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This is Australia’s year to get McDonald’s promotions it’s previously been denied, apparently. It’s just finishing its first exposure to that McMarketing chestnut, the Monopoly game-piece promotion. No sooner will consumers find out who won the grand-prize Kia than will McDonald’s kick off one of its other global favorite sales-building tools, the America-themed menu. Sources [...]

Well, well. McDonald’s will begin selling bagged ground coffee under the McCafé brand at the majority its 1,400 restaurants in Canada beginning g Nov. 8. This comes just weeks after BurgerBusiness.com’s exclusive report that McDonald’s had trademarked its name for ground/whole-bean coffee. Our inquiry to McDonald’s was dismissed with, “We register a lot of trademarks. [...]

A consultant likely would have told Rivers Corbett and Ray Henry in 2010 that the fast-casual burger segment was already overloaded and they should look elsewhere. Opening a burger restaurant in January in Fredericton, New Brunswick, probably weren’t optimal choices on paper either. But Henry and Corbett believed in their concept, Relish Gourmet Burgers, bucked [...]

From the opening shot of a McDonald’s restaurant (followed by restaurant interiors), it’s clear who’s paying the bills for “The Originals,” a made-for-the web series now showing on Facebook and YouTube. Created for McDonald’s Canada (which promotes it via Twitter), the series follows two young guys, Jason and Bryce, who are preparing to pitch an [...]

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. [...]

Burger King has borrowed a page from McDonald’s menu-localization playbook by promoting a three-item line of Canadian favorite poutine. Classic Poutine–cheese curds and fries covered with gravy—already was  on the menu, but now BK takes the dish upscale.  Newly added Angry Poutine plays off Burger King’s Angry Whopper and adds jalapeños, onions and the chain’s [...]

 Dave Prokupek, chairman and CEO of Smashburger, says he expects a shakeout among fast-casual “better burger” concepts with two or three brands emerging as national players. Smashburger will be one of them, he says.      The Denver-based chain intends to be a global power, having announced its first two overseas development deals this month. One [...]

Although the new Dave’s Hot ‘n Juicy Cheeseburgers won’t be in Wendy’s restaurants nationwide until Oct. 3, the chain this week began online marketing for the line, including unveiling a new TV commercial for what may be its most important menu introduction in years. Wendy’s began testing the new 40% thicker burgers in Las Vegas [...]

 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 [...]

McDonald’s nostalgic 1955 Burger will come that much closer to a U.S. introduction when the burger joins the menu in the UK. According to Marketing magazine, that happens in the next few weeks.  There’s no “wow” ingredient to the 1955, which celebrates the year Ray Kroc opened his first McDonald’s in Des Plaines, Ill. As [...]

Was it a burger chain that spread the false accusation that Taco Bell’s ground beef isn’t 100% beef? I didn’t think so, but you have to wonder when you join the tongue-in-cheek fun that is “Burger Backlash” and its declaration that “Big Burger is now under the heat lamp of public scrutiny!” Developed by Taco [...]

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% [...]

Yum! Brands isn’t holding back on dressing up its A&W Restaurants unit for a possible sale. In addition to springing for TV advertising for a Steak Burger rollout, the chain is testing three Texas Toast Chicken sandwiches. The market test includes Honey Dijon Club, BLT and Buffalo chicken sandwiches, all on thick toast and dressed [...]

It’s Super Bowl Monday, when the game itself fades as we address the important question: “What was the best commercial?”  If you voted for the exuberant excess of the Kia Optima commercial (helicopter, spaceship, Mayans, Neptune rising etc.), keep in mind that it’s the work of El Segundo, Calif., agency David & Goliath. Who? That’s what many [...]

◙ Wendy’s/Arby’s Corp. executives have labeled 2011 “a transition year” as they “explore strategic alternatives” for Arby’s (i.e. try to find a buyer for it). But it’s clear the big picture includes continuing to revamp the Wendy’s menu with new wraps, burgers, chicken and more. The Fresh Wraps line of  tortilla wraps that Wendy’s tested [...]