Nation's Restaurant News On the Go Newsletter #16
Nation's Restaurant News
The #1 source of news and business intelligence for restaurant and foodservice industry professionals
A mixed bag of restaurant news
Hey readers,
Managing editor Leigh Anne Zinsmeister here. The news this week was genuinely a mixed bag of fun (KFC is bringing back one of its most controversial menu items of all time), sad (Corner Bakery Café declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy), and mind-boggling (the NRA predicted that foodservice sales could come close to $1 trillion in 2023, although adjusted for inflation, that’s still below pre-pandemic levels).
One of the most intriguing stories to me, though, had to do with a little-known holiday: Employee Appreciation Day. We all know how hard frontline restaurant workers have hustled over the past few years, so Noodles & Company offered all of them — not just their own — a free bowl of noodles for the occasion. It’s great to see companies acknowledging and celebrating the hard work that goes into keeping this industry running at all levels.
Noodles & Company to offer free noodles to any restaurant worker March 2
Noodles & Company is celebrating Employee Appreciation Day, March 3, a day early by offering all restaurant workers, not just their own, a free bowl of noodles on March 2.
Corner Bakery Café declares Chapter 11 bankruptcy
The Dallas-based fast-casual bakery-café chain, Corner Bakery Café, has declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy with estimated assets and liabilities both between $10 million and $50 million, according to documents filed in the Delaware Bankruptcy Court on Feb. 22.
KFC is bringing back the Double Down
You didn’t think KFC was going to completely abandon its over-the-top disposition in favor of products like wraps, did you?
The company that replaced a sandwich bun with two pieces of fried chicken is at it again, bringing back that very innovation, known as the Double Down, to the U.S. market for the first time in nine years. The offering features two Extra Crispy filets, two slices of cheese, two slices of hickory-smoked bacon and either the Colonel’s real mayo or spicy sauce. It is available nationwide for four weeks only beginning March 6. Pricing starts at $8.99 but varies by location. Combo meals with the Double Down start at $11.99.
Foodservice sales to hit $997 billion in 2023, National Restaurant Association forecasts
Foodservice industry sales will reach $997 billion in 2023, driven in part by higher menu prices and continued pent-up demand, the National Restaurant Association forecasts.
In its annual “2023 State of the Restaurant Industry” report released today, the association expected sales to increase $60 billion over the $937 billion last year, which had exceeded the association forecast of $898 billion.
CREATE is Coming to LA
Join Nation’s Restaurant News at the CREATE Road Show in Los Angeles on March 20, for an evening filled with great conversation, cocktails and more. We'll be discussing how emerging restaurants can tap into opportunity for growth and innovation with our panel of industry experts. This event is exclusively for restaurant operators.
PODCAST: Tapping into the potential of the healthy eating category featuring Darden Coors, the CEO of Salad Collective
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1yAlways my favorite read ! And has been for years.