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Is bison poised to succeed lamb as the next hip, hot burger protein? Given The Counter’s decision this week to make bison a permanent build-your-own-burger option coupled with Red Robin Gourmet Burgers’ revelation that it is considering a new line of premium Kobe beef and perhaps bison burgers, the all-American protein seems positioned for appearances [...]

[8/18 update: See the commercial for the lamb burger McDonald's is airing in Australia here.] In line with its continuing marketing strategy that promotes local products and spotlights some of the farmers and ranchers it works with around the world, McDonald’s once again is working with the Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA) organization. The result [...]

Burger King next week will show that it, too, can create innovative, upscale burgers when it introduces the Lamb Flatbread burger as an LTO in its UK restaurants. As far as I can tell, it will be the first lamb burger from a major QSR chain. Fast casuals and upscale independents have offered lamb burgers [...]

Burger King is rethinking and revising its menu. Branded Cinnabon cinnamon rolls are now available in some markets (at $1.99 apiece or two for $3.29, three for $5.99); it has introduced the $5 Chef’s Choice and $1.99 BK Toppers burgers; and it has recently upgraded its fries and bacon. The bacon-and-oyster Hangtown Fry isn’t on [...]

As with gas, U.S. food prices are high unless you look at what the rest of the world pays. In Israel, McDonald’s has introduced two “Big America” half-pound-plus steak burgers priced at $9.25 (31.50 Israeli New Shekels), according to YnetNews.com. Want fries and a drink? The combo meal is $14.66 (49.90 Israeli New Shekels).  Ynet [...]

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. [...]

Officially, Lent begins next Wednesday. But for burger-chain menus, observance already is gearing up. Culver’s tomorrow brings back its Hand-Battered Northwoods Walleye sandwich. McDonald’s has a Double Fillet-O-Fish ready to go, Burger King will revive its Big Fish sandwich and Wendy’s has its Premium Fish Fillet and Sea-Salt Fries duo. Checkers has a 2-for-$3 deal [...]

[10/4 Update: Read about Boston Market's upgrades here.] Note: Email subscribers, please note that www.BurgerBusiness.com welcomes our inaugural advertiser, Red Gold Tomato Ketchup. We invite you to visit Red Gold’s site, add its fine product at your restaurant or table if you haven’t yet done so and thank Red Gold for making it possible for [...]

Challenge McDonald’s and it will hit back hard. That seems to be what’s happening in Germany, where Big Mac is protecting strong sales and marketplace leadership with a protein parade of inventive menu items. Burger King’s latest monologue  promotes Grilled Chicken Classic and Grilled Chicken Barbecue sandwiches, so McDonald’s has responded with something completely new [...]

I won’t quibble with any of Bon Appétit’s choices for its “Top 10 Best New Burger Spots.” All 10 look great, and DMK Burger Bar is heavenly. But eight of the 10 opened in 2009. This week we are halfway through 2010, so how can Umami Burger, which opened in February 2009, still be considered “new”?  Yes, Minetta Tavern’s [...]

Ξ More chicken is heading for summer menus: Hardee’s is expected to announce as early as today that it is expanding availability of the Hand-Breaded Chicken Tenders it already has added in selected markets. Smaller than the Chicken Breast Strips on its menu, the Chicken Tenders come in a variety of counts, and pricing varies [...]

[May 20 Update: As expected, Red Robin announced the new menu, in stores by 5/24. Announced two $6.99 LTOs—Big Melt Bacon Burger and Honey Mustard Chicken sandwich—coming June 14. Comp sales for Q1 were a respectable -2.3%, compared with -10.5% and -14.9% the previous two quarters.] Red Robin Gourmet Burgers will announce a new menu this [...]

[May 11: More fowl play as Whataburger adds Honey BBQ Chicken Strip Sandwich.] It’s National Burger Month but high beef prices threaten to ruin the party. Already this week, three burger-menu chains have added non-beef sandwiches. One is Carl’s Jr. , which introduced the Teriyaki Chicken Sandwich today. A variation of a teriyaki-style burger it [...]

[As forecast below, BK rolled out ribs on May 17. Read it here.] [May 3 Update: Country Pork sandwich has moved into select Chicago restaurants and Indianapolis. Oddly, radio ads describe it as a "pork fritter" on a bun.] Burger King and pork producers are old friends, primarily through a shared affection for bacon. Now [...]

Burgerville continues the evolution of its seasonal-menu program into a community involvement initiative with the introduction of the Crispy Onion & Spinach Turkey Burger. Strawberry milkshakes, smoothies and lemonade as well as a strawberry shortcake dessert also have joined the menu.  The Vancouver-Wash.-based chain last year began creating monthly limited-time menu items pegged to local, [...]