Category: Foodservice

The Wendy’s Co. has named John Min as the company’s chief legal officer, succeeding E.J. Wunsch in the position, the company said Monday.

The Dublin, Ohio-based, quick-service burger company also announced the promotion of Mary Greenlee to senior vice president of U.S. operations.

Related: Wendy’s signs development deals for Republic of Ireland, Romania

“These appointments represent the continued evolution of the company’s leadership structure to drive accountability and accelerate growth,” the company said in a statement.

Min will report to Kirk Tanner, Wendy’s president and CEO, and succeeds Wunsch, who was named Wendy’s president in June. Greenlee will report to Abigail Pringle, who serves as Wendy’s president for the U.S.

“I’m pleased to welcome John and Mary to the Wendy’s team,” Tanner said in a statement. “John’s proven track record of managing complex commercial transactions, his extensive background in legal strategy and corporate governance, and his unique global experience will be invaluable as we look to further solidify our development plans.

“Mary brings significant experience managing franchise relationships, generating significant market expansion, and driving innovation from her career in the QSR industry, which align perfectly with our growth pillars,” Tanner said.

Min most recently served as senior vice president, chief legal officer and secretary of Kellanova following the separation of Kellogg Co. into two companies. Min will oversee Wendy’s global legal department, guiding Wendy’s legal strategy and operations as well as managing global risk and compliance functions.

Greenlee will oversee the performance of Wendy’s company and franchise operations to support the brand’s strategic growth initiatives, including continuing to drive the restaurant economic model and building out the company’s U.S. footprint.

“This is an exciting opportunity to join an iconic brand,” Min said in a statement.

Wendy’s has more than 7,000 restaurants worldwide.

Contact Ron Ruggless at [email protected]

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Pizza and Pepsi are a classic combination, but the beverage giant is taking things a step further with a new campaign that ensures every delivery arrives with its perfect partner.

“Pepsi Chase Cars,” launched today, features branded vehicles playfully chasing down pizza delivery cars across Los Angeles. The lighthearted stunt underscores Pepsi’s message that pizza tastes better with the cola classic, according to a press release.

“We’re more committed than ever to proving that food — especially America’s favorite, pizza, tastes Better With Pepsi. We love pizza and Pepsi together so much that we unleashed a fleet of ridiculously overpowered ‘Pepsi Chase Cars’ to make sure that no pizza is eaten without a Pepsi chaser,” said Jenny Danzi, head of brand marketing – Pepsi, said in the press release. “When you’re eating pizza, you deserve to enjoy it to its full potential, and that’s why we’re offering tens of thousands of free pizzas to prove that Pepsi, with its citrusy sweetness and carbonation, perfectly complements the deliciousness that is pizza. If your bites aren’t chased by sips of Pepsi, you’re leaving taste on the table.”

To incentivize the ideal pairing, Pepsi is partnering with DoorDash to offer tens of thousands of free pizzas to customers who order Pepsi products alongside their pizza.

Starting tomorrow, September 13th, pizza lovers who purchase a two liter or 20-ounce bottle of Pepsi, Pepsi Zero Sugar, Diet Pepsi or Pepsi Wild Cherry can redeem a free pizza (any size, any toppings) from participating chains:

• Little Caesars — With minimum order amount of $30 including a two liter or 20-ounce bottle of Pepsi.
• Papa Johns — With minimum order amount of $40 including two liter or 20-ounce bottle of Pepsi.
• Pizza Hut — With minimum order amount of $40 including a two liter or 20-ounce bottle of Pepsi.

The free pizza offer is only valid through DoorDash from 4 to 10 p.m. ET on Sept. 13th, or while supplies last.

Noodles & Co. guests will receive a free kids’ meal by purchasing any regular entree for a limited time. They may redeem the free kids’ meal offer in restaurants, through the Noodles app or online at Noodles.com, using the code KIDSEATFREE.

