Marketing
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Toast adds branded apps and text marketing
The company said its new features can help restaurants drive traffic and frequency, and that apps are more effective than websites.
By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Oct. 8, 2024 -
Del Taco rolls out meal combos starting at $4.49
The Mexican QSR chain’s new combo meals could help improve consumer value perceptions as 2024’s discount wars continue.
By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Oct. 4, 2024 -
Chipotle, Sweetgreen leverage DoorDash’s new ad platform for restaurants
The delivery aggregator also added offsite capabilities and sponsored brand placements for CPG brands as delivery providers race to improve ad offerings.
By Chris Kelly • Oct. 4, 2024 -
McDonald’s takes Chicken Big Mac national
The sandwich, which is available starting Oct. 10 while supplies last, could help the chain recover traffic and sales. It swaps the Big Mac’s beef patties for tempura-coated chicken.
By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Oct. 3, 2024 -
Shake Shack touts premium ingredients in multichannel ‘Worth It’ ads
Commercials that leverage slow-motion footage and a voice-over about how the chain lives up to the hype arrive as competitors focus on affordability.
By Jessica Deyo • Oct. 1, 2024 -
Sonic Drive-In switches up its $1.99 value menu
The QSR chain, which added its permanent value menu in July, added Cream Slushes and Grilled Cheese Burgers as competition around affordability grows.
By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Sept. 30, 2024 -
Firehouse Subs brings back fan-favorite Hot Sauce Bar with new campaign
The RBI-owned sandwich chain debuted its first major effort since adopting a multi-agency roster model to handle its marketing earlier this year.
By Aaron Baar • Sept. 26, 2024 -
Handel’s Ice Cream scoops up Wetzel’s Pretzels exec as CMO
Hillary Frei joins the chain as it accelerates growth in new markets and expands within existing trade areas.
By Julie Littman • Sept. 25, 2024 -
DoorDash, Uber Eats win NYC customer data court battle
New York City’s rule requiring delivery apps to give restaurants consumer information violates the First Amendment, a judge found Tuesday.
By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Sept. 25, 2024 -
Qdoba looks to own National Queso Day on its way to national expansion
New menu item Queso Apocalypto reflects the popularity of spicy foods and arrives as the chain ramps up marketing to Gen Z and adds locations.
By Aaron Baar • Sept. 24, 2024 -
Chili’s challenges Joey Chestnut to an eating contest on X
The restaurant chain is leaning into the embattled platform to debut the 3 For Lunch Combo meal and assert its value proposition over fast food competitors.
By Aaron Baar • Sept. 19, 2024 -
White Castle pivots to gamified, tiered rewards
The slider chain is looking to encourage specific consumer behaviors, like late-night visits or trialing new menu items, with “quests” across three loyalty levels.
By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Sept. 19, 2024 -
Chipotle plans digital scavenger hunt to dole out $1M in free quesadillas
As part of the effort, three TikTok creators will each drop a text-to-claim code in their content for up to 10,000 consumers to receive a BOGO offer.
By Jessica Deyo • Sept. 19, 2024 -
Smashburger remakes its menu and its brand
The chain launched the menu changes, including eight new dishes, after successful regional market testing.
By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Sept. 17, 2024 -
Pepsi chases pizza deliveries in a sports car to push pairing power
A stunt campaign boosts the brand's partnership with DoorDash that will dole out free pizza from Little Caesars, Papa Johns, Pizza Hut and Marco’s Pizza.
By Sara Karlovitch • Sept. 13, 2024 -
McDonald’s extends $5 meal deal in value push
The Golden Arches is also adding other value promotions as it looks to bounce back from weak comparable sales in Q2 and better compete with rival offerings.
By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Sept. 12, 2024 -
Starbucks CEO’s 4-part strategy hinges on coffeehouse roots
In a letter to workers and consumers, Brian Niccol laid out a multipart strategy for revitalizing the chain’s core business in the U.S.
By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Sept. 10, 2024 -
Q&A
Chili’s CMO on brand’s winning value message and evolving data strategy
Swipes at fast food competitors over rising prices, including through a retro video game, helped boost Chili’s same-stores sales by 14%.
By Peter Adams • Sept. 10, 2024 -
Deep Dive
Brian Niccol was hired to transform Starbucks. Is that possible?
Niccol must contend with the coffee chain’s growing brand identity and consumer perception problems, and balance its “third place” value proposition with efficient digital fulfillment.
By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Sept. 9, 2024 -
Q&A
Applebee’s CMO on how brand’s NFL sponsorship feeds its new campaign
The casual dining chain will leverage its role as the official grill and bar of the NFL in ads and a content series starring league pros.
By Chris Kelly • Sept. 6, 2024 -
Yelp files antitrust lawsuit against Google
Google’s massive search market share “starves” competitors of traffic and therefore revenue, the reviews platform alleged in a federal suit.
By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Aug. 30, 2024 -
KFC names US marketing, development chief to bolster turnaround efforts
Catherine Tan-Gillespie, a company veteran, will hold dual roles related to marketing and development as KFC tries to break out of a slump.
By Peter Adams • Aug. 29, 2024 -
How Taco Bell is exporting its musical bona fides to grow internationally
International CMO Amy Durini explained how the chain is building its brand and why efforts to engage with consumers around culture aren't “plug and play.”
By Chris Kelly • Aug. 29, 2024 -
Buffalo Wild Wings brings Jason Kelce back to football in new ads
The former Eagles center pals around with the brand’s CGI buffalo mascot in an effort that leans into Kelce’s recent retirement and famous brother.
By Peter Adams • Aug. 28, 2024 -
Dunkin’ launches $6 fall value meal
The brand’s entry into the 2024 value wars includes a breakfast sandwich with a medium coffee and hashbrowns.
By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Aug. 28, 2024