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Sonic Drive-In says it is shifting its media-buying strategy to give its brand—now operating in 43 states—a more national profile. And while “non-TV” media spending will be slashed to 7% of its budget, compared with 17% in 2012, the Oklahoma City-based chain says that represents primarily a minimizing of outdoor advertising not digital spending (although, [...]

Checkers/Rally’s tomorrow (9/8) unveils the third of three reimaged locations it plans in Columbus, Ohio. It’s one of 10 Ohio’s Rally’s locations that are being remodeled by year-end in a test of a new exterior design. Operating under both the Checkers and Rally’s brands, depending on market, the chain is the 12th largest U.S. burger [...]

Johnny Rockets franchisee Richard Riva has opened the first JR’s Burger Grill in Phoenix. Less a totally new concept than a reworking of a full-service Johnny Rockets to a quick-service format, the restaurant is offering a limited menu with burgers priced at $2.99. A Johnny Rockets spokesperson calls the concept “quick-service pricing with fast-casual quality.” [...]

 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 [...]

[June 1 Update: McGarryBowen wins Burger King's U.S. ad account. Read here.] The King is dead; long live the new Burger King. The No. 2 burger chain is changing its menu, its look, its marketing and its attitude, according to a 5/30 article by Elaine Walker in the Miami Herald. The creepy King character is [...]

[Updated: Burger King says it is revising but not abandoning its 20/20 design concept. According to a company spokesperson, "Burger King Corp. believes its global 20/20 restaurant image program is the future of the Burger King brand and the company has no plans to move away from this image. … In an effort to provide franchisees with various [...]

Back Yard Burgers moves its concept in several new directions with its first in-line restaurant, which has opened in a suburb of Nashville, where it is headquartered. Dubbed the Back Yard Burgers Hermitage Grill, the unit is its first without a drive-thru. That’s a major change for a brand that began as a double-drive-thru, no-dining-room concept, [...]

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 [...]

Here, some call it “Mickey D’s” or just “McD’s.” In Australia it’s “Macca’s” and in France it’s commonly “McDo.” But McDonald’s lately is choosing to position itself simply and stylishly as “M,” branding itself with a single letter that mimics its Golden Arches logo. The latest incarnation of the “M” persona is a new “Best [...]

Burger King unveiled its Whopper Bar prototype in March at Orlando’s Universal CityWalk as a sleek dining environment of the future. But, so far, the concept is functioning more practically as a menu testing ground. Last month, Burger King moved the Bourbon Whopper from the Whopper Bar menu to its stores across Canada. Now, Funnel Cake Sticks—a powdered-sugar-coated side [...]

Burger King dreams big and confidently. Chairman-CEO John Chidsey announced plans to redecorate the chain’s 12,000 locations worldwide, making them look more sleek, more modern and more like the BK Whopper Bar concept it has opened in Orlando; Das Einstein, Germany; and Singapore. Never known for understated style in advertising or decor, BK’s design of the [...]

► So…. Seems we were wrong about Hardee’s next menu addition. The new burger will be announced today and blogger WouldIBuyItAgain.com says his Hardee’s counter-worker source tipped that it will be a “Big Hardee” or similar version of sister-chain Carl’s Jr.’s “Big Carl.” Hold the mozzarella. ► But for something truly unexpected, consider the P’tit Plaisir Sauce [...]

Last month, BurgerBusiness reviewed “Burger Bar,” Hubert Keller’s new cookbook that collects recipes from his innovative Burger Bar restaurant in Mandalay Bay resort-casino in Las Vegas. His restaurants and his cookbook are generating so much industry buzz  that we called on the French-born chef to relate the story of his transformation from fine-dining master chef [...]

Phil Roberts has been creating restaurants that respond to how we live now for more than 30 years, so it isn’t surprising that his latest–Burger Jones, which opens in Minneapolis next week–is attuned to current economic conditions. “In these rough times, people still need pleasure, and you can offer that two-hour mini vacation away from [...]

What has been overlooked in all the hoopla over McDonald’s Corp.’s $100 million campaign to steal coffee drinkers from Starbucks is that this offensive is only the beginning of a battle that’s far bigger than lattes. McDonald’s target isn’t only coffee shops, it’s also 7-Eleven and other convenience stores. McDonald’s wants to be the dominant retail location for [...]