Marketing

  • Chili's Big Smasher cheeseburger accompanied by sides of chips, fries and cola on a wooden dining table
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    Permission granted by Chili's Grill & Bar
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    Chili’s notches 21% traffic surge

    The casual chain’s focus on value is driving success where rivals are lagging, with many competitors reporting sliding same-store sales. 

    By • April 29, 2025
  • A smiling white woman with blond hair and a blue shirt. She is Julie Fussner, the new CEO of Culver's
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    Courtesy of Culver's
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    Culver’s promotes CMO Julie Fussner to CEO

    Fussner takes the helm as the brand hits the 1,000 restaurant mark, propelled by a $3.8 million AUV.

    By • April 28, 2025
  • McDonald's new McCrispy chicken strips.
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    Courtesy of McDonald's
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    McDonald’s chicken strips mark first permanent menu addition in 4 years

    The chain needs a menu win — and a leg up on fast-growing chicken competitors — after last year’s value and LTO successes were offset by an E. Coli outbreak.

    By • April 25, 2025
  • The exterior of a Del Taco with several empty parking lots out front
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    Permission granted by Del Taco
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    Del Taco’s new meal boxes mirror Taco Bell deal

    The value bundles — which are priced between $5 and $9 — come as the chain battles shrinking same-store sales.

    By • April 23, 2025
  • Omar Epps as the Sauce Boss in a Zaxbys campaign
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    Courtesy of Zaxbys
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    Q&A

    Zaxbys’ CMO on breaking through the chicken category with ‘sauce’

    The chain’s first work from Goodby Silverstein & Partners introduces a brand character that speaks to both signature sauces and cool charisma.

    By Chris Kelly • April 23, 2025
  • Kentucky Fried Chicken's 2024 $5 value deals: A chicken nuggets combo, a famous bowl with mashed potatoes and nuggets, and a 2-piece combo.
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    Courtesy of KFC
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    KFC’s US sales fall behind Raising Cane’s, Wingstop

    Sales at most American QSR chicken chains rose in 2024, but fell 4% at KFC, according to a Circana report on the 50 largest U.S. restaurant brands.

    By • April 21, 2025
  • A person holding an order of Taco Bell chicken nuggets, nacho fries and a drink.
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    Courtesy of Taco Bell
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    Taco Bell Nuggets return, teasing more Crispy Chicken menu items

    After a strong initial performance, the chain is using the Nuggets LTO as a test run for adding Crispy Chicken to its regular menu next year.

    By • April 16, 2025
  • Chili's Fast Food Financing pop-up
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    Courtesy of Chili's Grill & Bar
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    Chili’s pop-up finances fast food meals in latest dig at rising prices

    A store emulating payday loan retailers doles out gift cards to “approved” visitors and serves a new burger positioned against the Quarter Pounder.

    By Peter Adams • April 16, 2025
  • A banner image for Scooter's Coffee's loyalty program.
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    Courtesy of Scooter's Coffee
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    Scooter’s Coffee switches to points-based loyalty

    The new program is designed to expand the range of products available for redemption and boost ordering through Scooter’s digital channels.

    By • April 15, 2025
  • A hand holds a smart phone with a screen that shows a pizza and says 5 for $35 Pizza Night Made Easy
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    Permission granted by Blaze Pizza
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    Blaze Pizza remakes loyalty program

    The chain, which has seen its store count shrink in recent years, said this move is part of a shift away from maintaining its own customized tech stack.

    By • April 15, 2025
  • A person holds a smartphone that displays Burger King's AI Whopper experience.
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    Courtesy of Burger King
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    Burger King poaches Applebee’s CMO to build on modernization plan

    Joel Yashinsky is tasked with driving an expansive Reclaim the Flame strategy that has produced viral marketing like the Whopper jingle. 

    By Peter Adams • April 14, 2025
  • Collage of Panera campaign assets
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    Courtesy of Panera
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    Panera reintroduces brand with focus on dine-in cafe experience

    “It Just Meals Good,” the chain’s first work from 72andSunny, captures a variety of occasions for eating at Panera, whether catching up with a kid or an ex. 

    By Peter Adams • April 10, 2025
  • A person holds a Subway sandwich and drink cup
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    Permission granted by Subway
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    Subway hires CMO from PepsiCo beverages to lead global marketing

    Greg Lyons, who left the beverage giant late last month, will join the sandwich chain on the tail of a recent creative agency switch-up. 

