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This week, the Align Public Strategies team is joined by Mike Whatley, vice president of state and local affairs for the National Restaurant Association. He shares how his team is approaching 2020 and the legislative and regulatory challenges coming to the restaurant industry this year.
Also, the week’s updates on wage and benefit initiatives
Drink It In: 10 Beverage industry trends that can grow your business in 2020 http://ow.ly/o3Eo50xS9K7
As a fast-casual burger chain, the restaurant is already set apart from Yum’s current quick-service brands, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, and KFC. The Habit Burger Grill, which currently has 271 units and has recently placed an emphasis on convenience and value, will now have access to Yum’s quick-service expertise.
Learn about the history of the fast-casual burger restaurant
Panera Bread is working to regain customers’ loyalty in 2020 with the reintroduction of its fan-favorite French Onion Soup after a year of not positive news for the chain. http://ow.ly/5O9B50xSriP
Former “The Office” cast member responds to customers’ outraged tweets
BBQ Holdings Inc., formerly Famous Dave’s of America Inc., has named Jim Gilbertson as its new chief financial officer, the company said Thursday. The Minnetonka, Minn.-based brand, which took on the new corporate name last September, said Gilbertson most recently served as CFO of Bluespire Inc., a digital marketing agency in Minneapolis. http://ow.ly/iPfF50xSpZJ
Famous Dave’s parent hires former Granite City financial chief
See what chains across the country added on this week's edition of #NRNMenuTracker http://ow.ly/oWpP50xRFbB
Plus items from Black Seed Bagels, Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, Del Taco, El Pollo Loco, Fazoli’s, First Watch, Habit Burger Grill, On the Border Mexican Grill & Cantina, Peet’s Coffee, PJ’s Coffee,, Roy Rogers, Shake Shack and Velvet Taco
Subway is downsizing its corporate executive team, confirming Thursday that it was getting rid of its chief brand and innovation officer position. http://ow.ly/rmOX50xRF5d
Len Van Popering is leaving this month as global brand and innovation officer, and sandwich brand will eliminate position
With Adams at the helm, here’s what to expect next for the growing, comfort food-focused restaurant chain.
Anita Adams was just promoted from president to CEO of Black Bear Diner: Here’s what that means for the family-dining restaurant chain
In a letter to New York City Council members today, Grubhub released findings from the task force it created in November.
http://ow.ly/o9Ba50xRyTm
But NYC Council is not impressed with the third-party delivery provider’s reforms
New York City Council member Ritchie Torres on Wednesday introduced legislation that would require third-party delivery providers to disclose how much of the tip goes to drivers.
Legislation appears to target DoorDash, which recently changed its policy to be more transparent
Restaurant same-store sales were down 2.1% year over year in December, the worst result the industry has seen in more than two years.
Expect modest growth, declining traffic and rising turnover to persist in the new year, Black Box Intelligence says
Today, Dunkin’ announced it would start offering oat milk lattes. Does this story sound familiar? It might. Earlier this week, coffee competitor Starbucks announced a lineup of coffee drinks with vegan milks, like almond, coconut, and yes, oat milk.
http://ow.ly/PIKS50xRl3s
Chain embraces non-dairy milk, one of the hottest trends in food
Select Taco Bell managers at company-owned restaurants might get as much as a $50,000 a year raise when the chain tests increasing store leader salaries to $100,000 a year. Find out more about this test. http://ow.ly/hJnW50xRkML
Yum Brands division rolls out 2020 goals, including enhanced paid sick leave at company stores, to help recruit and retain workers
Promotions and hires continue at Black Bear Diner including the naming of a new CEO. http://ow.ly/JxSu50xRex5
Jeff Guido comes to brand as COO, while co-founder Bruce Dean will stay on as executive chair
Zume Inc., which first gained attention for their robot pizza operation, is planning significant layoffs, according to a report from Business Insider this week. Meanwhile Grubhub, once the leader in third-party delivery, is rumored to be considering a sale, according to an article in the Wall Street Journal today.
