Popeyes recruits out-of-work musicians to re-record jingle for pandemic era

A campaign initially targeting New Orleans residents is expanding nationwide and will compensate artists selected via social media submissions.

By Peter Adams • May 6, 2020

KFC hosts virtual Mother's Day dinners on Facebook Messenger

The chain created a virtual Mother's Day experience to help people celebrate the occasion while the pandemic keeps them apart.

By Robert Williams • May 5, 2020

Taco Bell, Chipotle adjust marketing around Cinco de Mayo amid coronavirus

One is leaning into an influencer-led TikTok activation, while the other is translating its experiential expertise to an at-home environment.

By Peter Adams • May 1, 2020

Starbucks to rev up marketing as US stores gradually reopen

The chain says it will keep spend within the 2020 advertising budget but squeeze those efforts into an accelerated schedule, as it uses a "monitor and adapt" strategy to reopen stores.

By Robert Williams • May 1, 2020

Chick-fil-A will launch a meal kit nationwide next week

Two years after its initial meal kit test in Atlanta, the chain expects more than half of its system to offer the $14.99 heat-and-eat chicken parmesan meal.

By Emma Liem Beckett • May 1, 2020

Sonic Drive-In spurs 5x more app downloads with RCS pilot

The fast-food chain saw a customer registration rate that was three times higher for recipients using rich messaging than for more standard MMS.

By Robert Williams • April 27, 2020

Burger King links TV ad with QR code to offer up free Whoppers

In a pair of offers, the QSR urges mobile users to scan a QR code that appears in TV ads and asks them to share screenshots of video calls with friends.

By Robert Williams • April 27, 2020

Denny's gets into gaming with presence on multiplayer platforms

The casual dining chain's Dennys247 account is on Nintendo's Switch, Microsoft's Xbox and Sony's PS4.

By Robert Williams • April 23, 2020

Red Lobster offers custom Zoom backgrounds, Spotify playlist for date nights

The restaurant hopes to drive sales by offering takeout menus and virtual ambience for those looking to recreate the experience of eating out on a date.

By Dianna Christie • April 23, 2020

ChowNow, Instagram launch commission-free online food ordering

Online ordering platform ChowNow partnered with the social media platform to enable restaurants to add "Order Food" buttons to their profiles and Stories.  

By Alicia Kelso • April 16, 2020

Chipotle's CMO on how the brand quickly pivoted in response to coronavirus

Chris Brandt explains how the QSR changed its entire marketing plan in the past month, leading it to enlist Zoom and support healthcare workers.

By Chris Kelly • April 15, 2020

Nathan's Famous upgrades tech, adds geotargeting and digital ordering

In a one-month pilot, the chain saw increased engagement at a lower cost-per-click since adding AI-enabled ad formats to its marketing mix.

By Dianna Christie • April 13, 2020

Burger King encourages people to be heroes by staying home

"Stay Home of the Whopper" salutes healthcare workers while pushing free delivery for housebound consumers.

By Dianna Christie • April 9, 2020

Tripadvisor adds delivery/takeout, gift card information to restaurant listings

The platform has launched a new feature that allows diners and travelers to buy gift cards to their favorite restaurants directly from its website. 

By Alicia Kelso • April 8, 2020

Panera, Subway sell groceries to fight coronavirus sales slump

Legacy chains are taking cues from independent restaurant strategies to open up new revenue streams, offering pantry items from cheese to frozen soup. 

By Emma Liem Beckett • April 8, 2020

Shaquille O'Neal ads drive engagement for Papa John's

The NBA star's endorsement is helping the pizza chain rebuild its image and lift delivery orders following founder John Schnatter's ouster.

By Dianna Christie • April 7, 2020

Brands recalibrate to community-building during quarantine

Social distancing mandates upended in-person activations, leading brands like Chipotle to get creative with cultivating connections online. But can they sustain momentum once the pandemic subsides?

By Natalie Black (Koltun) • April 7, 2020

Shake Shack moves into meal kits as sales sharply decline

The burger chain partnered with Goldbelly, a gourmet food delivery service, to launch a cook-at-home burger kit nationwide. They cost $49 for an eight-pack.   

By Alicia Kelso • April 6, 2020

Popeyes dishes out Netflix login details as fans self-isolate amid coronavirus

 A "Fried Chicken N Chill" campaign will share the brand's username and password with 1,000 Twitter followers.

By Peter Adams • March 24, 2020

Breakfast wars boost QSR traffic 4% in first week of March

Despite the novel coronavirus outbreak, QSR breakfast traffic was up 4% during the week ending March 8, marking the highest gain for the segment in four weeks, according to data from The NPD Group. 

By Alicia Kelso • March 16, 2020

Comic Dive: CMO Shift Change

Marketing leaders are shuffling around in the QSR space, with some executives taking new roles at sister restaurants as competition heats up.

By John Hazard • March 16, 2020

KFC pulls 'finger lickin' ads in UK amid coronavirus concerns

The brand follows Hershey's and Coors in pausing a campaign that may be perceived as insensitive or ill-timed around the pandemic.

By Dianna Christie • March 13, 2020

Wendy's is 1st brand to take over GasBuddy app for breakfast launch

For its push into the early daypart, the branded takeover captures 100% of the app's pre-drive audience as they plan daily errands.

By Robert Williams • March 12, 2020

Taco Bell taps TikTok's vertical video format for TV ad

The effort marks the first time TikTok has partnered with a brand on a national advertising campaign and references trends on the app, like "eboys."

By Peter Adams • March 10, 2020

Wingstop pays fans to be walking billboards

The fast-food joint is transferring its OOH budget to loyal fans, giving Instagrammers who wear the special branded merchandise $10 via Venmo.

By Dianna Christie • March 10, 2020