Fast Food

Lowdown

Someone has photographed McDonald’s food in 50 countries and the results are surprising

12-Jul-2024 By Stefan Chomka

If you’ve ever felt other countries are getting a better deal at the Golden Arches, then McAtlas is the book for you.

Wingers opens five new sites as expansion continues

05-Jul-2024 By Restaurant

Chicken wing brand Wingers has opened five new franchised store openings this year as part of its plans to have 20 stores by the end of 2024 and 50 by 2028.

McDonald's won't be rolling out the McPlant in the US

01-Jul-2024 By Restaurant

The future of the McPlant in the US looks doomed following unsuccessful tests of the plant-based burger by McDonald’s.

Wingstop named fastest growing UK restaurant group

28-Jun-2024 By Restaurant

Wingstop UK has been named as the fastest growing restaurant group in the UK by The Sunday Times 100 for the second year in a row.

Popeyes UK reaches 50 site milestone

21-Jun-2024 By James McAllister

Fast-growing fried chicken brand Popeyes will open its 50th UK site next month in Glasgow.

Plans approved to tighten restrictions on opening new hot food takeaways in Newcastle

19-Jun-2024 By James McAllister

The opening of new hot food takeaways will be banned across most of Newcastle in a bid to combat rising obesity levels in the city.

'Do you want bacon with your ice cream?' McDonald’s ends AI drive-thru trial in US after order mistakes

19-Jun-2024 By Restaurant

McDonald’s in the US is ending its AI drive-thru trial after of errors with customer orders, including bacon being added to ice cream, have gone viral.

Sides expands omnichannel presence with new Iceland range

18-Jun-2024 By James McAllister

Sides, the QSR fried chicken brand created by YouTube stars The Sidemen, is expanding its omnichannel presence with the launch of a new retail range in Iceland.

Burger & Sauce plots further expansion as it announces first Liverpool site

14-Jun-2024 By James McAllister

Midlands-based fast food chain Burger & Sauce is looking to reach 20 sites nationwide by the end of the year.

Fireaway launches new Express format

06-Jun-2024 By Shwetali Sapte

Pizza takeaway brand Fireaway has launched an Express outlet in partnership with forecourt operator Highway Stops Retail.

Supermac’s triumphs over McDonald’s in ‘Big Mac’ trademark battle in Europe

05-Jun-2024 By James McAllister

Irish fast food chain Supermac’s has triumphed against McDonald’s in a long-running dispute over the use of the ‘Big Mac’ trademark in Europe.

Consumers rein in takeaway and fast food spend

04-Jun-2024 By Hannah Currie

Consumers reined in spending on takeaways and fast food last month with the category recording its first decline since May 2020, according to a new Barclays report.

Carl's Jr. to enter UK market after signing agreement with Boparan

23-May-2024 By James McAllister

Californian burger brand Carl’s Jr. is coming to the UK after signing a new master license agreement with Boparan Restaurant Group (BRG).

Hank’s Dirty employees save Ipswich restaurant following group collapse

21-May-2024 By James McAllister

Employees of vegan fast food restaurant Hank’s Dirty in Ipswich have saved the site from closure after the wider group fell into bankruptcy.

I am Döner secures first site in Canada

10-May-2024 By James McAllister

I am Döner has secured its first site in Canada as it continues to push ahead with plans to expand internationally.

Popeyes sees annual sales pass £100m

29-Apr-2024 By James McAllister

Annual sales at Popeyes UK have passed £100m, according to CEO Tom Crowley, as the group’s estate nears 50 sites.

The Lowdown: McDonald’s ‘Best Burger’ campaign

19-Apr-2024 By James McAllister

The Golden Arches is marking its 50th year in the UK by making major changes to the preparation of its core beef burger range.

Wendy’s to open raft of new restaurants

09-Apr-2024 By Restaurant

US burger giant Wendy’s is continuing its push across the UK with the opening of a string of new restaurants this year.

McDonald's to buy back Israel franchise following boycotts

05-Apr-2024 By James McAllister

McDonald’s is to buy its 30-year-old Israel franchise from its franchisee in the country Alonyal.

Papa John’s confirms closure of 43 ‘underperforming’ sites

26-Mar-2024 By James McAllister

Papa John’s has confirmed it will close 43 ‘underperforming’ sites from across its UK estate after launching a review of the business at the start of the year.

McDonald’s hit by ‘technology outage’

15-Mar-2024 By James McAllister

McDonald’s has confirmed that a ‘technology outage’ that impacted its UK restaurants has been resolved.

Food to go market expected to outpace pre-pandemic value this year

04-Mar-2024 By Hannah Currie

The UK food to go market is expected to grow 3.5% to a value £23bn in 2024, outpacing its pre-pandemic value by 9.3%.

Burgerism lines up fourth permanent Manchester site

27-Feb-2024 By Restaurant

A Manchester-based burger chain that was recently crowned Takeaway of the Year is opening a fourth permanent site in the city.

The Vurger Co closes final restaurants as business ceases trading

22-Feb-2024 By James McAllister

Vegan fast-food restaurant group The Vurger Co has closed its final three restaurants less than a year after being bought out of administration.

Burger King ads banned for 'targeting children'

09-Feb-2024 By Hannah Currie

The Advertising Standards Association (ASA) has banned a number of Burger King UK adverts, which were deemed to be targeting young children.

