6 years ago
Burger King has issued an apology for its chopstick ad blunder, but the damage may already have been done.
Sure it's cheap, but what about quality? The chain might claim some business from rival McDonald's, but it's unlikely to sway people from their morning Starbucks or Dunkin.
Unlike the tobacco industry, the restaurant industry and health can find a middle ground where there are profits without devastating health results. But things will have to change at some big brand to make this happen.
Corporate initiatives and decision-making grab headlines, but a chain is only as strong as its operators. And they are angry.
Despite not reclaiming the top spot in December, quick-service restaurants continue to dominate television advertising spending, as the value menu wars rage on.
A Whopper costs far less than a meal at a Brazilian steakhouse in Brazil. Go figure. That, coupled with South America's struggling economy, explains why BK Brasil SA is faring well.
Is every fast-food chain with franchisee problems open to selling? It sure seems like it. Unfortunately for Jack in the Box, the company isn't looking too attractive to potential buyers at the moment.
Yes, the price of menu items has gone up over the last decade, but so too have the costs associated with buying food and paying workers. Those are the breaks.
There is no certainty a deal will be reached, according to reports. But it's safe to assume what Jack in the Box's franchisees want.
This is a feel-good approach to what is a complicated challenge: Many seniors in the U.S. can't support themselves on their retirement. Restaurants are able to both provide help and take advantage of these problems.
That's good news for the fast food industry, not so much for public health officials. Fortunately the former are diversifying their menus with slightly healthier offerings.
The chain's all-day breakfast announcement was great press, but McDonald's hasn't done much beyond pushing its tried-and-true favorites to an all-day crowd.