Kids menu items include:

• Noodles’ famous kids Wisconsin Mac & Cheese.
• Spaghetti & Meatballs.
• Buttered Noodles or kids Grilled Chicken Breast with Marinara.

The kids’ meal also includes the choice of two sides, including applesauce, a kid’s crispy (marshmallows and melted butter) or steamed broccoli and a drink.

“Fall is always a busy time for families, and we’re delighted to show our appreciation to our loyal guests by offering free kids’ meals every day of the week,” Drew Madsen, CEO of Noodles & Co., said in a company press release. “Our variety of freshly prepared, craveable comfort food is now an even better value when families choose Noodles to nourish their loved ones.”

After experiencing a rare same-store sales decline and erosion of lower-income consumer traffic earlier this year, McDonald’s pulled a $5 Meal Deal from its playbook and offered it nationwide in late June. The promotion generated initial traffic and sales lifts and so the chain continued the deal through August.

The brand’s momentum continued as well – according to Numerator, 70% of McDonald’s customers said they ate at the chain in part because of the deal, while 58% said they visited McDonald’s over other quick-service chains because of the deal. 

Related: The value environment is providing some momentum for restaurants

The chain likes what it sees so much, it’s extending the $5 Meal Deal even longer, today announcing that a majority of its domestic markets will offer the promotion into December.

“This summer, tens of millions of fans went to their local McDonald’s to enjoy our $5 Meal Deal, and it was so great to welcome them,” U.S. president Joe Erlinger said in a statement. “Together with our franchisees, we’re committed to keeping our prices as affordable as possible, which is why we’re doubling down with even more ways to save. Whether you’re stopping by for breakfast, lunch, dinner or a late-night snack, we want everyone to find the food they love at a price that hits the spot. The extension of the $5 Meal Deal, and the other offerings we’re announcing for our fall lineup, are just a few of the ways we’re working hard to offer great meals at a fair price.”

Those “other offerings” include:

• 50-cent Double Cheeseburgers on National Cheeseburger Day, Sept. 18
• $2 McCrispy chicken sandwich on National Fried Chicken Sandwich Day, Nov. 9
• $1 10-piece Chicken McNuggets between Nov. 4 and Dec. 2, valid once a week through the app only.
• Free Fries Fridays – a free medium order of fries with any $1 minimum purchase. The company said this offer has yielded more than 20 million redemptions so far this year and will continue every Friday through the end of 2024.

McDonald’s notes that local franchisees are also offering their own deals, including a Southern California promotion featuring two for $3.99 choice of a Chicken or Sausage McGriddle, Sausage Biscuit, or any-sized iced coffee, or Dallas’ $5 20-piece McNuggets.

This promotional playbook has perked up some analysts. In a note released earlier this week, Evercore ISI analyst David Palmer said the chain’s sales trends have turned positive.

“As we look to 4Q, we believe that McDonald’s value menu and incremental product news with advertising investments will lead to continued market share gains. We believe McDonald’s system is more unified than it was just a few months ago with service metrics improving alongside marketing and value,” he wrote.

Additionally, Jefferies analysts project McDonald’s return to positive same-store sales by the fourth quarter.

“We think a greater focus on value (marketing) is starting to work more meaningfully and drive traffic sooner than expected,” Jefferies wrote in a note this week. McDonald’s marketing prowess, the firm added, combined with value-oriented promotions and improvements in food quality and delivery, positions the company well in a competitive and promotional environment.

McDonald’s $5 Meal Deal extension into December will likely pressure other quick-service chains to maintain some type of competitive promotion as well, though few are as equipped to absorb potential margin pressures.

Contact Alicia Kelso at [email protected]

Marco’s Pizza has opened a location in Kuna, Idaho, according to a press release.

The Kuna location joins Marco’s fleets ofits new store design launched this summer. The design has a refreshed aesthetic with a modern look, a pick-up door or window in some locations, QR code/ mobile store access in-store, and a welcoming guest waiting area for carry-out customers.

