Marketing

  • The sign on a Red Robin restaurant.
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Red Robin ‘far from claiming victory’ despite comps growth

    The casual chain’s turnaround efforts are paying off in terms of comparable sales and profits, but executives say a repeat performance is unlikely in Q2.

    By • May 30, 2025
  • A sign advertising a digital ordering app is displayed at a McDonald's.
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Deep Dive

    How restaurant chains are updating their marketing menus in tough economy

    Marketers at QSR and fast casual brands are taking big swings with creative campaigns, evolving loyalty strategies and digital technology investments.

    By Chris Kelly • May 28, 2025
  • El Pollo Loco logo and tagline
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    Courtesy of El Pollo Loco
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    Why El Pollo Loco’s rebrand invites diners to ‘Get Loco’

    CMO Jill Adams shares how a new tagline serves as a “call to action” and a play to engage with consumers around their passions.

    By Chris Kelly • May 22, 2025
  • Burger King’s Maple Bourbon BBQ Whopper
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    Courtesy of Burger King
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    LTOs and value are key to solving restaurant traffic downturn: Technomic

    With consumers bracing for tariff impacts, limited-time offerings will likely grow in importance alongside budget-focused menu items.

    By • May 20, 2025
  • Tiffani Thiessen in a Chili's ad
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    Retrieved from Chili's on May 15, 2025
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    Q&A

    Chili’s CMO on how ‘culture pops’ supercharge the chain’s sales

    The casual dining chain’s executives have cited marketing as a key factor behind two straight quarters of same-store sales growth of more than 31%.

    By Chris Kelly • May 20, 2025
  • Am image of a sign on a window that says "Meal Deal" and shows a chicken sandwich and burger with nuggest, fries and a Coca-Cola.
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    Mario Tama via Getty Images
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    Analysts at NRA Show: Tariffs could make H2 gloomier for restaurants

    As costs rise, fast food chains are losing pricing advantages relative to fast casual and even full-service chains.

    By • May 19, 2025
  • In-game graphics on a Chipotle Roblox activation
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    Courtesy of Chipotle
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    Chipotle brings trading card mania to Roblox with new experience

    Ingredient Quest capitalizes on renewed interest in games like Pokémon and card-pull social media videos of fans uncovering rare finds.

    By Peter Adams • May 1, 2025
  • An image of a pink sign that says "Saucy"
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    Permission granted by Saucy by KFC
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    Taco Bell sales surge, KFC will expand Saucy concept

    As Taco Bell succeeds in the U.S., KFC’s spinoff could replicate the Cantina strategy that Taco Bell has used to power its menu innovation.

    By • April 30, 2025
  • Chili's Big Smasher cheeseburger accompanied by sides of chips, fries and cola on a wooden dining table
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    Permission granted by Chili's Grill & Bar
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    Chili’s notches 21% traffic surge

    The casual chain’s focus on value is driving success where rivals are lagging, with many competitors reporting sliding same-store sales. 

    By • April 29, 2025
  • A smiling white woman with blond hair and a blue shirt. She is Julie Fussner, the new CEO of Culver's
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    Courtesy of Culver's
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    Culver’s promotes CMO Julie Fussner to CEO

    Fussner takes the helm as the brand hits the 1,000 restaurant mark, propelled by a $3.8 million AUV.

    By • April 28, 2025
  • McDonald's new McCrispy chicken strips.
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    Courtesy of McDonald's
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    McDonald’s chicken strips mark first permanent menu addition in 4 years

    The chain needs a menu win — and a leg up on fast-growing chicken competitors — after last year’s value and LTO successes were offset by an E. Coli outbreak.

    By • April 25, 2025
  • The exterior of a Del Taco with several empty parking lots out front
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    Permission granted by Del Taco
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    Del Taco’s new meal boxes mirror Taco Bell deal

    The value bundles — which are priced between $5 and $9 — come as the chain battles shrinking same-store sales.

    By • April 23, 2025
  • Omar Epps as the Sauce Boss in a Zaxbys campaign
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    Courtesy of Zaxbys
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    Q&A

    Zaxbys’ CMO on breaking through the chicken category with ‘sauce’

    The chain’s first work from Goodby Silverstein & Partners introduces a brand character that speaks to both signature sauces and cool charisma.

