier said he didn't see any employees in the dining room during his morning visit. "Had to go up to get drink refill which usually had been done by host in dining room," he told Insider in an email. In 2018, the company tested a three-button call system that enabled dining room customers to make secondary orders without leaving the table.

Persons: Schier Organizations: LinkedIn, Service, San, Alphabet Inc, Members Locations: Texas, Wall, Silicon, Bryan , Texas, Buffalo, San Francisco, Springs, California, California , Texas, Florida, Atlanta, New York City

☆ Panera Bread slashes dozens of popular menu items, including kids meals, from certain stores as the chain tries to simplify operations
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-05 | by ( Nancy Luna | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Panera Bread, which plans to go public, has axed dozens of menu items in select stores. Items on the chopping block include expensive menu items like the steak and white cheddar sandwich. Panera Bread said the move is a test to simplify operations. Panera Bread said the simplified menu is a test. The citrus Asian crunch salad with chicken, priced at $14.69, has also been removed from test stores.

Persons: Bread, Panera Bread Organizations: Service, Deloitte Locations: Wall, Silicon, Orange , California

☆ I visited 4 Subway locations and saw firsthand what challenges its new owners will face. I found stale bread, bad tuna, and outdated, dirty restaurants.
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-01 | by ( Nancy Luna | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

We visited four Subway in Southern California to figure out how Roark can fix the brand. So I visited four Subway stores near my Southern California home. It is one of hundreds of Subway stores that have been remodeled over the years. In 2021, The New York Times conducted its lab test and published a report stating that it found no tuna DNA in Subway tuna sandwiches. I ordered the tuna sandwich at a Subway in Santa Ana, California, an aging stand-alone store in a former adobe-style Taco Bell building.

Persons: Roark, Dunkin, Fred DeLuca, Jared Fogle, It's, haven't, Nancy Luna, Burger King, —, Tim Powell, Powell Organizations: Roark Capital, Buffalo Wild Wings, Service, Subway, Royce, Owners, The New York Times, Chapman University Locations: Southern California, Wall, Silicon, Jersey, North America, Miami, Orange , California, Santa Ana , California, Orange

☆ I tried IHOP's new biscuits. It's clear Chick-fil-A and Cracker Barrel have nothing to worry about.
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( Nancy Luna | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

The chain's latest expansion includes its first biscuit menu. We tried the sweet and savory biscuits to see whether they would entice newcomers to the brand. But it is going out on a limb with biscuits, entering a food category with some fierce competitors, such as Chick-fil-A, Cracker Barrel, and Hardee's. The chain's new biscuit lineup includes a breakfast biscuit sandwich, a chicken biscuit sandwich, a strawberries-and cream biscuit, and biscuits and gravy. I even went behind the scenes at Carl's Jr. years ago to learn how it made its scratch biscuits.

Persons: IHOP, it's, Kieran Donahue, Carl's Jr Organizations: Service, Biscuits, Dine Brands Locations: Wall, Silicon, Nashville , Tennessee, Charleston , South Carolina

☆ McDonald's dollar menu is a myth. The chain is getting called out for not having a single item that costs $1.
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-30 | by ( Nancy Luna | Grace Mayer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

There's nothing close to a buck on the value menu, according to menus observed by Insider across the US. While sitting in line for a McDonald's drive-thru, Anne Arroyo, a TikToker who goes by @anna2morrow, zoomed in on the fast food chain's Dollar Menu. AdvertisementAdvertisement"McDonald's has a dollar menu right now without a single item that costs $1," she said in the video said in a video she posted. Several commenters wrote about how McDonald's dollar menu pricing was different across the country. A commenter who said they were from Florida wrote that their McDonald's dollar menu drinks cost $2.79.

