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In the U.S., McDonald’s “What We’re Made Of” food-quality campaign includes TV spots introducing its suppliers, such as potato grower Frank Martinez and cattle rancher Steve Foglesong. But in Australia McDonald’s is using a variety of high-tech tools to go even deeper with its food sourcing/quality message, allowing diners to track the ingredients in the [...]

Smashburger disproved the notion that a brand couldn’t be both local and national when it created special burgers for each of the markets or regions in which it operates. For example, in Costa Rica, where its first store opened on Dec. 1, Smashburger devised a burger topped with local favorites chorizo, grilled Turrialba cheese, refried [...]

[Update: In New Zealand,McDonald's adds a Moroccan Lamb Burger on Sept. 26.] Last month, McDonald’s introduced its Serious Lamb Burger to consumers in Australia. Now it’s going back to its beef roots: This week (9/26) the chain unveils a new Serious Angus Burger as a limited-time offering there, according to sources. This member of the [...]

This turned out to be another tough year not just for burger joints but for every restaurant that isn’t named McDonald’s. Consumers may be more easily reached thanks to the rise of social media, but they are no more easily persuaded, as NPD’s recent report of flat customer traffic in 2011 attests. And that helps [...]

The National Restaurant Association released its “What’s Hot in 2012” survey, compiling the opinions of nearly 1,800 members of the American Culinary Federation about what the food trends will be. Buying locally and serving children responsibly are at the top for next year. View the complete list here. The top 15 overall are: 1. Locally [...]

Pacific Northwest chain Burgerville’s latest seasonal specials are a ¼-lb. Chili Cheeseburger accompanied by Chili Cheese Waffle Fries that are just a nudge away from being that Canadian national favorite poutine. Technically, poutine is fries topped with cheese curds and brown gravy, and Burgerville’s dish lacks the curds, although it has Tillamook white Cheddar cheese. [...]

The hottest culinary trend is locally sourced meats and seafood, according to the National Restaurant Association’s “What’s Hot in 2011” chefs survey. Never one to shun a trend, McDonald’s is showing that burger chains as well as fine-dining restaurants can source locally.  The chain today introduced in Canada the Angus Third Pounder burger line that [...]

Continuing its global push to localize not just menus but also ingredient sourcing, McDonald’s next month will introduce a new mini burger in France made for the first time with French Charolais beef. Priced at €2 (about US$2.59), the mini burger LTO will be added to the “P’tits Plaisirs” (Little Pleasures) snack line on Feb. [...]

McDonald’s Egg McMuffin was created in 1972 by a California franchisee, Herb Peterson. Burgerville hopes its new breakfast burrito has the same success and longevity. Developed at the urging of Senen Garcia, a trained chef who now is general manager of Burgerville’s restaurant in Monmouth, Ore., Senen’s Breakfast Burrito is one of three limited-time options [...]

Burgers are back on Burgerville’s LTO list as the Pacific Northwest regional chain announces its latest season special. Beginning today (9/28), the Vancouver, Wash.-based chain offers an Echo Mountain Blue Burger (below) that’s topped with Echo Mountain Blue Cheese from Rogue Creamery in Central Point, Ore. It succeeds one of the chain’s most innovative limited-time [...]

Elevation Burger, based in Arlington, Va., stakes its claim to a share of the “better burger” category by offering a very limited menu of  freshly ground, 100% USDA-certified organic, 100% grass-fed, 100% free-range beef burgers and fresh-cut fries cooked in olive oil.  The basic, single-patty hamburger is about $3.59; the double-patty Elevation Burger is $6. [...]

McDonald’s this week invited Canadians to visit its Facebook page and vote for either the Big Mac or the Quarter Pounder with Cheese as their favorite sandwich. A pair of giant hot-air balloons—one for each sandwich– hovering over Landmark, Manitoba, give real-time  updates on the voting: whichever balloon is floating higher in the sky is [...]

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_QSDJpT0TX8When quick-service restaurant chains talk about the weather, it’s usually to claim stormy skies as a reason why sales declined. But a new McDonald’s commercial airing in the United Kingdom brings up the weather as a way to discuss the chain’s reliance on the products of local farmers. The commercial is the work of Leo [...]

Rare Bar & Grill is serving up a bit of history to honor National Hamburger Day. Today, customers at its new location in New York City’s Fashion 26 Wyndham hotel on West 26th Street can get the famous “Louis Lunch” burger or Rare’s signature cheeseburger with fries and a beer for $20.10. After that, Rare [...]

Can we all agree that there are three core components to a burger? The meat’s one; toppings are the second. And the third? The bun! Burgers’ skyrocketing popularity has brought us limitless variations on core components #1 and #2, but buns remain the poor relations of the burger family. Marginalized, ignored or scorned. R.F. O’Sullivan [...]