    By Chris Kelly • April 23, 2025
  • Kentucky Fried Chicken's 2024 $5 value deals: A chicken nuggets combo, a famous bowl with mashed potatoes and nuggets, and a 2-piece combo.
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    Courtesy of KFC
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    KFC’s US sales fall behind Raising Cane’s, Wingstop

    Sales at most American QSR chicken chains rose in 2024, but fell 4% at KFC, according to a Circana report on the 50 largest U.S. restaurant brands.

    By • April 21, 2025
  • A person holding an order of Taco Bell chicken nuggets, nacho fries and a drink.
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    Courtesy of Taco Bell
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    Taco Bell Nuggets return, teasing more Crispy Chicken menu items

    After a strong initial performance, the chain is using the Nuggets LTO as a test run for adding Crispy Chicken to its regular menu next year.

    By • April 16, 2025
  • Chili's Fast Food Financing pop-up
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    Courtesy of Chili's Grill & Bar
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    Chili’s pop-up finances fast food meals in latest dig at rising prices

    A store emulating payday loan retailers doles out gift cards to “approved” visitors and serves a new burger positioned against the Quarter Pounder.

    By Peter Adams • April 16, 2025
  • A banner image for Scooter's Coffee's loyalty program.
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    Courtesy of Scooter's Coffee
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    Scooter’s Coffee switches to points-based loyalty

    The new program is designed to expand the range of products available for redemption and boost ordering through Scooter’s digital channels.

    By • April 15, 2025
  • A hand holds a smart phone with a screen that shows a pizza and says 5 for $35 Pizza Night Made Easy
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    Permission granted by Blaze Pizza
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    Blaze Pizza remakes loyalty program

    The chain, which has seen its store count shrink in recent years, said this move is part of a shift away from maintaining its own customized tech stack.

    By • April 15, 2025
  • A person holds a smartphone that displays Burger King's AI Whopper experience.
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    Courtesy of Burger King
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    Burger King poaches Applebee’s CMO to build on modernization plan

    Joel Yashinsky is tasked with driving an expansive Reclaim the Flame strategy that has produced viral marketing like the Whopper jingle. 

    By Peter Adams • April 14, 2025
  • Collage of Panera campaign assets
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    Courtesy of Panera
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    Panera reintroduces brand with focus on dine-in cafe experience

    “It Just Meals Good,” the chain’s first work from 72andSunny, captures a variety of occasions for eating at Panera, whether catching up with a kid or an ex. 

    By Peter Adams • April 10, 2025
  • A person holds a Subway sandwich and drink cup
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    Permission granted by Subway
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    Subway hires CMO from PepsiCo beverages to lead global marketing

    Greg Lyons, who left the beverage giant late last month, will join the sandwich chain on the tail of a recent creative agency switch-up. 

    By Peter Adams • April 9, 2025
  • A hand dips a chicken tender into a sauce
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    Courtesy of Wingstop
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    Wingstop launches NYC pop-up to spotlight tenders

    Chicken tenders are having a menu moment and could help the fast casual chain continue its wild sales momentum.

    By • April 9, 2025
  • Dessert items with ice cream and baked good elements.
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    Courtesy of Cinnabon
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    GoTo Foods debuts Cinnabon Swirl dual-branded concept

    Rather than simple co-branding, Cinnabon Swirl will have its own rewards program, indicating the possibility of an independent brand identity.

    By • April 8, 2025
  • An image of Papa Johns sign on a store
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    Courtesy of Papa Johns
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    Papa Johns will use Google AI for analytics, marketing

    The pizza chain has tapped Google Cloud’s AI tools to optimize delivery routes, create a customer-facing chatbot and deliver personalized rewards in real time.

    By • April 3, 2025
  • A hand holds a smartphone with the screen showing different rewards available from Sweetgreen's rewards program.
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    Permission granted by Sweetgreen
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    Sweetgreen abandons tiered loyalty for points-based program

    Executives previously predicted the loyalty program would be a traffic driver, as the salad chain faces a competitive fast casual environment.

    By • April 3, 2025