Fast Food news and trends

Consumers’ Food Habits Are Changing With Return to the Office
Consumer Insights // March 26, 2025

With the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, return to office has become the dominant work mode. According to PYMNTS Intelligence survey data from January 2025, about 80% of employed consumers now work either in-office or in a hybrid setting and 63% of formerly remote workers...

Fast-Food Chains Order Up AI Despite Early Missteps
Artificial Intelligence // March 05, 2025

The fast food industry is stepping up its adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) and automation, with market stalwarts including McDonald’s, Yum! Brands and Wendy’s expanding their deployment of the technology to streamline operations, improve profitability and enhance the customer experience. Last week, McDonald’s Chairman and CEO...

Burger King Owner Plans Remodels Amid ‘Challenging Consumer Backdrop’
Earnings // February 12, 2025

Burger King’s kingdom is getting a makeover following a slight uptick in sales. Restaurant Brands International (RBI), owner of the fast food chain and several other brands, released earnings Wednesday (Feb. 12) showing a 2.5% increase in comparable sales. These figures, CEO Josh Kobza told...

McDonald’s Sees Boost in Loyalty Amid Challenges in Q4 Earnings
Earnings // February 10, 2025

While McDonald’s fourth-quarter earnings, released Monday (Feb. 10), “did not meet our expectations,” according to CEO Chris Kempczinski, customer loyalty was a bright spot amid a slight uptick (0.4%) in global comparable sales while U.S. comparable sales slipped 1.4% largely due to the aftermath of an...

Interviews & Exclusives
Consumers’ Food Habits Are Changing With Return to the Office

March 26, 2025
With the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, return to office has become the dominant work mode. According to PYMNTS Intelligence survey data from January 2025, about 80% of employed consumers now work either in-office or in a hybrid setting and 63% of formerly remote workers are back in the office full time. It’s a stark […]

Fast-Food Chains Order Up AI Despite Early Missteps

March 05, 2025
The fast food industry is stepping up its adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) and automation, with market stalwarts including McDonald’s, Yum! Brands and Wendy’s expanding their deployment of the technology to...

Presto CEO Says ChatGPT Pact Shows Where Restaurant Drive-Thru Is Headed

April 11, 2023
The planets are aligning around voice artificial intelligence (AI) as everyday business use cases begin to build, perhaps nowhere more so than at the restaurant drive-thru. The synergies are clear,...

California’s Fast Food Restaurants Prepare for Automation, Closures After Wage Law

September 06, 2022
On Monday (Sept. 5), California’s Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law Bill AB-257, which will set higher wage requirements for fast food workers as well as enact standards related to...

Quick Reads
Wendy’s Predicts Diners Will Feel Pressured All Year

May 04, 2025
Fast food chain Wendy’s is expecting customers to feel financial pressure for the remainder of the year. To that end, the website Nation’s Restaurant News reported Friday (May 2), the company is leaning into value offerings to attract diners after releasing earnings showing a 2.1% decline in same-store sales. “We like the second half of […]

Burger King Owner Plans Remodels Amid ‘Challenging Consumer Backdrop’

February 12, 2025
Burger King’s kingdom is getting a makeover following a slight uptick in sales. Restaurant Brands International (RBI), owner of the fast food chain and several other brands, released earnings Wednesday...

Restaurant Sector Eager to Say Goodbye to Rough Year

November 17, 2024
The restaurant industry is reportedly eager to move beyond a difficult 2024. “I don’t know about you guys, but I’m ready for ’24 to be behind us, and I think...

Chipotle Names Interim CEO Scott Boatwright as CEO

November 11, 2024
Chipotle has named Interim CEO Scott Boatwright as CEO and member of the board, effective immediately. Boatwright has served as interim CEO since Aug. 31, when former Chipotle Chairman and CEO Brian Niccol...