Game changers and shapers inspiring product development and innovation – Part 1

by Suzy Badaracco — President, Culinary Tides Inc

The terms now capturing restaurant consumers' mindsets include simplicity, value, authenticity, playfulness, escapism, invigorating and risk taking.

Chick-fil-A's perception drops amid gay marriage controversy

July 30, 2012

Chick-fil-A's perception with quick-service restaurant consumers nationwide has taken a significant hit in most regions of the country, including the South…

ONOSYS recognizes chains for online ordering sales growth

July 25, 2012

ONOSYS, a LivingSocial company, has announced the winners of its 2012 Spark Awards. In its second year, the Spark Awards honor ONOSYS' clients for outstanding…

Consumer visit and spending gains buoy restaurant count increases

July 24, 2012

With U.S. restaurant visits and consumer spending increasing after a recessionary slump, the restaurant industry posted a 0.5 percent gain in restaurant counts…

Foodservice demand for California avocados growing

July 23, 2012

The California Avocado Commission (CAC) has experienced a growth in demand through foodservice promotions this year.

Chick-fil-A president's comments ignite Facebook firestorm

by Alicia Kelso — Editor, QSRWeb.com

July 18, 2012

The latest reports showing Chick-fil-A's financial commitment to organizations that are considered anti-gay have ignited plenty of controversy and calls for a…

How food trucks started a retail revolution

by Darrel Suderman — President, Food Technical Consulting

Citing the success of the food truck segment, numerous retailers have launched retail trucks, selling everything from shoes to flowers.

Taco Bell buzz falls flat with Cantina Bell menu

July 18, 2012

Taco Bell's Doritos Locos national launch in March helped give the chain the biggest improvement in consumer perception in the QSR category in the first half…

Glass is half full hiring: it’s all about perspective

by Jason Hamilton — VP of Marketing, Snagajob

Giving an applicant's previous experience a lot of weight in hiring decisions may seem like the prudent approach, but when it comes to finding a right-fit…

Report: Burger King has fastest growing fan base on Facebook

July 16, 2012

A new report from social-benchmarking company Unmetric highlights the social media efforts of the top 16 quick-service restaurants, identifying the brands that…

Will Instagram become a more effective marketing tool than Facebook?

by Alicia Kelso — Editor, QSRWeb.com

Brands are stepping up their photo-based campaigns.

Some chains getting head start on menu transparency

by Betsy Craig — pres, menutrinfo.com

Some chains, while they don't necessarily offer allergen-free dining experiences, do let you know what's in their dishes in a clear, concise manner so diners…

Survey: Most consumers use restaurant discounts while traveling

July 10, 2012

According to the newly released 2012 Restaurant.com Annual Dining Destinations and Deals survey, 61 percent of consumers planning a vacation said they search…

Baskin-Robbins marks National Ice Cream Day with Twitter sweepstakes

July 10, 2012

To help celebrate National Ice Cream Day, Baskin-Robbins is holding a Twitter sweepstakes July 15 to give ice cream lovers a chance to win $260 in…

A new frontier: Desktop dining

by Darrel Suderman — President, Food Technical Consulting

The opportunity for new product and packaging innovation in the Desktop Dining category has never been greater.

Recipe development efforts increase in childhood obesity fight

The foodservice industry is making healthy strides when it comes to serving nutritional meals to children.

National Restaurant Association reports continued restaurant job growth

July 5, 2012

New analysis by the National Restaurant Association shows that the restaurant industry continues to serve as a leading creator of jobs, outpacing overall U.S.

Disharmonic harmony in trends 2012

by Suzy Badaracco — President, Culinary Tides Inc

Patterns shift based on their own trajectory regardless of corporate strategy planning.

Chick-fil-A under fire again from gay rights groups

July 3, 2012

A new report from Equality Matters shows that Chick-fil-A has continued to donate millions of dollars to organizations that are considered anti-gay. This…

Online job site studies staff ratings of QSR employers

July 3, 2012

By now, comments from the McDonald's employee who dished some company secrets (mostly positive) on Reddit have gone viral. Prior to this story making…