Popular Articles

MAR 24, 2026 · 9 MIN READ

The CEO Burger War: How a Viral Video Turned Into Fast Food's Biggest Marketing Moment

McDonald's CEO Chris Kempczinski posted a promotional video for the new Big Arch that promptly went viral for all the wrong reasons. What happened next became a masterclass in competitive marketing opportunism, and somehow the burger still beat sales expectations.

MAR 20, 2026 · 8 MIN READ

How TikTok is Changing QSR Marketing

Menu hacks going viral, employee content, the algorithm's impact on sales. Real case studies of what drives revenue and what flops on TikTok in QSR.

MAR 20, 2026 · 10 MIN READ

How Wendy's Won Twitter and What Other QSR Brands Can Learn

The snarky social media strategy that turned Wendy's into a Twitter powerhouse. Real engagement numbers, failed copycats, and the disciplined execution behind the roasts.

Yum Brands Releases First-Ever Food Trends Report: What 59,000 Restaurants See Coming

Yum Brands published its first Food Trends Report, pulling data from Taco Bell, KFC, Pizza Hut, and Habit Burger Grill across 59,000 locations. The report spotlights craveable drinks and sauce customization as the next traffic drivers, offering operators a data-backed lens on where consumer demand is heading.

SEP 18, 2026 · 1 MIN READ

Tropical Smoothie plans cafe and digital refresh

Cafe branding changes begin in coming weeks; a redesigned web and app experience follows over several months.

Dunkin’s Fall Campaign Moves From Breakfast to Afternoon Lattes

A creator meal, capped espresso codes and a four-hour latte offer give customers three ways to participate in Dunkin’s fall campaign.

SEP 8, 2026 · 3 MIN READ

MAR 24, 2026 · 7 MIN READ

Chipotle's Tattoo BOGO Set an All-Time Single-Day Sales Record. Here's the Playbook Behind It.

Chipotle's one-hour tattoo BOGO on March 13 drove the highest single-day sales in the chain's history across 4,000+ locations. Here is the flash-window marketing formula that generated 12 million impressions.

SEP 24, 2026 · 2 MIN READ

Arby’s promotes Loaded Rewards

Points connect restaurant purchases and digital orders.

MAR 24, 2026 · 7 MIN READ

Starbucks Rewards Backlash: The Loyalty Restructuring Every QSR Operator Should Study

Starbucks cut earning rates for base-tier members by at least 25% on March 10, 2026, and the backlash was immediate. With 34 million U.S. members watching, every QSR chain running a loyalty program just got a live case study in what not to do.

Burger King's 7.4% Traffic Surge: How Tom Curtis Turned Executive Authenticity Into a Marketing Weapon

Burger King's brand president gave out his personal work phone, fielded 30,000 customer messages, and aired a 90-second Oscars spot to nearly 20 million viewers. The result: restaurant visits up 7.4% year-over-year. Here's how the campaign worked and what other operators can learn from it.

SEP 25, 2026 · 1 MIN READ

Wendy’s made an emo album for its parking lot

Six tracks, real musicians and a Frosty funeral.

Dunkin and Febreze launch Walmart-exclusive coffee and bakery scents

Dunkin’s Walmart-exclusive Febreze range follows earlier Native and Flipz launches, with scent-specific formats and separate retail channels.

SEP 1, 2026 · 3 MIN READ

Tipflation Backlash: How Digital Tipping Prompts Are Eroding QSR Customer Trust in 2026

Digital tipping prompts have become a flashpoint for consumer frustration, with 65% of customers reporting weariness from constant tip requests. Here's what QSR operators need to know about tipflation and what to do about it.

Little Caesars Launches Four-N-One Stix as Pizza Chains Race to Own the Shareable Snacking Category

Little Caesars debuted $7.99 Four-N-One Stix nationwide, a 16-piece shareable breadstick product in four flavors. The launch signals a broader pizza QSR arms race for group snacking occasions against Domino's and Papa Johns.

SEP 11, 2026 · 3 MIN READ

Dunkin’s Tennis Campaign Connects Drinks, Merchandise and Rewards

An upcoming app points offer follows restaurant tennis collectibles, an announced HEAD collection and a public Grand Central pop-up.

MAR 24, 2026 · 8 MIN READ

The Lenten Fish Wars of 2026: How Fast Food Chains Turn 40 Days Into a Billion-Dollar Seasonal Battleground

From Ash Wednesday through Easter Sunday, the QSR industry fights an annual battle for fish sandwich supremacy. In 2026, rising pollock prices, aggressive promotions, and shrinking margins are reshaping how chains approach the season.

SEP 22, 2026 · 1 MIN READ

KFC UK Made Cereal. It Wants You to Add Gravy.

Chicken-flavored cereal meets a gravy boat.