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Revised menus are as sure a sign of fall as back-to-school ads and a fresh batch of bad TV programs. Here are a few new items that have  been added just this week (so far): Ξ Sticking with its previously announced plans, Sonic has launched its Loaded Burgers line (watch commercial at left) intended to [...]

[Update: The Jalapeno & Cheddar BK Stuffed Steakhouse was rolled out nationally on Jan. 10, 2011. See story here.] Burger King CEO John Chidsey last week told analysts that although sales were down for  the fourth quarter and full-fiscal year, the chain has learned a valuable lesson. “Consumers are willing to pay higher price points [...]

The four-patty NY Pizza Burger is available only at Burger King’s new Whopper Bar location in New York City, but the chain appears serious about exploring multi-patty burgers as sales builders. In Austria, the chain offers the X-tra Long Chili Cheese (left) with three patties lined up horizontally on a long sesame-seed bun. On top [...]

Steve Easterbrook, who joined McDonald’s Corp. in 1993 after a career as a PricewaterhouseCoopers accountant, was today named to the new position of Executive Vice President and Global Chief Brand Officer. Overseeing marketing, menu innovation and consumers insights, he takes on responsibilities previously held by Mary Dillon, who resigned as global chief marketing officer in [...]

[Update: Jack in the Box introduced the Pastrami Grilled Sandwich on Aug. 30.] Ξ Watch for Jack in the Box this week to introduce the new extension of its Grilled Sandwich line that the chain said it was readying in its talk with analysts earlier this month. Is it the Quesadilla Grillers tested last year? [...]

Burger King opened the New York City branch of its Whopper Bar concept with a suitably ostentatious and odd signature menu item.  Sited near Times Square, the seventh location of the fast-casual flanker brand plans to unveil a NY Pizza Burger: four Whopper burger patties with pizza toppings such as pepperoni and mozzarella arranged on [...]

[Update: The Board passed the ordinanace by an 8-3 vote. Mayor Gavin Newsom vowed to veto it. Details here.] This is why we’re fat? Toys? Really?  The San Francisco Board of Supervisors this week proposed a new law that would allow children to eat anything they want…but deny them a toy “incentive” if they eat [...]

McDonald’s today introduced a new premium-price burger at its restaurants in Ontario, Canada, and in so doing redefined quick-service restaurants’ definition of “premium.” The new Smokehouse Deluxe burger tops the $5 price ceiling above which QSRs previously have feared to venture. Pricing varies but a check of outlets around Ontario found the sandwich à la carte [...]

Ξ Burger King is testing consumer response to the idea of rotating low-price specials through the week. In a variation of the daily King Deals it has offered in Canada, the chain in select U.S. markets is offering $1.69 sandwich specials on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. In southern Wisconsin that means original Chicken Sandwiches are [...]

Jack in the Box will add another item to its Grilled Sandwich line this month as it shifts sales-resuscitation efforts to dinner from breakfast. Chairman-CEO Linda Lang told analysts this week that it will make “noticeable quality improvements to some of our signature products” as it continues to battle weak sales and falling check average. [...]

In March, BurgerBusiness.com reported that Jack in the Box was testing Breakfast Pita Pocket sandwiches in line with its commitment to remake its morning menu. Four months later, the chain has decided the product has passed its test (market) and is ready for a call-up to big league QSR menu competition. Priced at $2.69 (up [...]

Ξ The Big Melt Bacon Burger’s time on Red Robin’s menu is up. The new promotion is for the chain’s annual Kids Cook-Off promotion for children ages 6 to 12. The contest ends on September 12; the winning burger recipe makes a menu appearance nationwide. Ξ Burger 21 is the name of the burger concept that the [...]