    By Peter Adams • April 9, 2025
  • A hand dips a chicken tender into a sauce
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    Courtesy of Wingstop
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    Wingstop launches NYC pop-up to spotlight tenders

    Chicken tenders are having a menu moment and could help the fast casual chain continue its wild sales momentum.

    By • April 9, 2025
  • Dessert items with ice cream and baked good elements.
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    Courtesy of Cinnabon
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    GoTo Foods debuts Cinnabon Swirl dual-branded concept

    Rather than simple co-branding, Cinnabon Swirl will have its own rewards program, indicating the possibility of an independent brand identity.

    By • April 8, 2025
  • An image of Papa Johns sign on a store
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    Courtesy of Papa Johns
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    Papa Johns will use Google AI for analytics, marketing

    The pizza chain has tapped Google Cloud’s AI tools to optimize delivery routes, create a customer-facing chatbot and deliver personalized rewards in real time.

    By • April 3, 2025
  • A hand holds a smartphone with the screen showing different rewards available from Sweetgreen's rewards program.
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    Permission granted by Sweetgreen
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    Sweetgreen abandons tiered loyalty for points-based program

    Executives previously predicted the loyalty program would be a traffic driver, as the salad chain faces a competitive fast casual environment.

    By • April 3, 2025
  • Two people sit at a tiled table inside a Chili's with an Awesome Blossom in front of them.
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    Courtesy of Chili's
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    Chili’s serves up ‘Office’ nostalgia at new Scranton location

    The Pennsylvania location arrives as the workplace comedy, which stopped airing over a decade ago, continues to resonate strongly with consumers.

    By Sara Karlovitch • April 1, 2025
  • Doechii appears on Hot Ones with a Jack in the Box segment
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    Retrieved from First We Feast on March 20, 2025
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    How Jack in the Box is working its brand into ‘Hot Ones,’ ‘Call Her Daddy’

    Agency TBWA\Chiat\Day Los Angeles is looking beyond quirky TV ads to drive cultural impact for a new “So Munch More” brand platform. 

    By Chris Kelly • March 31, 2025
  • Busy Phillips holds a pizza box in a California Pizza Kitchen campaign
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    Courtesy of California Pizza Kitchen
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    Why California Pizza Kitchen faked a midlife crisis with a rebrand stunt

    CMO Dawn Keller details a humorous effort and new partnership with Busy Philipps timed to the casual dining chain's 40th anniversary.

    By Chris Kelly • March 27, 2025
  • A person using their phone to pay in a store checkout line
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    Zebra Media Library

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    Sponsored by Lowry Solutions

    Running fast vs. running smart: How QSRs stay ahead with technology and precision

    Orders flying, stock disappearing—are you struggling to keep up with your QSR’s inventory demands? Uncover the solution with Lowry Solutions and Zebra Technologies.

    March 24, 2025
  • Pizza Hut Hutty
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    Courtesy of Pizza Hut
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    Pizza Hut introduces second-screen mobile companion for March Madness

    The digital experience can be accessed via Instagram and leverages Meta AI to dish out real-time game reactions, hot takes and exclusive offers.

    By Aaron Baar • March 20, 2025
  • A Walmart storefront showcases its refreshed brand identity, with a new typeface and the spark logo set apart as a standalone asset.
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    Permission granted by Walmart
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    Walmart links with chain to open made-to-order pizza restaurants

    Nozzleman Pizza plans to debut locations inside more than a dozen of the retailer’s stores this year.

    By Catherine Douglas Moran • March 19, 2025
  • Papa Johns "Meet the Makers" campaign imagery.
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    Courtesy of Papa Johns
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    Papa Johns invites pizza fans to ‘Meet the Makers’ for TV, social ads

    The chain’s first work under CMO Jenna Bromberg includes tie-ups with food influencers and real team members for behind-the-scenes content. 

    By Jessica Deyo • March 7, 2025
  • An evening shot of a building with white and red coloring and signage that says "Portillo's."
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    Courtesy of Portillo's
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    Portillo’s launches loyalty without an app

    The hot dog chain hopes its loyalty program, based in digital wallets, can offer personalized options for guests and businesses without causing app fatigue.

    By • March 4, 2025