To meat or not to meat: KFC says maybe, Arby's says no way

May 31, 2019

There have been some interesting developments this week in fast food when it comes to the inclusion of increasingly popular plant-based proteins, like the…

Subway beefs up innovation team with 4 key leaders

May 30, 2019

Subway promoted its former vice president of culinary innovation, Len Van Popering, to serve as chief brand and innovation officer, where he'll oversee the…

AI-powered dietary tool aims to amp up restaurant margins, satisfy customers

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

Diners increasingly want control over how they eat, just as restaurant owners increasingly want more control over their margins and customer experience…

Burger King all in for doing the 'Impossible' as Impossible Foods adds $300M in funding

May 14, 2019

After a successful test in St. Louis, Burger King is taking the plant-based Impossible Whopper to three more markets beginning May 14 in Miami, as well as…

Plant-based meat, egg, dairy investments hit $16B in 2018

May 6, 2019

More than $16 billion was invested in U.S. plant-based meat, egg, and dairy companies over the past 10 years, and $13 billion came in the past two years…

The many ways public's health concerns also concern QSR operators

by Elliot Maras — Editor, Kiosk Marketplace & Vending Times

The effects of the public's many concerns around health and wellness issues have on all restaurant operation today, including QSRs, should not be…

Slutty Vegan creator Pinky Cole on brand's soaring popularity as it pushes the plusses of healthy eating

With an Impossible Burger base for its massively "Instagrammed" sloppy burgers, Slutty Vegan has risen  from a largely unknown solo food truck, to hugely…

In Canada, alternative proteins 'moo-ve' in on center-of-plate red meat offerings

April 18, 2019

In Canada, much like the U.S., the center of the plate is tilting more toward alternative proteins to red meat, according to a consumer trend report from…

Del Taco goes national with vegan, vegetarian tacos

April 16, 2019

The tests are in, and the nation's second-largest U.S. Mexican QSR brand, Del Taco, said it has proved overwhelmingly positive for expansion of the brand's…

White Castle debuts 'juicier, beefier, tastier' Impossible Slider

April 12, 2019

"Juicier, tastier and "beefier" (without the beef): That's what White Castle promises its reformulated Impossible meatless slider is now. The brand today said…

US food preferences enter 'awkward adolescent' stage

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

The latest report on the foods U.S. diners want today shows consumers are feeling a little less than confident about the overall "state of things." As a…

Taco Bell tests American Vegetarian Association-certified menu

April 2, 2019

Taco Bell is testing a dedicated vegetarian menu that features only American Vegetarian Association-certified vegetarian products in Dallas, Texas, according…

Burger King 'plants' an Impossible Whopper on April Fools Day

April 1, 2019

What better state for an April Fools' Day revelation than Missouri, the "Show me" state. That's where Burger King decided to test its plant-based "Impossible…

Del Taco wraps up profitable 2018, launching proprietary plant-based 'beef' in next quarter

March 19, 2019

Del Taco wrapped up its sixth straight year of sales growth, along with its Q4 2018 on Jan. 1 thanks in some part to reports of higher check totals. For the…

Food marketing guru Fogelson tells brands why knowing thyself, now means knowing thy cause

by Elliot Maras — Editor, Kiosk Marketplace & Vending Times

Food marketing sage and former Food Networking and Cooking Channel Senior Vice President of Marketing and Brand Strategy Susie Fogelson has made a career of…

Starbucks franchisee’s tips on going 'off-brand' + why QSRs should go ‘clockless’

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

In this week's edition of the QSRweb podcast, food trends forecaster Suzy Badarraco tells QSRs why "clockless eating" can drive more sales, while Starbucks…

30-year study: Fast food portions now 'significantly' bigger, saltier, higher in calories

February 28, 2019

Fast food brands got a bit of a punch in the gut this week when an analysis of offerings at 10 of the top U.S. QSR brands in 1986, 1991 and 2016 revealed that…

Court rules KFC must pay $1.5M to ex employee in breastfeeding case

February 13, 2019

A Delaware jury has ruled that Kentucky Fried Chicken must pay more than $1.5 million to Autumn Lampkins, a former employee who said she was demoted for…

Coolgreens VP talks about brand's growth beyond its Central US borders in 2019

Oklahoma-based Coolgreen's occupies the "hot seat" as today's featured interview subject, via its VP of Operations Todd Madlener, while Networld Media Group VP…

Plant-based foodservice shipments skyrocketed in 2018

January 23, 2019

Need proof plant-based proteins are definitely a restaurant 'thing' these days? Here's some from NPD Group which said the cases of plant-based protein from…