Dunkin' Brands Q2: Gains in US as growth initiatives put in place

July 27, 2017

Dunkin' Brands, parent of Dunkin' Donuts and Baskin-Robbins, will pay a 32 cent quarterly dividend in Q2, based largely on Dunkin' Donuts gains in comparable…

Chipotle and the 'elephant in the dining room'

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

The restaurant industry and its players are exhaling today after news that Chipotle might be able to overcome its food safety woes of last week and the…

Brand resurrection? Chipotle might just pull it off

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

Norovirus outbreak and rat infestation behind it, Chipotle's leadership says the brand is moving on.

With 'God as my witness,' Taco Bell says Lyft riders need 'never be hungry again'

July 26, 2017

Taco Bell has partnered with rideshare service, Lyft, to give those flagging a Lyft ride an easy, mobile phone-based way to incorporate a Taco Bell drive-thru…

New way to 'try on' best new bottom line-building restaurant tech

July 25, 2017

POS device provider ParTech has partnered with cloud-based API software developer Omnivore to bridge the gap between restaurants and the tech developers and…

Arby's goes a little 'foodie' with ol' Porky

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

Arby's is not only putting all its guns behind its "We have the meats" branding, but it's also getting a little "foodie-esque" in the process. For proof, look…

Chipotle class action suits allege brand misled public, investors about food safety measures

July 20, 2017

One class action suit was filed, another is waiting for class certification and a third is in the wings, all alleging that Chipotle and its leadership led food…

BBC uncovers fecal bacteria in 3 US fast food chains' ice

July 20, 2017

A BBC "Watchdog" series investigation that found feces in iced drinks served at three U.S.-based fast food chains in the U.K., is rapidly growing into a global…

It’s a jungle out there, all right, and its name is Amazon

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

There may never be a more fitting name than that of Amazon, the mega online retailer that has come to demonstrate what the term “It’s a jungle out there…

KC grocery-shoppers dip into Dunkin'

July 18, 2017

Under the title of "If you can't beat 'em, join 'em," comes Dunkin' Donuts, which has partnered with national grocer Price Chopper to put Dunkin' offerings in…

Subway's new stores get 'fresh' with diners

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

Though so-called "brand refreshes" happen all the time among QSR chains, few concepts have taken the term, "refresh" as literally as Subway with its new…

Domino's moo-ves in to milk some action from 'Cow Appreciation' events

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

What do you do when a competitor has a really good annual promotion that they thought of first? If you're Domino's, you apparently tell the competition to…

Everything's bigger in ... China?

July 12, 2017

China's restaurant industry is    one of the nation's main economic growth drivers, according to a report released by Meituan-Dianping, a foodservice-focused…

Study on independent brands: Only the strong survive, but they also thrive

July 11, 2017

Staying independent is a pretty rough game for U.S. restaurateurs. Still, survival is not only possible but also relatively profitable for solid concepts with…

Be my 'bBff': Marketing guru says best brands 'participate' in diners' lives

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

Brands with the most loyal and committed customers know you only earn super-loyalty when you participate in customers' lives, says veteran marketing guru…

Caliburger founder to discuss how $3.1M investment will fuel robotics in the kitchen

The substantial investment is the combined effort of Acacia Research Corporation, Match Robotics VC, and a number of undisclosed strategic investors.

Diners dump buckets full of criticism on KFC's 'robotic' colonel

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

Ok, just going to tell you right off, fair reader, that though I am a journalist and pledged to stay fervently objective, I've decided to go a bit subjective…

It's good to be Yum China: Q2 operating profit up 64%

July 6, 2017

Yum China continues to be embraced with open arms in China, reporting a 3 percent spike in Q2 same-store sales and mobile payments exceeding 40 percent of…

Japanese mega-retailer proves 'grocery-ification' of eating out goes beyond US

July 5, 2017

Call it the grocery-ification of the restaurant business, and it is happening and not just in the U.S.

Captain D's ready to move in 'bayou'

June 28, 2017

Captain D's has opened its newest corporate-owned location, this one on the fringes of the bayou along Government Street in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, according…