January 8th QSR Roundup: From Restaurant Acquisitions to Mocktail Trends Unveiling New Dining Innovations

QSR news for Jan 8th, 2025. We reviewed 21 QSR publications, 6 subreddits, and over 131 articles to bring you the latest. Estimated reading time saved (at 200wpm): 400 minutes. It'll take you only 9 minutes to catch up.

Restaurant Acquisitions and Expansions

Kelly's Roast Beef Acquisition

Private equity firm AAM15 Management has acquired Kelly's Roast Beef, a 74-year-old Massachusetts sandwich chain renowned for its North Shore roast beef sandwich. The deal includes all four flagship locations and marks a significant expansion plan, with three new openings in 2023 and six more in 2024. CEO David Masse aims to honor Kelly's legacy while enhancing franchise opportunities under the symbol of community presence.

Sources:

• QSR Magazine
• Restaurant Business

Hardee's Maple Delights

Hardee's introduces a maple-inspired lineup available all day, featuring:

• Maple Bacon Super Biscuit
• Sausage Maple Biscuit
• Maple Bacon Frisco Angus beef burger
• Maple Bacon Snack Pack

Rewards members can earn Double Stars on maple purchases until March 4, and new members can get a FREE Maple Sausage Biscuit with a $1 purchase.

Source:

• QSR Magazine

Tacodeli's Grab & Go Breakfast Tacos

Tacodeli reintroduces its Grab & Go service this January:

• Freshly made breakfast tacos available at all locations
• Individually wrapped for convenience
• Offers protein-packed and vegetarian options
• Highlights include over 3 million Vital Farms eggs cracked annually

Founder Roberto Espinosa emphasizes providing high-quality meals quickly.

Source:

• QSR Magazine

Coffee-Inspired Delights at Handel's Ice Cream

Handel's Ice Cream kicks off the year with delicious new coffee-inspired flavors:

• Coffee
• Coffee Chocolate Chip
• Mud Pie: coffee ice cream with fudge and Oreos
• Mocha Almond Fudge

Serving premium ice cream since 1945, every scoop is a sweet adventure!

Source:

• QSR Magazine

Yum! Brands Ends Franchise in Turkey

Yum! Brands has ended its partnership with IS Gida, impacting:

• 283 KFC locations
• 254 Pizza Hut locations

Reasons:

• Failure to meet brand standards
• Sales averages below global averages

Yum! anticipates a $60 million cost but does not expect a significant effect on profit. They plan to re-enter the Turkish market in the future.

Sources:

• QSR Magazine
• Restaurant Business

Innovating Drinking Straws: Sustainability Focus

On National Drinking Straw Day, innovations include:

• PHAs (polyhydroxyalkanoates): plant-based, biodegradable straws
• PHA straws break down in months
• Efforts combat plastic pollution and greenwashing
• California law penalizes greenwashing up to $500,000

Restaurants are adopting PHA straws, contributing to marine conservation.

Source:

• QSR Magazine

The Power of First-Party Apps

Restaurants invest in custom-branded mobile apps to:

• Enhance customer experience and loyalty
• Enable easy reordering and personalized offers
• Maintain consistent branding across franchises
• Save on third-party fees

Example: 3Natives improved reorder rates and direct customer connections after adopting a custom app.

Source:

• QSR Magazine

Panera Brands' Leadership Shakeup

• José Alberto Dueñas steps down as CEO of Panera Brands.
• CFO Paul Carbone becomes interim CEO.
• Company plans to sell Caribou Coffee and Einstein Bros. Bagels.
• Looking for valuation of 10 times EBITDA (projected at $150 million for 2024).
• Recent changes include a menu overhaul and a 17% staff reduction.

Sources:

• QSR Magazine
• Restaurant Business
• Restaurant Dive

McDonald's DEI Initiative Changes

McDonald's retracts some diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) goals due to:

• Legal pressures and internal audit evaluation
• Ending aspirational representation goals
• Focusing on embedding inclusion in daily operations
• Rebranding Diversity Team as the Global Inclusion Team

Despite changes, McDonald's remains committed to workplace inclusion.

Sources:

• QSR Magazine
• Restaurant Dive

McDonald's McValue Launch

McDonald's launches the new McValue platform:

• All value deals accessible in one place
• Offers include the $5 Meal Deal and in-app promotions
• John Cena promotes the platform
• Collaborations with brands offering over $3 million in promotional deals
• Reflects a strategy to meet consumer needs for affordable meals

Sources:

• QSR Magazine
• Restaurant Business
• Fast Casual

Influencer Marketing for Restaurants

Restaurants should harness influencer marketing:

• 88% of diners trust online reviews over personal recommendations
• 69% value influencer info over brands
• Successful partnerships can generate $6.50 for every $1 spent
• Engaging Gen Z is crucial
• Key success factors:
  • Selecting the right influencers
  • Fostering collaborative, long-term partnerships

Influencer marketing boosts traffic and cultivates brand loyalty.

