QSR, Restaurant and Food Service Trends from Northern America

May 25, 2012

Kids LiveWell wins Gold Circle Award

The National Restaurant Association has received The American Society of Association Executives' 2012 Gold Circle Award for its Kids LiveWell initiative, a program that provides nutritional information on children's menu items at participating restaura...

May 24, 2012

Still a big to-do list for Don Thompson, next McDonald's CEO

It might seem to be just another annual shareholders meeting today at McDonald's, but this one will be closely watched as a precursor to the fast-food world's most important changing of the guards in years. This will be the last meeting presided ove...

May 24, 2012

McDonald's Names Dave Hoffmann as President of Asia/Pacific, Middle East & Africa Region

McDonald's Corporation (NYSE: MCD) today announced that Dave Hoffmann, 44, currently Senior Vice President for Restaurant Support in McDonald's Asia/Pacific, Middle East and Africa (APMEA) region, has been elected President of McDonald's APMEA by the M...

May 17, 2012

Blurring of the lines between QSR and Fast Casual

There was a time when the segments in foodservice were clearly defined. No more...

May 15, 2012

The Great Big Idaho® Potato Truck 'Big' Hit at NRA Show

All eyes were peeled on the Idaho Potato Commission’s (IPC) Great Big Idaho® Potato Truck when it blew into the Windy City (Chicago) for the annual National Restaurant Association (NRA) Show.

May 15, 2012

NRA Show 2012 tops 61.000 visitors

The 93rd National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel Motel Show and 5th annual International Wine, Spirits & Beer Event posted strong growth in both attendee and exhibitor numbers. This year's event attracted 61,000+ registrants.

May 13, 2012

McDonald's China CEO on bringing McMuffins to the masses

Kenneth Chan, who heads McDonald's rapid expansion in China, talks about competition with KFC, dealing with slower economic growth, and food safety.

May 10, 2012

Burger King sees improvement in U.S. sales

Sales at Burger King's North American restaurants have started growing for the first time in more than two years, sparking hope that the brand's makeover is starting to pay off.

May 05, 2012

Chicago mayor opens NRA Show

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emmanuel officially opened the National Restaurant Association, Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show this morning. Emmanuel shared ribbon-cutting duties with NRA Chairman Rosalyn "Roz' Mallet (PhaseNext Hospitality) before touring the ...

May 02, 2012

McDonald's revamped Happy Meal still doesn't make Canadian nutritionists happy

McDonald’s Canada tweaked the mood of the Happy Meal last week, shortly before the fast food giant’s annual charity fundraiser linked to the children’s meal.

May 01, 2012

Big stores get into the fast food game

McDonald's, Burger King and Wendy's may be facing some unlikely competition when it comes to fast food - some big box stores are keeping their customers coming back for more by serving food.

April 30, 2012

McDonald’s introduces new mini-sized french fries portion (31 g) as choice in new Canadian Happy Meal

McDonald’s Canada is giving its iconic Happy Meal a makeover and introducing a new automatic offering of yogurt and the choice of apple slices or new mini-sized French fries. The move is part of the company’s commitment to provide customers - especiall...

April 29, 2012

Vietnam's chefs turn out for US potatoes at annual meeting

The United States Potato Board’s (USPB) Vietnam Representatives partnered with the Washington Apple Commission and the US Meat Export Federation at the 2012 Saigon Professional Chef Guild (SPG) Annual Meeting.

April 26, 2012

Burger King's goal: Use cage-free eggs and pork products by 2017

The movement by U.S. food corporations toward more humane treatment of animals experienced a whopper of a shift Wednesday when Burger King announced that all of its eggs and pork will come from cage-free chickens and pigs by 2017.

April 26, 2012

Chili Cheese Fries one of Wendy's new Signature Sides

Chili Cheese Fries sprinkled with sea salt and topped with a sauce made with Cheddar cheese and real milk;Freshly oven-baked, U.S. - grown sweet potatoes;Macaroni &Cheese made with white Vermont Cheddar cheese. Is your mouth watering yet?

April 26, 2012

Wendy's plans to make poutine Canada's national dish

Canada has a national sport, a national animal and two official langcodes. But does not have a national dish, until now.

April 25, 2012

NRA Show exhibition space has completely sold out

The 2012 National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show has completely sold out its exhbit floor space.

April 16, 2012

Canada has saltiest fries, sandwiches and salads, study finds

French fries sold at major fast-food chains in Canada contain more than double the amount of salt of those sold at U.S. locations, according to a new international study