QSRs shift models to 'go where the consumers are'

by Alicia Kelso — Editor, QSRWeb.com

Mobile initiatives, bigger marketing budgets, franchising growth and unprecedented headwinds grabbed headlines this year for the QSR segment.

Sugar and spice and everything breakfast: 2014 on the menu

by Alicia Kelso — Editor, QSRWeb.com

Breakfast, beverage and retail categories accelerated this year, while operators embraced meaty offerings, despite record-high protein prices.

McDonald's plans to shrink menu, ingredient lists

by Alicia Kelso — Editor, QSRWeb.com

McDonald's has moved from a division structure to a structure that empowers regions to execute their marketing and menu plans toward their specific…

Krispy Kreme sales, traffic jump as company begins loyalty program test

by Alicia Kelso — Editor, QSRWeb.com

Customers can sign up for the program through their iPhone or Android device and earn reward 'Treats' for future purchases. A national roll out is expected in…

Competition for talent among hot trends for employers in 2015

by Brenda Rick Smith — Editor, Networld Media Group

The upswing in the economy means competition for talent will heat up in 2015. That means employers need to up their game when it comes to attracting and…

Hurdles expected to remain in place in 2015 for restaurant operators

by Alicia Kelso — Editor, QSRWeb.com

In addition to record-high commodities prices, labor inflation, technology costs and health care/menu labeling regulations, there is also intensified…

Online cultural inclusiveness: Something for restaurant brands to think about

Focusing on how diversity is presented on a company website provides an opportunity to reaffirm our industry’s commitment to reaching a multicultural workforce…

Quiznos turns to millennials in turnaround bid

by Alicia Kelso — Editor, QSRWeb.com

Quiznos will launch a new POS (expected in 2015) and will then be able to test some loyalty tools and a mobile app. The brand is also testing gluten-free…

The chefs have spoken: Menu trend predictions for 2015

by Alicia Kelso — Editor, QSRWeb.com

After years on the rise, gluten-free cuisine has fallen out of the top 10 list of the National Restaurant Association's annual survey.

How to get millennials to buy into your restaurant brand

Every step of what patrons experience from how they are greeted to what's on the menu; from how they place orders to how their tables are cleared must be…

Lessons from a prolific, international restaurant franchisee

by Alicia Kelso — Editor, QSRWeb.com

The president of QSR International says offering a breakeven promotion around a beverage is the 'most intelligent thing you can do' going into a new market.

'Black Friday' a boon to restaurants, too

by Brenda Rick Smith — Editor, Networld Media Group

Mall-based restaurants can see a significant spike in sales around the holiday season, bolstered by high traffic volumes and consumers' desire for indulgence.

Secrets to successful restaurant site selection

Tour prospective sites in order from worst to best, which will allow you to become more confident, ask better questions and be more in control of the leasing…

Social media expert: Restaurants need to get better at brand storytelling

by Alicia Kelso — Editor, QSRWeb.com

The challenge is no longer having the biggest presence or most followers; now quality matters before activity.

8 tips for heading off holiday scheduling stress

by Brenda Rick Smith — Editor, Networld Media Group

Increased traffic coupled with more requests for time off can add up to scheduling stress. Check out these tips for reducing the stress.

The wait is over: FDA issues final menu labeling regulations

by Alicia Kelso — Editor, QSRWeb.com

The FDA's 395-page document includes menu labeling by the slice, not the whole pizza, a ruling applauded by the restaurant industry.

How to make sure your dishes are properly sanitized

Ideally, one person should clean the dishes and the other person sanitize and handle the clean ones. If this isn’t possible, strict procedures must be followed…

Restaurant organizations apprehensive about Obama's executive action on immigration

by Alicia Kelso — Editor, QSRWeb.com

It has been estimated that about 20 percent of chefs, head cooks and cooks in the restaurant industry are undocumented immigrants.

McDonald's turnaround plan: 'Get closer to the customer'

by Alicia Kelso — Editor, QSRWeb.com

McDonald's CFO said the company is behind some competitors in the digital space and is therefore investing at an 'accelerated rate' to get enhancements to the…

Sonic franchisee's marketing shift doubles sales of LTO burger

by Alicia Kelso — Editor, QSRWeb.com

Kergan Brothers' Who Dat burger joins its Rajin' Cajun burger as a football season LTO, generating higher ticket and traffic counts.