Source:

• QSR Magazine

Peet's Vitality Menu Launch

Peet's Coffee introduces the Vitality Menu:

• High-protein lattes with over 20 grams of protein:
  • Vanilla Latte
  • Golden Latte
  • Matcha Latte
• Sparkling Drinks rich in Vitamins C & D:
  • Golden Immunity Sparkling Lemonade
  • Sparkling Citrus Immunity Black Tea

Promotions include 50% off second drinks from January 10-12.

Source:

• QSR Magazine

Pho Prime Expands in Houston

Pho Prime is expanding with three new locations:

• Shenandoah (now open)
• Galleria (February opening)
• Pearland (March opening)

Highlights:

• Authentic flavors and house-made pho broth
• Owners Kiet and Julie Duong focus on freshness

Source:

• QSR Magazine

Freebirds Unveils Daring Menu

Freebirds World Burrito launches new items:

• Frito Pie Burrito: filled with Texas Ground Beef, Spanish rice, and more
• Other Texas-inspired dishes:
  • Texas Ground Beef Burrito
  • Texas Ground Beef Chili Bowl
  • Texas Ground Beef Nachos

Chef Chris Larsen emphasizes celebrating Texas flavors.

Source:

• QSR Magazine

New Year Deals at Miguel's Jr.

Miguel's Jr. introduces:

• Authentic Pozole: $4.99 for a bowl, $9.39 for a quart
• Double Up deal: two Original Burritos for $10
• New Iced Coffee flavors: Vanilla and Caramel

Offers available across all locations.

Source:

• QSR Magazine

Starbird's Italian-Inspired Menu

Starbird introduces Italian-inspired dishes:

• Chicken Parm Sandwich: $9.97
• Bella Chop Salad: $13.27
• Lemon Garlic Tender Box: $12.97

New items available starting January 13, 2025.

Source:

• QSR Magazine

Buffalo Wild Wings BOGO Deals

Buffalo Wild Wings kicks off BOGO Days:

• Mondays and Wednesdays: Buy One, Get One Free burgers
• Tuesdays: 50% off traditional wings
• Thursdays: BOGO on boneless wings

Available for dine-in, takeout, and delivery with promo code BOGOBURGER.

Source:

• FSR Magazine

Pizza Inn's January Promotions

Pizza Inn offers:

• Buy 2, Get 1 FREE Bounceback: Purchase two adult buffets, get a free buffet card
• $10 Carryout NYXL Pepperoni: Largest pizza for just $10

Promotions run from January 2 to 31.

Source:

• FSR Magazine

JINYA Ramen Bar Opening

JINYA Ramen Bar opens a second location in Charleston, SC on January 22:

• Grand Opening: First 100 guests receive a free bowl of ramen
• Serves authentic traditional dishes
• Open daily from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Source:

• FSR Magazine

Artistry Restaurants Expands

Artistry Restaurants acquires 20-unit Hickory Tavern:

• Totaling 50 locations in the portfolio
• Hickory Tavern known for comfort food
• CEO Bryan Lockwood praises uncompromising service
• Plans for further expansion in Florida and Texas

Source:

• FSR Magazine

Paris Baguette's Expansion Plans

Paris Baguette aims to open 1,000 cafes in the U.S. by 2030:

• Over 4,000 units globally
• Signed 162 new units in 2024
• Expected to surpass $500 million in systemwide sales next year
• New loyalty program approaching 750,000 members

Source:

• Restaurant Dive

Restaurants Embrace Wellness

• Health-focused dining gains importance, with $275 billion spent by wellness-minded consumers in the U.S.
• Only 11% of foodservice concepts offer wellness-centered experiences
• Experts advocate for nutritional transparency and better quality foods
• Examples:
  • Scribner's Catskill Lodge with farm-to-table experiences
  • Iris and Blue Bar focusing on seasonally rotating menus

Source:

• FSR Magazine

Cinnaholic's Winter Rolls

Cinnaholic introduces winter-inspired brunch rolls:

• Banana Pancakes Roll: $7.50
• Coffee Cake Roll: $6.50
• All treats are 100% vegan and available from January 7th to March 3rd

Perfect for winter brunch enthusiasts!

