KFC China develops customer facial recognition technology to suggest menu items

December 28, 2016

KFC’s Chinese division is creating kiosks that will suggest menu items to customers based on their appearance, according to The Daily Dot. Specifically, the…

Brands usher in 2017 with LTOs

December 28, 2016

All around the fast food universe, chains are preparing to be reborn as newer, better versions of themselves when the new year starts at midnight Saturday.

5 tips to boost customer loyalty in 2017

by Jon Siegel — CMO, ZBoxDVD

The new year is fast upon us, and with it comes new opportunities for restaurant brands to surprise and delight their customers with engaging and rewarding…

News items from around the restaurant scene this week

December 22, 2016

Lots of brands are making end-of-year moves that are making a difference in the lives of their customers and communities. Here are a handful of news morsels…

Yum declares 1st dividend after split from China business

December 22, 2016

In its first dividend declaration since separation from its China business, Yum Brands Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend of 30 cents per share…

Are you accounting for those holiday gift cards correctly?

by Dustin Minton — National Restaurant Practice Co-Leader, BDO USA, LLP

For many restaurants, the holiday season bustles with promotions, parties and gift card sales. But amid the season's cheer, restaurants must account for these…

Grabbagreen opens first Colorado location

December 21, 2016

Tim Johnson of Green Cherry Hills, LLC made Grabbagreen's Colorado dream a reality, according to a press release. An Orange Theory Fitness franchisee and…

Global Q3 restaurant traffic holds it own

December 21, 2016

The restaurant industry worldwide was stable for Q3 2016 and, in fact, performed better than the previous quarter despite numerous events around the globe that…

Waffle House: Year No. 61 of working through Christmas

December 21, 2016

There was a time when little was open on mega-holidays like Christmas, but Waffle House was never a participant in that plan. In fact, this Christmas and New…

Hot, sweet, buttery bites o' meat return to Church's

December 21, 2016

Church's Chicken is bringing back honey-butter biscuit tenders as a LTO to kick off the new year, beginning on Monday, Jan. 2, according to a news release.

A 'post mortem': Looking back at 2016's hard-learned lessons

by S.A. Whitehead — Food Editor, Net World Media Group

Experts weigh in on the eight lessons they learned in 2016 about the fine art of running a restaurant.

KFC pops up puffy new store in Portland

December 21, 2016

KFC in Portland, Oregon, is taking the whole idea of the pop-up store to its most literal conclusion today when the chain "pops up" what is expected to be the…

You can’t win an EEOC lawsuit, but you can prevent it

Of the 89,385 charges the EEOC reviewed in 2015, Retaliation, Race, Disability, and Sex discrimination were the most prevalent, and 28,000 charges, or 3…

Just as money runs out for the holidays, BK meal deal runs in

December 21, 2016

Burger King is offering a little wallet relief for the holiday, by featuring a $3.99 Whopper Jr. Meal Deal, according to a news release. The LTO includes a…

DQ unfurls its cone-top curl in South Korea

December 21, 2016

International Dairy Queen, Inc. has signed a deal to expand into South Korea, according to a news release. The company will open 50 DQ Grill & Chill…

How is color coloring customer perceptions?

Color is critical to customer experience since it has a notable and predictable impact on their moods and emotions.

New food hub connects the local vegetable stand to biggest restaurant brands

by S.A. Whitehead — Food Editor, Net World Media Group

December 20, 2016

Restaurateurs hoping for a central, tech-connected marketplace linking small local farmers to the skyrocketing number of restaurants, whose customers are…

5 ways restaurants can turn tech into success strategy

Restaurant chains often struggle with the technology decision-making process, but experience is clear on what works and what does not. Following are five best…

Cousins Subs VP lays out growth plans

Jason Valentine,  VP of Operations of Cousins Subs, chats about cultivating franchise relationships, employee engagement, the brand's new look and food safety…

Taco Bueno takes off on growth spurt

December 19, 2016

Mexican quick service restaurant chain Taco Bueno is on a growth spurt, having opened nine locations in 2016 and with another 18 planned for 2017, according to…