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Starbucks is currently facing simultaneous pressure from labor organizations and investors. SOC Investment Group has submitted a shareholder proposal to separate the CEO and chairman roles; Starbucks Workers United has launched a new round of consumer boycotts, urging the company to reach a collective bargaining agreement promptly. Previous rounds of pressure and strikes have not led to a final agreement, and consumer boycotts may affect the pace of the company's multi-year transformation plan.
Domino's launched its 'Pizza Can't. The Domino Can' advertising campaign on Monday to promote its new product, The Domino, a Detroit-style rectangular personal pizza. The product aims to meet consumers' personalization needs and expand into new dining occasions and scenarios. The campaign includes a 60-second main ad and multiple spin-off shorts, set to air during the 2026 NFL International Season opener (Netflix, September 10) and the Emmy Awards ceremony (September 14). Meanwhile, Domino's is running the 'Is the Domino Worthy?' promotion, where consumers who purchase specified fast-food items and upload their receipts can receive a free Domino redemption code, totaling $1 million worth of product given away.
The U.S. QSR market is expected to reach $492 billion by 2026, but industry growth is shifting from traffic-driven to price-driven. Somia Farid Silber, CEO of Edible Brands, writes that the single-brand replication model is no longer suitable for market changes. Future restaurant growth will depend on operators' ability to build and manage multi-brand portfolios, emphasizing the importance of post-acquisition rebuilding, shared service boundaries, and disciplined expansion.
Data from the Bank of America Institute indicates that restaurant traffic grew 1.1% year-over-year in July, with spending up 3.3%, driven mainly by lower-income groups and Gen Z. Despite macroeconomic uncertainties, slowing menu inflation and wage growth have boosted the purchasing power of younger consumers.
Starbucks released a new ad for the return of its pumpkin latte, featuring Martha Stewart and Belmont Cameli, cleverly addressing the 'mediocre' label. The ad sparked heated discussions on social platforms, while also being paired with TV commercials and user-generated content to strengthen the brand's association with autumn culture.
The latest report from the National Restaurant Association reveals that Gen Z and millennials are becoming the main drivers of 'drinks-only' restaurant consumption. Data shows that 50% of Gen Z and 47% of millennials make at least one drinks-only purchase per week, with this behavior highly concentrated during lunch and afternoon hours. The report also notes that while brands are betting on innovative drinks like dirty sodas, consumers show the strongest demand for diversity in the coffee category.
Murphy USA announced on Thursday that it will pilot an automated food platform developed by Automated Retail Technologies at select large stores, initially offering White Castle food. Customers can order via touchscreen and receive their food in about two minutes. This initiative aims to test demand for freshly prepared convenience food in compact spaces, but the company did not disclose the number of specific stores.
Ghost kitchens have not completely left the stage. Pressed Juicery and Chick-fil-A have recently partnered with CloudKitchens, with the former using this to expand its consumer packaged goods business and the latter supplementing service coverage in high-delivery-demand areas. Executives from both brands stated that this model can still generate profits under specific market conditions and helps reduce store opening costs while improving fulfillment efficiency.
Papa John's announced the completion of the transfer of 28 company-owned restaurants in the Orlando area, with the buyer being two companies owned by franchisee Wade Oney. After the transaction, Oney owns more than 120 Papa John's stores. The company plans to continue promoting franchising, aiming to reduce the proportion of North American company-owned stores to a mid-single-digit percentage.
Buffalo Wild Wings announced on Tuesday the appointment of Ahmed Awadallah as Chief Operating Officer. Awadallah previously served as Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer of Espresso House Group, a European coffee chain under JAB Holdings, for about a year. He worked at Yum Brands for over 14 years, rising to Chief Operating and Customer Officer of Pizza Hut Europe. Industry analysts suggest that this appointment may signal the brand's intention to strengthen international expansion or optimize store experiences.