Source:

• QSR Magazine

Krispy Kreme & Pop-Tarts Unite

Krispy Kreme launches a new doughnut collection in partnership with Pop-Tarts, featuring:

• Frosted Strawberry
• Frosted Chocolatey Fudge
• Frosted Brown Sugar Cinnamon

A first-time collaboration to delight fans of both iconic brands!

Source:

• QSR Web

Sammy's Sliders Franchise Expansion

Sammy's Sliders plans to franchise in 2025:

• Founded by Sam G. Ballas and chef Sammy Gianopoulos
• Offers extensive support to franchisees
• Menu innovations include seasonal items like the Andes Mint Shake

Focuses on quality and passionate entrepreneurs.

Sources:

• QSR Web
• Fast Casual

Sweetgreen's Health-Focused Menu

Sweetgreen launches a protein-packed, seed oil-free menu:

• Four new limited-time items:
  • BBQ Chicken + Ranch
  • Honey BBQ Steak + Ranch
• Features Green Goddess Ranch made with avocado oil
• Addresses concerns about inflammatory seed oils like corn and canola
• Dishes boast up to 39 grams of protein

Source:

• Restaurant Business

Mocktails on the Rise

Restaurants innovate with premium mocktails:

• Mocktail mentions on menus up 37.4% since 2019
• At Another Broken Egg, mocktails account for 3-5% of total sales
• Provide complex, handcrafted spirit-free drinks
• Profit margins comparable to traditional cocktails
• Catering to a shift in consumer behavior towards less alcohol

Source:

• Nation's Restaurant News

Voice Technology Revolutionizing Self-Service

At the Self-Service Innovation Summit 2024:

• Accessibility Focus: Code Factory emphasizes inclusive voice interaction
• Successful Implementations: Voice kiosks improving tasks like bank account openings
• Customer Experience: Voice-guided systems enhance user experience
• Future Innovations: Voice-based recipe retrieval in kitchens for consistency and safety

Businesses are encouraged to leverage voice technology to enhance customer experience.

Source:

• Networld Media Group

Taco Bell's New Luxe Boxes

Taco Bell introduces $5 and $9 Luxe Cravings Boxes:

• $9 box: Rotating limited-time offer items, Doritos Locos Tacos, crunchy taco, Cinnamon Twists, medium drink
• $5 box: Beefy 5-Layer Burrito, crunchy taco, Cinnamon Twists, medium beverage

Adjustments highlight a commitment to value amidst competition.

Sources:

• Restaurant Dive
• /r/fastfood

Fast-Food Value Wars

McDonald's, Subway, and KFC launch new value deals:

• McDonald's introduces the McValue menu with John Cena
• Subway offers a $6.99 'Meal of the Day'
• KFC revives $5 Bowls, including Nashville Hot options

January sees a push for value amidst consumer spending pullback.

Sources:

• QSR Magazine
• Restaurant Business

Girl Scout Cookies 2025 Highlights

• Cookie Season: January to April
• Online Ordering: Starts February 21, 2025
• Retiring Flavors: Toast-Yay! and S’mores
• Top Sellers: Thin Mints, Samoas, Tagalongs
• Proceeds support local troop activities and community projects

Sources:

• Eater
• Salon.com

Important Notices and Announcements

Pizza Marketplace Nomination Deadline

Deadline extended to January 24 for Pizza Marketplace's Top 100 Movers & Shakers nominations:

• Pizzeria brands are invited to nominate themselves
• Recognizes growth, sales accomplishments, and innovation
• Winners will be featured in the Top 100 list and invited to the Top 100 Gala in Las Vegas

Source:

• Pizza Marketplace

Ingredients and Nutritional Insights

Yuzu: 2025 Flavor of the Year

• Named by Monin as the flavor of the year
• Citrus fruit akin to lemon, celebrated in Japanese and Korean cuisines
• Monin launched a yuzu puree for cocktails, beverages, marinades, and sauces

Brown vs. White Eggs

• Eggshell color determined by chicken breed
• No health or nutritional differences
• Quality linked to how birds are raised, not egg color

Sources:

• Food Business News
• Food & Wine

Miscellaneous News and Developments

Flowers Foods Acquires Simple Mills

• Acquisition Price: $795 million
• Simple Mills known for healthier snacks
• Aligns with Flowers' strategy focusing on health and sustainability

Lifeway Foods Rejects Danone's Bid

• Rejected a $306.7 million offer from Danone North America
• Lifeway highlights strong performance with projected 2024 sales between $185 million and $186.5 million
• 21 quarters of consecutive growth

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