In a bit of a bright spot of news for beleaguered Chipotle, the chain says that sales at its new — and so far, only — Tasty Made burger restaurant in Ohio are “strong” after a few weeks of being open. [More]
restaurants
One State & One City Voted To Eventually Do Away With Sub-Minimum Wages For Tipped Workers
By 11.9.16
If you’ve never worked in the foodservice or hospitality industry, you may not know that employees who rely on tips often earn base pay that is significantly less than minimum wage (the federal minimum is currently $2.13/hour). Tips can certainly add up to much more than the minimum wage, but they can also be cyclical and unpredictable, which is problematic for people living paycheck to paycheck. Yesterday, voters in one state and one city decided it was time to phase in wage increases that will eventually get tipped workers earning base pay that is at least the minimum. [More]
McDonald’s Preparing To Launch Mobile Order-And-Pay Tech Next Year
By 11.7.16
While many fast food chains already offer mobile ways to order and/or pay for your food before you ever step foot in the restaurant, McDonald’s has yet to launch its own version of that kind of technology. But the company says it’s now finally getting ready to roll out a new mobile order-and-pay service, slated to arrive next year. [More]
McDonald’s Suing Florence For $20M After City Says No To Location Near Famed Cathedral
By 11.4.16
When you think of historic landmarks and centuries-old architecture, do you picture the Golden Arches gleaming nearby? If not, then you agree with the city of Florence, Italy, which recently put the kibosh on McDonald’s plans for a new location near its famed Duomo cathedral. The fast food giant has filed a $20 million lawsuit in response. [More]
Chipotle Cutting Off All Investments Into Asian-Inspired ShopHouse Brand
By 10.26.16 — Updated: 10.31.16
In the midst of trying to convince customers to come back and eat at Chipotle a year after its national food safety crisis first started, it seems the chain doesn’t have the resources to cultivate other efforts, like its Asian-inspired ShopHouse chain. [More]
Arby’s Will Offer Venison Sandwiches This Fall In 6 Deer-Hunting States
By 10.26.16 — Updated: 10.31.16
In its continuing quest to convince hungry consumers that it is the meat destination, Arby’s is adding a new protein to the menu in certain locations this fall: customers will be able to order venison meat sandwiches at participating restaurants in six states where deer hunting is popular. [More]
Everyone Gets A Free Taco From Taco Bell On Nov. 2
By 10.26.16 — Updated: 10.31.16
Whether you were weeping with joy or sadness after the Cleveland Indians beat the Chicago Cubs in Game 1 of the World Series last night, know this: there is a free taco waiting for you a week from now, if you choose to accept it. [More]
Chipotle Hopes To Coax More Customers Back With Dessert, Better Online Ordering
By 10.25.16
It was a year ago next week that the national Chipotle food safety crisis began on Halloween, when the chain shut down restaurants in Washington state and in Oregon after reports of E. coli infection in some customers. Things haven’t been going well for the chain since then, with sales plummeting, then slowly recovering with free food promotions and a loyalty program. The chain’s sales still haven’t fully recovered, but Chipotle hopes to coax customers back with some dessert. [More]
Pizza Shop Customer Claims Daughter Received Medication From Toy Machine
By 10.25.16 — Updated: 10.31.16
It’s always a surprise as to what you’re gonna get when you pop quarters into a toy vending machine, but there are some prizes that no parent wants dispensed to their kid. Say, blood pressure medication. [More]
You Can Now Check In Online For A Table At Olive Garden
By 10.25.16 — Updated: 10.31.16
Many restaurants already allow patrons to call ahead for seating as a way to avoid long waits when they walk through the door. While Olive Garden has never adhered to this option, the restaurant is now taking that idea and making it its own: allowing guests to check in on the web to save tables. [More]
Philly Fast-Food Workers Fired After Gross Confessions On Facebook Live
By 10.25.16 — Updated: 10.31.16
After a Facebook Live video posted over the weekend showed workers at a Philadelphia Checkers restaurant smoking cigarettes in the kitchen and talking about having sex with customers went viral, the company says those employees will lose their jobs. [More]
Chipotle Reassures Customers That Guacamole Supply Is Not Threatened By Avocado Shortage
By 10.24.16 — Updated: 10.31.16
Despite an ongoing avocado shortage that has already affected some in the food industry, Chipotle is reassuring customers that no, the chain will not run out of guacamole, and no, prices for the stuff won’t go up. [More]
Police: KFC Worker Pulls Gun On Boss, Returns For Paycheck The Next Day
By 10.21.16
A dispute between an employee of a New Mexico KFC and his boss escalated to the point of pulling out weapons, but that didn’t stop the aggrieved worker from showing up the next day to collect his paycheck. [More]
Why Are So Many Restaurant Chains Closing Locations, Filing For Bankruptcy?
By 10.17.16
Bob Evan’s, Old Country Buffet, Cosi, Ruby Tuesday, Logan’s Roadhouse: these are just a few of the large restaurant chains that have closed locations and/or filed for bankruptcy protection in 2016 alone. These eateries generally have two factors working in their favor: name recognition and stores in high-traffic areas. So why are they doing so poorly? [More]
Subway Worker Accused Of Filming Women In The Restroom
By 10.14.16
A Subway employee in Seattle is facing charges of voyeurism and possession of child pornography after allegedly filming women in the restaurant’s bathroom without their knowledge. [More]
Help Us Figure Out Your Fast-Food Frequency
October 13, 2016
When Greg Creed, the curiously Australian CEO of Yum Brands, recently boasted that “Half the U.S. population eats Taco Bell once a month,” we got to wondering: Just how frequently do people visit the country’s most popular quick-service eateries? [More]
Former Carnegie Deli Dishwasher Wants To Buy It And Keep It Open
By 10.4.16
Sandwich fans around the world were likely sad to hear last week that New York City’s famed Carnegie Deli would be shutting its doors for good at the end of the year. At least one person has stepped forward thus far to express interest in buying the business and keeping it open. [More]
Burger King Customers Upset To Find Nasty Messages Written On Food Wrappers
By 10.4.16
We get it: everyone can have a bad day at work. But if you work in a consumer-facing industry, taking out those frustrations on your customers could cost you your job. [More]