Neat Burger changes name and broadens menu as it enters ‘new era’

08-Feb-2024 By James McAllister

Vegan QSR brand Neat Burger is to overhaul its concept, dropping the ‘Burger’ from its name and broadening its food offer as it looks to recover from recent financial challenges.

Generation next

Could putting meat on the menu save the vegan fast-food sector?

31-Jan-2024 By James McAllister

Plant-based QSR brands are increasingly struggling in a space once destined to be the next big thing. Now some are fighting back by putting meat on the menu.

Wingstop UK eyes 15 new sites in 2024

29-Jan-2024 By Restaurant

Fried chicken brand Wingstop UK has announced its biggest opening pipeline since launching in the UK in 2018.

Little Caesars Pizza plans ‘multiple new sites’ as it launches second UK location

15-Jan-2024 By James McAllister

US pizza brand Little Caesars has opened its second UK outpost in Top Valley, Nottingham, as it gears up for a ‘year of growth’.

TDR Capital takes controlling stake in Popeyes UK

11-Jan-2024 By Restaurant

TDR Capital has increased its shareholding in Popeyes UK, the fast-growing fried chicken brand.

Wingers signs 30 site development deal

18-Dec-2023 By Hannah Currie

Buttermilk fried chicken concept Wingers has signed a 30 site development deal for West London and the Thames Valley.

Westfield Stratford City to become home to the largest Wingstop in the UK

08-Dec-2023 By Restaurant

Wingstop UK is to open its largest site yet at Westfield Stratford City in London in early 2024.

The Lowdown: CosMc’s

08-Dec-2023 By Restaurant

McDonald’s is launching a spin-off brand that appears to have Starbucks and its ilk in its cross-hairs.

KFC to acquire 218 restaurants from EG Group

06-Dec-2023 By James McAllister

KFC is to acquire more than 200 restaurants from EG Group, its largest franchisee in the UK and Ireland.

Burger King appoints Lance Batchelor as new chair

27-Nov-2023 By James McAllister

Burger King UK has announced that Lance Batchelor will join the group's board and be appointed chair from 1 December 2023.

KFC launches partnership with Uber Direct to boost in-house delivery channel

23-Nov-2023 By James McAllister

KFC UK & Ireland has launched an exclusive partnership with Uber Direct in order to further enhance its own delivery channel.

Subway set to introduce self-order kiosks into UK sites

20-Nov-2023 By James McAllister

Subway is to introduce self-order kiosks into UK sites for the first time as it looks to enhance its digital experience.

Which Wich makes another play for UK expansion

20-Nov-2023 By James McAllister

US-founded sandwich chain Which Wich is making another play for expansion across the UK through a newly launched sub-franchising model.

Wingstop to open two more Scottish restaurants

13-Nov-2023 By Restaurant

Chicken wing brand Wingstop UK is opening two more sites in Scotland by the end of the year to bring its total to three restaurants in the country.

McDonald's UK boss summoned to Parliament over allegations of ‘toxic’ workplace culture

10-Nov-2023 By James McAllister

McDonald’s UK CEO Alistair Macrow is to face questions from MPs amid growing allegations of a ‘toxic work environment’ in its UK restaurants.

Miss Millie’s to open in Newquay as part of plans to 'become nationally recognised'

07-Nov-2023 By Restaurant

A fried chicken restaurant brand named after KFC founder Colonel Sanders' daughter will open its latest store in Newquay this month.

Glenn Edwards departs Leon

02-Nov-2023 By Finn Scott-Delany

Leon managing director Glenn Edwards is stepping down from his role.

KFC ends Deliveroo partnership to focus on 'better commercials' with other aggregators

26-Oct-2023 By James McAllister

KFC has ended its partnership with Deliveroo to focus its efforts on other delivery channels, including its own.

Burger King UK to open 60 restaurants over the next two years

13-Oct-2023 By Restaurant

Burger King UK says it intends to open at least 60 restaurants over the next two years following an injection of funding.

McDonald’s and Wendy’s triumph in US lawsuit over burger size

03-Oct-2023 By James McAllister

McDonald’s and Wendy’s have defeated a New York lawsuit that accused them of misleading diners over the size of their burgers in a case that could potentially have ramifications for similar trials in the US.

US-based Korean fried chicken brand Bonchon looks to take flight in UK

27-Sep-2023 By James McAllister

US-based Korean fried chicken chain Bonchon has partnered with property adviser Christie & Co to bring its fast-expanding concept to the UK.

Flower Burger quietly exits UK market

25-Sep-2023 By James McAllister

Milan-based vegan burger chain Flower Burger has quietly exited the UK market little more than two years after launching its first London site.

Chick-fil-A plots UK return

14-Sep-2023 By Restaurant

US fast food chain Chick-fil-A has announced it is planning to relaunch in the UK in early 2025 and expand to five sites within the first two years.

Dunkin’ tees up London flagship amid aim to double UK estate in two years

11-Sep-2023 By James McAllister

Coffee and donut chain Dunkin’ will open a new flagship store in London later this month under plans to double its UK estate over the next two years.

The Lowdown: Burger King’s Whopper lawsuit

08-Sep-2023 By James McAllister

Burger King is facing a lawsuit from customers in the US who allege it makes its Whopper burger appear larger on its menus than it is in reality.