“We’re incredibly thrilled to expand our Marcos Pizza family to Kuna,” Gerardo Flores, CDO of Marco’s Pizza, said in the press release. “This new location marks the fourth corporate location to open in the greater Boise market, representing a significant milestone in our growth. We’re eager to share our delicious signature pizzas with the people of Kuna and look forward to getting involved in community.”

Marco’s Pizza is headquartered in Toledo, Ohio.

Big Chicken is bringing a taste of family tradition to its restaurants with the launch of the exclusive “O’Neal Family Secret Menu,” available only through Bite’s self-service kiosks. The menu features special customizations inspired by Shaquille O’Neal’s favorite dishes, like his mother’s “Lucille’s Sunday Dinner Combo.”

“I started Big Chicken to share the love and laughter that my family felt from coming together with my mom in the kitchen,” said O’Neal in a press release. “Now, we’re inviting everyone at Big Chicken to share in that experience with the ‘O’Neal Family Secret Menu.'”

Guests can explore the secret menu themselves by following an interactive experience on the Bite kiosk, adding a playful twist to the ordering process.

“We believe technology can play an important role in elevating the guest experience,” Brandon Barton, CEO at Bite, said in the release. “This unique collaboration is evident of that — serving as a digital point of entry to the O’Neal Family Secret Menu, a collection of his favorite menu items from his own family members.”

The hidden menu will feature rotating favorites, offering guests a chance to try new items inspired by the O’Neal family.

Papa Johns International Inc. announced Monday that the company has hired former Wendy’s chief information officer, Kevin Vasconi, as the Atlanta’s-based pizza chain’s new chief digital and technology officer. The announcement comes a month after Papa Johns hired former Wendy’s CEO Todd Penegor as CEO, succeeding Rob Lynch, who left the company earlier this year to head Shake Shack Inc.

Vasconi worked for Wendy’s for four years, where he led the company’s transformation and was able to triple its ecommerce business in three years and leverage technology to build Wendy’s loyalty program. Besides serving as chief information officer for the brand, Vasconi was also an executive advisor to the CEO until April 2024.

Related: Papa Johns renews exclusive partnership with PepsiCo for another decade

“Kevin and I worked together at The Wendy’s Co. where I experienced first-hand his ability to lead technology innovation that delivered significant impact for our customers, team members and franchisees,” Penegor, Papa Johns president and CEO said in a statement. “His experience spans a number of industries, though his leadership in QSR, in particular, has been recognized in the industry and has served as an inspiration for other peers in our category. I look forward to Kevin’s partnership across our leadership team to build on the success Papa Johns has had in the digital space, while also leveraging technology to develop even better platforms, partnerships and systems to enable us to build for the future.”

Prior to working for Wendy’s, Vasconi worked at Domino’s Pizza for eight years as executive vice president and chief information officer, where he was in charge of building domestic and international eccomerce business.

Related: Taco Bell’s ‘retirement community’, Papa Johns turns to digital loyalty, Noodles & Company may close restaurants

In his new role, Vasconi will be responsible for “guiding the development and execution of Papa Johns long-term strategy across the entire digital and technology ecosystem,” which will include both customer and restaurant-facing technology like data analytics, enterprise technology, information security, and scaling capabilities for the global franchising system.

“I am excited to join the talented team at Papa Johns and lead our technology strategy as we look to create great experiences for our customers and team members around the globe,” Vasconi said in a statement. “Papa Johns is a brand I’ve admired given its continued innovation in the technology space. With the digital space in QSR becoming more competitive than ever, there’s both great challenge and opportunity ahead.”

Ravi Thanawala, who served as interim CEO while the company looked to replace Lynch, will return to his position of chief financial officer while also adding the role of executive vice president, international.

Additionally, Joe Sieve, who previously served as Papa Johns’ chief development and operations officer, will have an expanded role of chief restaurant and global development officer.

Contact Joanna at [email protected]