With its $100B Vision Fund, holding company SoftBank has its sights on the restaurant industry
Over the years, Yum, and its earlier iterations as a division of PepsiCo and as Tricon Global Restaurants, has owned a fair share of other restaurant chains.
Over the last 43 years, the parent to Taco Bell and KFC has owned Pasta Bravo, Long John Silver’s and more
McDonald’s is nearly doubling the number of stores selling the brand’s Beyond Meat burger in Canada after an announcement from Impossible Foods earlier in the week. http://ow.ly/MRfc50xQog5
Canadian restaurants selling plant-based burger will nearly double starting next week
Mexican restaurant company Carolo Corporation has invested in Eureka! Restaurant Group, LLC, parent company of the Hawthorne, Calif.-based casual-dining chain Eureka!, the California company said Tuesday. http://ow.ly/9mA950xQkga
Private equity firm KarpReilly sells investment in the casual-dining chain
Wingstop has announced a new COO, an internal promotion. http://ow.ly/dnbO50xQfE2
The former Wingstop senior vice president of channel strategy will be replacing Larry Kruguer, who resigned in December
The last quarter of 2019 was a big one for chefs getting new jobs, so we split our roundup into two parts. Here's the first group of chefs who moved to new positions. http://ow.ly/52nv50xQaju
Executive chefs named at Boulud Sud, Clever Rabbit, South City Kitchen Avalon, Pabu Boston, Bottino, The Original El Taco, Montage Kapalua Bay, 26 Tapas and Sushi, The Lawrence, Kōyō, Bookstore Bar & Café, Lutie’s Garden Restaurant and Mary Eddy’s Kitchen & Lounge, plus new pastry che...
New York State Attorney General Letitia James will be investigating Mario Batali and former business partner Joe Bastianich. Batali severed ties with the restaurant group, B&B Hospitality Group (now called RSC Management Services), 10 months ago.
Additionally, Ken Friedman is leaving The Spotted Pig after AG secures $240k sexual harassment settlement
Red Robin Gourmet Burgers Inc. has ousted Guy Constant, left, as chief operating officer after a year in the role, and the chief people officer will take on the interim duties, the company said Tuesday.
Casual-dining brand names Michael Buckmeier as interim operations chief
Former NRN MenuMasters winner, the Nacho Fries, will return to Taco Bell locations across the country. Find out more below. http://ow.ly/W4AT50xPxjt
Yum Brands division promises “flavor innovation” with coming return
Menu trends analyst Nancy Kruse and NRN senior food and beverage editor Bret Thorn revisit the ‘year of the menu mic drop’ in this month's #ThornKruse. http://ow.ly/NrBe50xPwNi
Menu trends analyst Nancy Kruse and NRN senior food and beverage editor Bret Thorn revisit the ‘year of the menu mic drop’
Starbucks announced three new nondairy beverages: Almond Milk Honey Flat White, Coconut Milk Latte, and the Oat Milk Honey Latte suitable for vegans. Read about their new products. http://ow.ly/G5TR50xPmPo
Starbucks announced three new nondairy beverages: Almond Milk Honey Flat White, Coconut Milk Latte, and the Oat Milk Honey Latte
More restaurant brands are connecting with their customers through digital platforms, especially restaurant-branded smartphone apps, but they continue to wrestle with loyalty even while being in the consumers’ pockets, a new survey has found. http://ow.ly/2mNJ50xPjLv
Market Force survey finds increasing adoption of digital platforms but mixed impact on loyalty
Burger King is teaming up with Impossible Foods again to test the manufacturer’s latest product, Impossible Sausage. Similar to the Impossible Burger, which Burger King uses in the Impossible Whopper that the Miami-based quick-service chain rolled out nationwide last year, Impossible Sausage is a meatless product meant to resemble meat, but with much lower environmental impact. http://ow.ly/J7Nt50xPgzP
Impossible Croissan'wich made from new products introduced at consumer electronics show CES
Yum Brands Inc. has dominated the quick-service world with brands that sell some of America’s most popular foods: tacos, pizza and fried chicken.