Persons: McDonald's, Anne Arroyo, Arroyo, Nancy Luna, Chipotle Organizations: Service, Consumer Locations: Wall, Silicon, Niles , Ohio, McDonald's, Florida, Southern California, Orange , California

☆ I tried Wendy's new $3 breakfast and McDonald's famous morning menu, and the winner was clear.
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-30 | by ( Nancy Luna | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

The breakfast value meal features four choices, including two types of biscuit sandwiches. I compared Wendy's biscuit meals to the same ones at McDonald's, and I was surprised at the results. But I set out to compare Wendy's to McDonald's, which has long been considered the king of fast-food breakfast. I bought the equivalent items and compared them on taste, price, and presentation. But I also thought Wendy's, which launched breakfast in 2020, could win on price if the food was halfway edible.

Persons: Wendy's, I've Organizations: Service Locations: McDonald's, Wall, Silicon, Southern California

☆ The 45-year history of The Cheesecake Factory: How a family bakery turned into global restaurant chain with an enormous menu
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-29 | by ( Nancy Luna | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

The first The Cheesecake Factory restaurant opened in Beverly Hills, California, in 1978. Its CEO and founder, David Overton, opened it to promote his mother's cheesecake business. And we knew people loved it," Cheesecake Factory CEO David Overton said in a video on the company's website. Overton is referring to his mom's cheesecake business. Over the next 45 years, Overton turned his mom's cheesecakes into a national sensation.

Persons: David Overton, Overton, Evelyn Overton, I've Organizations: Factory, Service, cheesecakes, Walmart Locations: Beverly Hills , California, Wall, Silicon, Detroit, Los Angeles, Target

☆ Instacart just filed for its IPO and revealed a plan to sell $175 million in stock to PepsiCo
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-25 | by ( Alex Bitter | Nancy Luna | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

The company outlined its business as well as a plan to sell $175 million in shares to PepsiCo. The grocery delivery service filed a prospectus, a detailed document that outlines Instacart's business and IPO ambitions, on Friday afternoon. Instacart will also sell $175 million in Series A preferred stock to beverage giant PepsiCo as part of a private placement, according to the document. Instacart said its average order value was $110 in 2022In total, Instacart works with 80,000 stores. As of June 30, 2023, it has 5.1 million Instacart + members.

Persons: Instacart Organizations: SEC, PepsiCo, Service, NASDAQ Global, Publix, Costco, Aldi, CVS, Walgreens, Walmart, DoorDash Locations: Wall, Silicon

☆ In-N-Out heiress reveals how rowdy customers inspired the name of the popular 'Animal Style' burger
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-23 | by ( Nancy Luna | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The iconic Animal Style burger is one of the chain's most beloved off-menu items. Is it called Animal Style because you feel like a carnivorous animal while taking a big juicy bite? In her new book, due out in October, In-N-Out owner Lynsi Snyder reveals the entire story behind the christening of the Animal Style burger. AdvertisementAdvertisementToday, Animal Style is considered a preparation style for burgers, as well as fries. The Animal Style burger is listed on In-N-Out's "Not So Secret Menu" website, along with other popular off-menu items such as the Protein Style burger and the Grilled Cheese.

Persons: Lynsi Snyder, Snyder, Burger, they'd, Theo Roberts, Harry Snyder, Roberts Organizations: Service Locations: Wall, Silicon

☆ How In-N-Out became one of America's most beloved fast-food dynasties as it marks 75 years under the ownership of the Snyder family
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-20 | by ( Nancy Luna | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

In-N-Out Burger is one of the most beloved burger brands in the US. Rivals envy In-N-Out Burger, which has locations in seven states, for its cultlike fan base. On October 22, the Irvine, California-based fast-food chain plans to mark its 75th anniversary with a bash at the In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip. "The Ins-N-Outs of In-N-Out Burger" will reveal "the true In-N-Out Story," she wrote on her Instagram page. Here's how In-N-Out, with over 390 locations, has grown into an iconic fast-food brand under a handful of leaders.

Persons: Miley Cyrus, Anthony Bourdain, Harry, Esther Snyder, Lynsi Snyder, Snyder Organizations: Service, Burger Pomona Dragstrip, Forbes Locations: California, Wall, Silicon, Southern California, Irvine , California, Burger, Texas , Oregon, Colorado, Idaho, Tennessee

☆ 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

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