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How do you convince diners to pay more for a higher-quality burger? The most persuasive menu term is also one of the least specific. Speaking at last week’s 2012 Protein Innovation Summit hosted by Meatingplace magazine, Technomic Executive Vice President Darren Tristano presented data on consumer attitudes to beef quality (not just burgers). According to [...]

Ever the contrarian, CKE Restaurants CEO Andy Puzder thumbed his nose at most burger-chain trends as he vowed to keep Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s selling indulgent burgers to “young, hungry guys.” Specialty coffees like McCafé offers or frappés like Burger King has added? Nah. Puzder said he’s not interested in the “more-variety approach.” Also not [...]

Zach Conine doesn’t. And he’s cool with charging $5 for fries, too. The VP-development for LEV Restaurant Group says the menu for its i♥burgers restaurant that it opened in December 2010 in the ultra toney The Shoppes at The Palazzo hotel/casino is not just fairly priced, it’s the least-expensive dining option in the  complex. LEV [...]

 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 [...]

[Update: As predicted Sunday, Hardee's introduced Charbroiled Turkey burgers on March 21. They join the menu at Carl's Jr. on March 23. See the TV commercial with Miss Turkey here.] ◙ McDonald’s is refining its premium-tier menu strategy with the introduction of a new line of “Special Editions” menu items in Ireland. First up is the [...]

When it created the “M Selections by McDonald’s” menu in Australia in 2009, the strategy was to set apart the chain’s premium-price items, including the Mighty Angus and Grand Angus burgers that had recently been introduced. As advertising explained, these menu items are “A little bit fancy.” Now Macca’s, as the chain is colloquially called [...]

[Update: As expected, the burger was unveiled on Jan. 10. Also updated with confirmed nutrition info.] Burger King will announce as early as tomorrow (Monday, Jan. 10) the much-anticipated introduction of the first stuffed burger on a national quick-service restaurant chain menu. With a name that is nearly as big a mouthful as the product, [...]

Despite scurrilous predictions the burger boom would run out of steam, it hasn’t. Five Guys, Elevation Burger, The Counter, Umami Burger, Smashburger, Shake Shack, Bobby’s Burger Palace and others weren’t on the map a few years ago but now they’re booming, opening outside their original markets and spreading.          There’s no reason to suspect this [...]

If all Hardee’s wants for Christmas is to be the first national quick-service burger chain to offer a turkey burger, it just might get its wish. In and around its St. Louis headquarters city, the chain is testing a three-item turkey burger line. The line starts with a $3.49 Turkey Thickburger (a ground-turkey patty with [...]

[1/28 Update: Wendy's plans to introduce the Dave's Hot 'n Juicy Cheeseburger nationally in the second half of 2011.][Update: Wendy's rolled out its Natural-Cut Fries with sea salt across the U.S. on 11/10. Details here.] Wendy’s hopes that what it’s testing in Vegas won’t just stay in Vegas. The chain this week auditions a bigger, [...]

Burger King has introduced a new “King’s Collection” of fancier foods (aïoli!) in New Zealand, thereby continuing a charming game of one-upmanship over burgers and condiments that it and McDonald’s have been playing down under. Marketed by the chain as “even better burgers with even better ingredients, like extra thick Angus beef, divine relishes & [...]

There are those who would have us believe that burgers are yesterday’s news. To them, I say, please visit ABC Kitchen, the stylish restaurant-within-a-showroom in New York City that Esquire magazine this week named 2010’s Best New Restaurant. Plunk down $21 and enjoy ABC Kitchen’s Akaushi Cheeseburger with herbed mayo and pickled jalapeños. There’s nothing [...]

Burgers are back on Burgerville’s LTO list as the Pacific Northwest regional chain announces its latest season special. Beginning today (9/28), the Vancouver, Wash.-based chain offers an Echo Mountain Blue Burger (below) that’s topped with Echo Mountain Blue Cheese from Rogue Creamery in Central Point, Ore. It succeeds one of the chain’s most innovative limited-time [...]

  The first South St. Burger Co. opened in Toronto in 2005; this week a 13th location, all in Canada, joined the fun. Although it’s one of several “better burger” concepts that have sprung up in recent years, chain President Jay Gould (right) says he believes South St.’s limited menu and emphasis on upscale toppings [...]