Now, it’s back in the burger business with the acquisition of Southern California-based fast-casual brand Habit Burger Grill.
http://ow.ly/xGFW50xOuSX
CEO David Gibbs: ‘It was not part of some master plan to be in the burger category’
Little Caesars is reversing its long-standing stance as a take-out only operation with a partnership with DoorDash. Learn more about this partnership. http://ow.ly/CED050xOovX
The take-out pizza brand is branching out but on its own terms
Contract management giant Aramark has announced that Thomas Ondrof is joining the company as executive vice president and chief financial officer, effective Jan. 7, 2020. Ondrof, formerly CFO of $23 billion foodservice distribution firm Performance Food Group (PFG), succeeds Steve Bramlage, who will remain with Aramark until April 3, 2020, as executive advisor to assist the transition. http://ow.ly/sNB650xOokc
Contract management firm Aramark has announced that Thomas Ondrof, former CFO of foodservice distribution firm Performance Food Group, as executive vice president and chief financial officer, succeeding Steve Bramlage.
Flavor of the Week: Cava is similar to, but less expensive than Champagne.
http://ow.ly/YvT550xOlpi
Spanish sparkling wine is affordable enough for diverse uses
Hooters of America has joined dozens of restaurant brands and entered the plant-based meat trend. http://ow.ly/VWvz50xOia7
Breastaurant partners with Quorn for Unreal Wings
On the heels of IHOP announcing its fast-casual concept Flip’d, sister brand Applebee's has opened Applebee's Express. http://ow.ly/9fwx50xOhPA
Applebee's Express focuses on to-go and delivery
McDonald’s CEO Chris Kempczinski launched an Instagram page Monday, signifying his plans to be a transparent leader who champions the burger brand’s core values on a public platform. http://ow.ly/oAk650xOcr1
CEO: ‘McDonald’s can change the world in a way that no other company can’
Yum! Brands, Inc, has agreed to buy The Habit Restaurants, Inc, parent of Habit Burger Grill. Find out more here. http://ow.ly/SNwe50xO4bX
Deal with Taco Bell parent worth $375M
Adam Price, the CEO of struggling third-party delivery operator Waitr, has resigned and is being replaced by former iPayment CEO Carl Grimstad.
CEO Adam Price has resigned amid staggering company losses; Grimstad is third CEO in two years for the delivery operator
2020 is here, and with it a presidential election — but it’s the down-ticket races that may impact restaurants the most. The team from Align Public Strategies discusses the political landscape and what operators can expect this year.
Also, new polling data may impact the conversation on tipping
After a lengthy struggle between the hospitality industry, employees, and the New York State government, governor Andrew Cuomo has eliminated the subminimum wage – also known as the tip credit, which allows the hospitality industry to make up for part of the minimum wage with presumed gratuity — for all miscellaneous workers, though restaurants appear to be off the hook. http://ow.ly/8FWh50xMNY2
New York governor Andrew Cuomo eliminates the subminimum wage for “miscellaneous” workers
Cameron Mitchell talks about passing the baton in his restaurant group and how he’s focused on strategy and stewardship in this Extra Serving podcast. http://ow.ly/d3pT50xMMKg
The Columbus, Ohio-based restaurant group founder and CEO talks about handing the baton in his restaurant group and how he’s focused on strategy and stewardship in this Extra Serving podcast
Chick-fil-A is removing six items from menus in two markets to test how the downsized menu impacts food quality and service. The chain is also reducing size options for items including coffee while expanding its pilot of spicy chicken strips in Charlotte, N.C. and Arizona. http://ow.ly/SeNH50xMLyD
Chain is also reducing size options for items including coffee while expanding its pilot of spicy chicken strips in Charlotte, N.C. and Arizona
Paul Twohig, president of MOD Super-Fast Pizza Holdings LLC, retired from the MOD Pizza parent at the end of 2019 and the company expects to name John Maguire, currently chief operating officer, to succeed him, the company co-founder said Friday. http://ow.ly/YVJ150xMKwE
Brand plans to name COO John Maguire to succeed industry veteran, co-founder Scott Svenson says
A $1 Doritos Locos Taco is among several combo and dollar meal deal specials emerging on 2020 restaurant menus.
