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Sonic Drive-In says it is shifting its media-buying strategy to give its brand—now operating in 43 states—a more national profile. And while “non-TV” media spending will be slashed to 7% of its budget, compared with 17% in 2012, the Oklahoma City-based chain says that represents primarily a minimizing of outdoor advertising not digital spending (although, [...]

The chef/restaurateur you love to hate meets the food you love to eat. Gordon Ramsay is opening a burger joint. Gordon Ramsay BurGR opens Dec. 22 at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, four days after another new eponymous operation, Gordon Ramsay Pub & Grill opens down the street at Caesars Palace. That [...]

Burger King Worldwide’s recently released third-quarter results were reasonably strong, with a 1.4% systemwide increase in same-store sales. The U.S./Canada segment did even better, up 1.6%. But Asia/Pacific comps were down 2.2% as a result, the company said, of weak sales in Australia and Korea. This wasn’t the first time this year that Australia, where [...]

The latest survey of McDonald’s franchisees conducted by Janney Capital Markets analyst Mark Kalinowski offers some insight into how remodeling investments and marketing programs such as discounting are viewed by some operators. Their unease about the cash-flow impact of “re-imaging” contrasts with the standard corporate view that such investments are vital to keep brands relevant [...]

Checkers/Rally’s tomorrow (9/8) unveils the third of three reimaged locations it plans in Columbus, Ohio. It’s one of 10 Ohio’s Rally’s locations that are being remodeled by year-end in a test of a new exterior design. Operating under both the Checkers and Rally’s brands, depending on market, the chain is the 12th largest U.S. burger [...]

Johnny Rockets franchisee Richard Riva has opened the first JR’s Burger Grill in Phoenix. Less a totally new concept than a reworking of a full-service Johnny Rockets to a quick-service format, the restaurant is offering a limited menu with burgers priced at $2.99. A Johnny Rockets spokesperson calls the concept “quick-service pricing with fast-casual quality.” [...]

 McDonald’s Corp. accelerated its global remodeling plan by committing $1 billion to upgrading its 1,400 restaurants in Canada by the end of 2012. The program, similar to the one underway in the U.S. and nearly completed in Europe, involves more than exterior and interior designs.   A new front-counter service platform intended to increase crew coordination and [...]

[June 1 Update: McGarryBowen wins Burger King's U.S. ad account. Read here.] The King is dead; long live the new Burger King. The No. 2 burger chain is changing its menu, its look, its marketing and its attitude, according to a 5/30 article by Elaine Walker in the Miami Herald. The creepy King character is [...]

Wendy’s said it, like other restaurant chains, will need additional selective price increases this year (after taking a late-March hike) due to food costs that are rising beyond expectations. Beef costs should be up 20% this year rather than the 10%-15% rise previously forecast. Overall food prices could be up 5%-6% and not the 2%-3% [...]

McDonald’s Corp. took a 1% menu-price increase in March and expects to make a series of small pricing adjustments on selected items through the year. In its quarterly earnings call with analysts this morning, McDonald’s executives spoke more pointedly than before about the globalization of its menu. The chain is looking at importing to the U.S. [...]

[Updated: Burger King says it is revising but not abandoning its 20/20 design concept. According to a company spokesperson, "Burger King Corp. believes its global 20/20 restaurant image program is the future of the Burger King brand and the company has no plans to move away from this image. … In an effort to provide franchisees with various [...]

Back Yard Burgers moves its concept in several new directions with its first in-line restaurant, which has opened in a suburb of Nashville, where it is headquartered. Dubbed the Back Yard Burgers Hermitage Grill, the unit is its first without a drive-thru. That’s a major change for a brand that began as a double-drive-thru, no-dining-room concept, [...]

Burger 21, which opened this week in Tampa, Fla., might cause burger purists’ eyebrows to arch with skepticism because of its lineage. Yes, it was created and is owned by fondue-menu casual-dining chain The Melting Pot. But hang on because this is a burger joint whose menu looks to do burgers proud. It has ambition [...]

So the obvious question is how McDonald’s can report a 5.3% increase in third-quarter same-store sales when competitor Jack in the Box is down 9.4% for the latest quarter, Sonic is down 6.4%, Carl’s Jr. is down 7.4, Wendy’s is down 1.7% (Q2), and the National Restaurant Association’s Restaurant Performance Index has been flat for [...]

  The first South St. Burger Co. opened in Toronto in 2005; this week a 13th location, all in Canada, joined the fun. Although it’s one of several “better burger” concepts that have sprung up in recent years, chain President Jay Gould (right) says he believes South St.’s limited menu and emphasis on upscale toppings [...]