Comic Dive: Brand the Halls

It's beginning to look a lot like branded merchandise season as major QSRs and CPGs get in on the holiday spirit.

By John Hazard • Dec. 13, 2019

Delivery Hero to pay $4B for Korean food delivery provider

The acquisition will give Delivery Hero a stronghold in South Korea, where the service is competitive, but still has a lot of room for growth. 

By Julie Littman • Dec. 13, 2019

Explore the Trendline➔

Independent restaurants

Dining room refreshes, menu innovation and other unique offerings can help independents stand out from competitors, win new customers and keep existing ones coming back. 

By Restaurant Dive staff

Popeyes rides chicken sandwich buzz with ugly sweater

The QSR joins Red Lobster, KFC and Dunkin' offering holiday-themed merchandise, a growing trend for marketers to playfully engage with loyal fans. 

By Dianna Christie • Dec. 13, 2019

Supply challenges could delay McDonald's chicken sandwich launch, analysts predict

Research firm Stephens reports there are not enough five-pound chicken products, the same size that Chick-fil-A and Popeyes use for their sandwiches, to supply the fast food giant's U.S. system.

By Alicia Kelso • Dec. 12, 2019

Caribou Coffee boosts ROI with revamped loyalty program

The coffee chain's redemptions improved 215% after switching to a points-based program during a summer promotion.

By Robert Williams • Dec. 12, 2019

Jimmy John's expands loyalty rewards program nationwide

Freaky Fast Rewards works with the sandwich chain's app, with contactless payments offered through Apple Pay and Google Pay.

By Robert Williams • Dec. 12, 2019

Chipotle gives away burritos on Instagram

The QSR chain is offering free burritos to the first people who respond by text message to its short-lived Instagram posts.

By Robert Williams • Dec. 11, 2019

KFC brings back its fried chicken-scented Firelogs

The logs, made from recycled materials via a partnership with Enviro-Log, will be available exclusively on Walmart's website.

By Barry Levine • Dec. 5, 2019

McDonald's caters to devotees with 1st permanent e-commerce shop

Debuting with a holiday collection that includes tree ornaments and an ugly sweater, Golden Arches Unlimited sells gear that isn't available elsewhere.

By Peter Adams • Dec. 4, 2019

Dunkin' turns menu items into limited-edition holiday candles

The QSR is tapping into the sense of smell as it continues to ramp up its lifestyle positioning. 

By Dianna Christe • Dec. 2, 2019

Chick-fil-A encourages giving the gift of time with multichannel campaign

Across a TV spot, online store and pop-up shop, the QSR looks to deliver for the 73% of consumers that say they want more time with people they love this holiday season.

By Dianna Christie • Dec. 2, 2019

Papa John's RCS promo for vegan pizza outdoes SMS 23%

The pizza chain used the media-rich messaging format for a World Vegan Day campaign.

By Robert Williams • Dec. 2, 2019

American Express unveils in-app restaurant booking service

The service lets Platinum Card and Centurion members make reservations at more than 10,000 eateries worldwide.

By Robert Williams • Nov. 27, 2019

McDonald's Thanksgiving Twitter contest gifts a year of Uber Eats delivery

Uber Eats is also waiving delivery fees for late-night McDonald's orders from Nov. 27 through Cyber Monday.

By Robert Williams • Nov. 26, 2019

KFC hides 11 holiday gifts in limited-edition bucket illustrations

Customers can snap pictures of the drawings by Nicholas John Frith and post them to Instagram for a chance to win their real-world counterparts.

By Barry Levine , Peter Adams • Nov. 26, 2019

Chick-fil-A will no longer donate to anti-LGBTQ nonprofits

The fast food chain's charitable arm will highlight organizations that focus on education, homelessness and hunger.

By Julie Littman • Nov. 18, 2019

Dunkin' launches 1st online pop-up shop for holidays

The Dunkin' Shop, which sells limited-edition products like an electric guitar and one-piece pajamas, quickly sold out of a few items. 

By Barry Levine • Nov. 15, 2019

Comic Dive: Chicken Sandwich Kerfuffle

Recent missteps by Chick-fil-A, which is closed on Sundays, has given Popeyes easy marketing fodder around its viral dish.

By John Hazard • Nov. 15, 2019

The ins and outs of simpler brand identities

Dunkin', Starbucks and KFC have streamlined their logos, but delivering a short and simple brand identity isn't without risks.

By Dianna Christe • Nov. 14, 2019

Restaurant gift card sales jumped 15% during the holidays last year

Although third-party retailers are gaining ground for sales of these gift cards, in-store sales remained higher during the holidays for restaurants, presenting an opportunity to boost sales and increase traffic.

By Alicia Kelso • Nov. 12, 2019

Starbucks brews buzz for mobile pay with 'Merry Coffee' holiday cups

Short video spots and digital display banners encourage customers to place orders through the chain's app.

By Robert Williams • Nov. 11, 2019

Popeyes traffic rose 299% during its chicken sandwich relaunch

The spike on Nov. 3 surpassed the initial rollout's traffic peak of 256%, and had a halo effect for KFC, which saw 29% gains on the same day, per Placer.ai data. 

By Emma Liem Beckett • Nov. 8, 2019

Uber Eats is building out an ad business

The company posted a job listing for an ad sales product manager and confirmed its plans to begin targeting restaurants.

By Robert Williams • Nov. 7, 2019

Chili's dishes out custom merch to showcase free delivery promotion

Rewards members could win a #ChilisMyHouse starter pack that includes a custom doormat, baby back ribs-scented candle and more.

By Barry Levine • Nov. 7, 2019

Papa John's replaces recently appointed CMO amid restructuring

CEO Rob Lynch said during a conference call this week that a marketing campaign featuring Shaquille O'Neal is helping the brand repair its image.

By Barry Levine • Nov. 7, 2019