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McDonald’s Corp. releases Q1 2013 sales results on Friday and the numbers aren’t expected to be pretty. Or positive. A 1.5% decrease in global comp sales for February after a 1.9% decline in January have fairly well sealed the deal on the quarter. There also are signals that consumer confidence and spending are still fragile [...]

For decades a burger and fries have been the fast-food paradigm but data compiled for BurgerBusiness.com by researcher Mintel show that that’s no longer valid. Chicken sandwiches have surpassed beef burgers in number on QSR menus. The shift actually took place in 2010 when beef prices spiked. But rather than being a short-term reaction, the [...]

Burger King’s Spring Menu for 2013 explodes in literally a dozen directions like fireworks. As BurgerBusiness.com tipped last week, new menu items include a Chipotle Whopper and Donut Holes. But this menu flies all over the board: there are a stuffed beef burger, regular beef burger, turkey and chicken sandwiches plus a chicken wrap. It [...]

Last August, McDonald’s introduced the Chicken Box in Germany, offering a customizable, mix-and-match pack of Chicken McNuggets, Chicken McBites and Chicken Sticks. This site has since predicted that boxed multi-person meals with burgers would finally come to the U.S. in 2013, and we didn’t have to wait long to see it. Just in time for [...]

Sonic Drive-In fills a competitive gap in its menu with the introduction of a new line of Premium Chicken sandwiches. The feature sandwiches are Crispy or Grilled Asiago Caesar Chicken sandwiches that feature white-meat chicken, tomato, lettuce, a signature Caesar dressing and sliced Asiago cheese on warm, whole-grain ciabatta buns. Less-dressed-up Crispy Chicken and Grilled [...]

It’s all about market share, says McDonald’s CEO Don Thompson, and the chain plans to improve share by emphasizing the “entry level” Dollar Menu, Daily Double and Bacon McDouble burgers while encouraging trade-up to premium-price items such as its new pair of CBO (Cheddar Bacon Onion) Angus and chicken sandwiches. Thompson promised that the CBO [...]

Continuing its strategy of rebuilding its menu with waves of new items rather than with one LTO at a time, Burger King is readying Phase II of its new menu. Where the Phase I Summer Menu, introduced in June, was about beef, pork and BBQ flavors, the next wave—which should go national by or shortly [...]

When McDonald’s introduced Chicken McNuggets in 1983, a serving was five or six. That worked for a long time, but now as QSRs race to offer more or better chicken snacks, a serving is not enough. McDonald’s France came up with the Chicken Box, with six McNuggets , three chicken wings and three chicken strips. [...]

[Updated with McDonald's Corp. comment] With quick-service restaurant competition heavily dependent on the buzz and interest generated by new products, both McDonald’s and Burger King are auditioning new limited-time menu stars. Getting a tryout at McDonald’s is a three-item line of McWraps, while Burger King is looking at a new value-priced item, the $1 BK [...]

The “mini” trend seemed to have played itself out last year when BK Burger Minis came and went at Burger King, but the increasing popularity of snack items—especially chicken snack foods such as Chicken McBites—is making small big time again. Apparently not satisfied with the success of the McBites, McDonald’s is again testing the popularity [...]

Higher food prices seem a certain result of the drought that has parched about one-third of the U.S. How high prices might go, which proteins will see the sharpest gains and when operators and consumers will feel the impact are the key questions, and there are disagreements and conflicting forecasts. Should burger-concept operators be concerned, [...]

KFC is fighting back against burger chains’ continuing encroachment into its chicken territory. This week the chicken-category leader introduces KFC Original Recipe Bites, an answer to McDonald’s addition of Chicken McBites in January (and the Spicy Chicken McBites currently being promoted) and a shot across the bow of burger chains, warning that it intends to [...]

McDonald’s results for Q1, ended March 31, embody what’s good and bad about operating in 119 countries. CFO Peter Bensen said its multinational power allows it to be “leveraging our size and strength in ways others cannot match.” Being global also means that the chain knew Chicken McBites would sell in the U.S. because the [...]

Burger King hopes to grab a bigger share of the growing chicken-snack category with the introductions of Chicken Strips and Crispy Chicken Snack Wraps. Crispy Chicken Snack Wraps, available with Honey Mustard or Ranch sauce, are now moving into selected markets. They will be included on Burger King’s expanded $1 Value Menu where all items [...]

Urban planner/architect Daniel Burnham’s mantra was “Make no small plans” and that philosophy ruled Wendy’s annual Investor Day event on Monday, an upbeat revival meeting for Wall Streeters that made Burnham’s plan for developing Chicago look timid. Wendy’s sees a path to its future, and its one that includes a new, secretive, code-named ad campaign [...]