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…

McDonald's/NLRB case ruling a big win for franchising companies

December 13, 2019

In what might be considered a major win for franchising companies Thursday, the National Labor Relations Board ruled that McDonald's should not be held for its…

Cut it out! QSR 2020 workplace safety tipsheet

For QSRs, the very name of the service category implies part of the risk these brands and their employees face when it comes to workplace injuries. Yes, things…

McDonald's settles wage class action for $26M

November 26, 2019

Right on the heels of a suit filed in Illinois alleging McDonald's doesn't adequately protect its workers from customer violence, another suit — this one a…

McDonald's workers sue company for failing to protect them against violent customers

November 25, 2019

Seventeen McDonald's employees who are employed at 13 Chicago-area locations of the chain have filed suit against the giant QSR franchise company claiming that…

Church's Chicken probes data security breach at company-owned sites

November 22, 2019

Church's Chicken said it is investigating a possible data breach involving credit and debit card information at some of its company owned locations in the…

McDonald's named in another sex harassment suit, this one seeking class action status

November 13, 2019

A former Mason, Michigan McDonald's employee is hoping to form a class action suit against the Chicago-based brand in a suit filed this week in Michigan…

McDonald's names CEO after Easterbrook's 'consensual relationship' with employee

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

McDonald's has announced a leadership shake-up, following what former CEO Steve Easterbrook said was a "consensual relationship" with an employee that violated…

A QSR guide to confronting activists, restaurant disruption

by Mark Lee — Assistant Vice President and Risk Consultant, Hub International

Social media has taken the gloves off social activism and that's being felt in the real world at QSR brands nationally and worldwide. An ongoing series of…

Domino's 0, disabled 1 in Monday Supreme Court action

October 8, 2019

Those with disabilities that make standard restaurant websites inaccessible won a pretty substantial victory Monday when the U.S. Supreme Court chose not to…

NY State AG sues Dunkin' alleging chain failed to protect against cyber attacks

September 27, 2019

New York State Attorney General Letitia James filed suit against Dunkin', alleging the iconic restaurant chain failed to notify almost 20,000 customers about a…

DoorDash data breach affects 4.9M merchants, consumers, drivers

September 27, 2019

DoorDash said Thursday that earlier this month it determined that on May 4 an unnamed "third-party service provider" had gotten its hands on customers…

Labor Dept finalizes OT rule: 1.2 million more workers eligible

September 24, 2019

The U.S. Department of Labor has made official an overtime rule that sets $35,568 as the minimum salary threshold for overtime pay, making about 1.2 million…

Sept 26 webinar focuses on what restaurateurs must know now about labor law compliance

September 12, 2019

From third-party delivery drivers to in-restaurant employees, the bucket of labor laws and other regulations that U.S. restaurant operators must know and…

Former Taco Bell exec assumes top legal spot at El Pollo Loco

August 14, 2019

Fire-grilled chicken QSR, El Pollo Loco, Inc. named former Taco Bell executive, Jason Weintraub, as its chief legal officer, effective Aug. 29. He was most…

McDonald's, Burger King, Wendy's use gloves with chemicals study links to brain development delays

August 12, 2019

The phthalates used in vinyl gloves used at some of the world's biggest fast food chains can cause brain development delays in youngsters and reproductive…

Grubhub announces policy changes following fracas over ordering fees

August 2, 2019

Restaurant delivery platform Grubhub and its Seamless unit, following a recent controversy over how the companies have handled fees, have announced a series of…

Moving on: Exit strategy mastery for QSR owners

by Carty Davis — Founding Partner, C Squared Advisors

Whether you're moving on to the next opportunity, taking a well-earned retirement or just finished with the restaurant business altogether, don't get out…

Grubhub CEO counters claims company bought restaurant domain names without permission

July 3, 2019

The CEO of third-party delivery platform, Grubhub, yesterday countered claims first published in a New Food Economy story that it was — without authorization…

Federal class-action alleges Wendy's restricts late-night access for visually impaired

June 19, 2019

Wendy's was named in a federal accessibility class action lawsuit filed in Chicago on June 14 over the ease of access people with impaired vision have with the…