A $1 Doritos Locos Taco is among several combo and dollar meal deal specials emerging on 2020 restaurant menus
Southwest Cuisine pioneer Stephan Pyles closed his fine-dining Flora Street Café in Dallas on Thursday along with the restaurant-within-a-restaurant Fauna, and said he would be retiring from restaurant ownership, according to his public relations firm. http://ow.ly/nMjl50xLWTU
Southwest Cuisine pioneer to focus on consulting, licensing and culinary tours
See what chains across the country added to menus this week with #NRNMenuTracker. http://ow.ly/asHk50xLVLf
See what chains across the country added this week
Are gig workers employees or contractors? A California law known as Assembly Bill 5 or AB5, seeks to answer this question. The law would make it harder for companies like Uber and Postmates to classify drivers and couriers as independent contractors. Now, both companies have filed suit, stating AB5 is unconstitutional.
Experts predict AB5 law could make restaurant delivery more expensive
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NRN editor-in-chief Jenna Telesca and senior editor Gloria Dawson are introducing this year's Hot Concept Award winners live.
The premier top-to-top restaurant industry conference, MUFSO, will present Gary Vaynerchuk — bestselling author, venture capitalist and digital media vanguard — as a keynote speaker who will recalibrate how executives approach today’s customers and the business environment he has dubbed “The Thank You Economy.” MUFSO Conference #MUFSO Gary Vaynerchuk http://ow.ly/B1QW50uCHyz
The live announcement of this year's Norman Award winner from Nation's Restaurant News
Our live announcement of this year's MenuMasters Awards winners
Want to end child hunger in America? Join Dine Out for No Kid Hungry to help put a stop to child hunger. dineout.nokidhungry.org
Join Dine Out for No Kid Hungry and all the restaurants nationwide that have partnered together to stop child hunger in America. dineout.nokidhungry.org
Dine Out for No Kid Hungry is the no. 1 national restaurant campaign that raises critical funds and awareness to end childhood hunger in America. More than 15,000 restaurants nationwide have united with Dine Out for No Kid Hungry to help make a difference.
Bar Louie remains a restaurant brand that has grown nationally by tailoring its local image. During an interview at Bar Louie’s headquarters in Addison, Texas, Neitzel talked with Nation’s Restaurant News about Bar Louie’s development and local positioning. Read more: http://nrn.com/chef-insights/bar-louie-cultivates-local-roots
On The Border Mexican Grill & Cantina is expanding the reach of its inaugural July concert series through audio-live streams to its domestic system and Facebook Live broadcasts to others who might not be in a restaurant. Read more: http://bit.ly/29xOx8X
Chuck E. Cheese’s continues to expand its menu items geared toward adults and increase value offerings to build frequency among customers. http://ow.ly/7SSt301uWiY
Laura Abshire, director of sustainability policy and government affairs of National Restaurant Association, said the 2016 NRA Show saw a number of innovations aimed at making restaurants, especially in kitchen equipment, greener. Sustainability initiatives can not only help restaurants save natural resources, but they can also help operators save money.
Pei Wei is honing its restaurant design, broadening its menu and planning a July debut of a new smartphone app with built-in ordering, payment and rewards. Read more: http://bit.ly/1RkwJXC
Cicis took the wraps off a new brand image that culminates the past year of reassessing where the buffet brand should be headed. http://bit.ly/1Panp7K
The NRN Power List, now in its third year, is the most definitive list of industry leaders who are not only setting trends today, but also shaping them for tomorrow. Read more: http://nrn.com/power-list-2016
New menu items introduced by restaurants this month. Pizza Hut, Church's Chicken, Tim Hortons Cafe and Bake Shop, Newk's Eatery, Domino's Pizza, Panera Bread, Arby's, Wingstop, Mazzio's, Smashburger, Auntie Anne's, TOGO'S Sandwiches, Bruster's Real Ice Cream, Taco Bell,
NRN editor-in-chief Sarah E. Lockyer sat with Hattie Hill, president and CEO of the Women's Foodservice Forum, to discuss the importance of the WFF and what role the group can play for tomorrow’s leaders. http://bit.ly/1HcqPbn
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