McDonald's chicken strategy: Not just a sandwich, an entire platform

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

When McDonald's officially starts selling its Crispy Chicken Sandwich in late February, it's not only responding to the pleas of franchisees over the last year…

Taco Bell, A&W CEOs among those sharing 2020 lessons learned

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

Granted, there's not much to love, let alone like about 2020 in the restaurant universe or elsewhere. But under the heading of pain so often bringing gain, we…

From family-only to franchising: Southern Classic moves on out

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

Southern Classic Chicken begins franchising, with an all-in attitude for off-premise eating.

Laying it on thick: Sauce sales set to soar

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

By 2027, the culinary sauce market in the U.S. is projected to be worth nearly another $12 billion or $55.3 billion annually. A lot of that money will be spent…

Ex-Smoothie King, Broken Egg execs lead Southern Classic Chicken's franchising effort

With a simple, value-based menu of much-loved homestyle fried chicken, Southern Classic Chicken is starting to franchise with two longtime restaurant leaders…

Friendly 'ghosts' breathe new life into Smokey Bones

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

Tripling the size of your brand's units in the course of a year -- and a pandemic-stricken year at that -- is no easy feat. But casual brand, Smokey Bones, has…

Where KFC's lab-grown chicken efforts might lead QSRs

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

Can lab-grown or cultivated meat really be a game-changer for QSRs in the future? The scientists at a Washington, D.C.-based non-profit alternative protein…

Popeyes perks up RBI's Q2, Burger King, Tim Hortons pull it back down

The power of a really popular chicken sandwich buoyed otherwise dismal results for Restaurant Brands International and its Popeyes, Burger King and Tim Hortons…

Virtual restaurant franchise launches Miami virtual food hall

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

With brands like Chef Burger, El Taco Loco and Mama Rosa, its safe to say that the nation's first virtual restaurant franchise has a little something for…

Nearly a year after chicken sandwich wars, a major QSR claim to fame comes out of the coop

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

Burgers and fries have always been the instant word associations with QSRs, but now, almost one year after last August's storied chicken sandwich wars, that…

Burger King, Popeyes, Tim Hortons company CEO lays out COVID-19 response

Restaurant Brands International CEO Jose Cil sent an information-filled letter to the system, media and investors to provide a look at the many levels the…

American QSR customers enter their 'blue mood'

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

What do purple food, an illegal South American bean and a funky blue fungus on corn have in common? According to Technomic, they're all proven, promising food…

QSRs say 'XO, XO' during Valentine's Week

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

When plucking the petals off the "loves me, loves me not" daisy, QSRs have definitely landed on "loves me," with a bevy of offerings this Valentine's Week…

US restaurants vs coronavirus: The very real things US brands can do now

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

No, the coronavirus is not a major health threat in the U.S. at this time. But the fact is, that could quickly change, and there are some very real…

What wowed QSRweb readers in 2019

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

From major C-suite changes at major QSRs, to everything and anything about the delivery game in quick-service, the top stories "of the year that was" on…

2019 top food news: A heated game of chicken

America's love for chicken was evident in the top food news stories for the past year. But perhaps nearly as prominent in the top 10 list of such stories for…

QSR end-of-year campaigns roll out red (+ green) carpet for customers

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

From white-bearded nutcrackers to coffee-scented candles, QSRs are whispering sweet little nothings into their customers' ears this time of year in the form of…

Chick-fil-A ends donations to 2 Christian anti-same-sex marriage groups, begins new philanthropic focus

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

Days after protests against the presence of Chick-fil-A's food truck at an Oregon high school's football games, the brand's foundation cuts funding to two anti…

2019 Perfect Pitch winner: 'Best fried chicken in the land of fried chicken'

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

Louisville, Kentucky brand, Royals Hot Chicken is not only a hot commodity in its fried chicken-steeped home base, but also managed to burn up the competition…

Chick-fil-A/Popeyes chicken war yanked August business away from other QSRs

With the feathers settled on August's Chick-fil-A/Popeyes chicken sandwich face-off, the data has started to come in and it doesn't look great for other QSR…