Burger King links TV ad with QR code to offer up free Whoppers

In a pair of offers, the QSR urges mobile users to scan a QR code that appears in TV ads and asks them to share screenshots of video calls with friends.

By Robert Williams • April 27, 2020

Denny's gets into gaming with presence on multiplayer platforms

The casual dining chain's Dennys247 account is on Nintendo's Switch, Microsoft's Xbox and Sony's PS4.

By Robert Williams • April 23, 2020

Red Lobster offers custom Zoom backgrounds, Spotify playlist for date nights

The restaurant hopes to drive sales by offering takeout menus and virtual ambience for those looking to recreate the experience of eating out on a date.

By Dianna Christie • April 23, 2020

ChowNow, Instagram launch commission-free online food ordering

Online ordering platform ChowNow partnered with the social media platform to enable restaurants to add "Order Food" buttons to their profiles and Stories.  

By Alicia Kelso • April 16, 2020

Chipotle's CMO on how the brand quickly pivoted in response to coronavirus

Chris Brandt explains how the QSR changed its entire marketing plan in the past month, leading it to enlist Zoom and support healthcare workers.

By Chris Kelly • April 15, 2020

Nathan's Famous upgrades tech, adds geotargeting and digital ordering

In a one-month pilot, the chain saw increased engagement at a lower cost-per-click since adding AI-enabled ad formats to its marketing mix.

By Dianna Christie • April 13, 2020

Burger King encourages people to be heroes by staying home

"Stay Home of the Whopper" salutes healthcare workers while pushing free delivery for housebound consumers.

By Dianna Christie • April 9, 2020

Tripadvisor adds delivery/takeout, gift card information to restaurant listings

The platform has launched a new feature that allows diners and travelers to buy gift cards to their favorite restaurants directly from its website. 

By Alicia Kelso • April 8, 2020

Panera, Subway sell groceries to fight coronavirus sales slump

Legacy chains are taking cues from independent restaurant strategies to open up new revenue streams, offering pantry items from cheese to frozen soup. 

By Emma Liem Beckett • April 8, 2020

Shaquille O'Neal ads drive engagement for Papa John's

The NBA star's endorsement is helping the pizza chain rebuild its image and lift delivery orders following founder John Schnatter's ouster.

By Dianna Christie • April 7, 2020

Brands recalibrate to community-building during quarantine

Social distancing mandates upended in-person activations, leading brands like Chipotle to get creative with cultivating connections online. But can they sustain momentum once the pandemic subsides?

By Natalie Black (Koltun) • April 7, 2020

Shake Shack moves into meal kits as sales sharply decline

The burger chain partnered with Goldbelly, a gourmet food delivery service, to launch a cook-at-home burger kit nationwide. They cost $49 for an eight-pack.   

By Alicia Kelso • April 6, 2020

Popeyes dishes out Netflix login details as fans self-isolate amid coronavirus

 A "Fried Chicken N Chill" campaign will share the brand's username and password with 1,000 Twitter followers.

By Peter Adams • March 24, 2020

Breakfast wars boost QSR traffic 4% in first week of March

Despite the novel coronavirus outbreak, QSR breakfast traffic was up 4% during the week ending March 8, marking the highest gain for the segment in four weeks, according to data from The NPD Group. 

By Alicia Kelso • March 16, 2020

Comic Dive: CMO Shift Change

Marketing leaders are shuffling around in the QSR space, with some executives taking new roles at sister restaurants as competition heats up.

By John Hazard • March 16, 2020

KFC pulls 'finger lickin' ads in UK amid coronavirus concerns

The brand follows Hershey's and Coors in pausing a campaign that may be perceived as insensitive or ill-timed around the pandemic.

By Dianna Christie • March 13, 2020

Wendy's is 1st brand to take over GasBuddy app for breakfast launch

For its push into the early daypart, the branded takeover captures 100% of the app's pre-drive audience as they plan daily errands.

By Robert Williams • March 12, 2020

Taco Bell taps TikTok's vertical video format for TV ad

The effort marks the first time TikTok has partnered with a brand on a national advertising campaign and references trends on the app, like "eboys."

By Peter Adams • March 10, 2020

Wingstop pays fans to be walking billboards

The fast-food joint is transferring its OOH budget to loyal fans, giving Instagrammers who wear the special branded merchandise $10 via Venmo.

By Dianna Christie • March 10, 2020

Buffalo Wild Wings nixes experiential sleepover for March Madness

Dubbed BnB-Dubs, the activation would have let basketball fans enter to win an Airbnb-style sleepover in a Chicago location.

By Dianna Christie , Natalie Black (Koltun) • Updated March 17, 2020

Jimmy John's names Sonic's Darin Dugan as CMO

Dugan replaces John Shea, who served in the role for just over two years, and follows several management shuffles by parent company Inspire Brands.

By Robert Williams • March 6, 2020

Will loyalty programs gain renewed value in a cookie-less era?

Brands from Red Lobster to Sephora are revisiting their rewards strategies amid tighter ad-targeting restrictions and greater demands for data privacy.

By Shane Schick • March 5, 2020

Arby's names P&G's Patrick Schwing as CMO

Schwing previously led the global interactivity and innovation group at Oral-B, P&G's consumer dental care brand. ​

By Robert Williams • March 4, 2020

Dunkin' drafts 'Cheer' star for Instagram sweepstakes

Gabi Butler, the all-star cheerleader who appears in the Netflix docu-series, will post a special "Dunkin' cheer" to the company's account.

By Robert Williams • March 4, 2020

Wendy's cooks up social media buzz with new breakfast menu campaign

In 36 hours, the QSR received more than 10,000 follower requests after locking its Twitter account in the run-up to this week's launch for its breakfast menu.

By Robert Williams • March 3, 2020