Dear Reader,Our weekly newsletter covers noteworthy and curious news from the international hospitality business. Find out what we've discovered about McDonald's profit falls, Dunkin’ Brands new strategy officer and robots in restaurants. Also, take a look at our research about why COVID-19 has boosted consumers’ desire for good quality products.
Enjoy reading!
Your foodservice Bites team
Free Digital Talk:Healthy, clean, honest: 4.400 sqm new community market in Berlin
ECE and Mercato Metropolitano talking with foodservice magazine about food markets, new countries, new concepts and the "new normal" after COVID-19.
Date: 26 August 2020
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Editor's note: On stage in Zurich:
Walter Seib, CEO HMSHost Int./The Netherlands
Panel of LeadersLessons From Challenge
• Answers to Key Questions
• Looking Past the Crisis
Walter Seib is CEO
HMSHost International, which covers Northern Europe, Middle East & Asia Pacific. Operating in 19 countries, mainly at airports. Since January 2020 is chairman of the Food Service Institute Netherlands (independent knowledge platform).
Don't miss out on the 21st European Foodservice Summit – 24 & 25 September 2020.
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Weekly Research Bite
COVID-19 has boosted consumers’ desire for good quality products The quality of products and the variety of foods to choose from have been growing drivers for consumers across all of the five large Western European countries throughout the past decade. For the year ending February 2020 – so right before the pandemic – this was the key reason to decide which restaurant to pick for 35% of all transactions and was therefore more important than Location, Price, Promotion or Atmosphere. And the outbreak of COVID-19 has boosted consumers’ desire for good quality products even more. During March to May 2020 ir reached a new all-time high at 39%.
www.npdgroup.com
Brands
McDonald's profit falls 68%
Quarterly profits at McDonald’s sunk to their lowest level in 13 years as the pandemic forced the closure of thousands of its restaurants but the fast food group said business was picking up with revenues in the US approaching normal levels.
(Approx. reading time: 3 min.)
www.financialtimes.com
Papa John’s commits to hiring 10,000 more employeesThe quick-service pizza chain looks to add drivers, pizzamakers, customer-service representatives as delivery growth continues.
(Approx. reading time: 2 min.)
www.nrn.com Management
Why fast-food-operator expands during corona
Neal Aronson has spent the past decade buying iconic brands like Arby’s, Buffalo Wild Wings and Jimmy John’s. But Covid-19 is terrible for restaurants. His solution? Buy more. (
Approx. reading time: 7 min.)
www.forbes.com
Dunkin’ Brands names new strategy officerDunkin’ Brands named Philip Auerbach the company’s chief digital and strategy officer as part of a trio of executive changes designed to bolster its digital efforts. (
Approx. reading time: 2 min.)www.restaurantbusinessonline.com
COVID-19 crisis
Chipotle Mexican Grill requiring customers to wear masks
Chipotle Mexican Grill is requiring all customers to wear a face mask inside its restaurants to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus.
(Approx. reading time: 2 min.)
www.nrn.com
Action against insurance companyRestaurateurs Fabio Trabocchi and Robert Wiedmaier sue insurance company for denial of COVID-19 coverage.
(Approx. reading time: 3 min.)
www.restaurant-hospitality.com
By the way
The cutest and creepiest robots in restaurantsRobots are increasingly taking over retail spaces and restaurants. Their role has become especially vital during the pandemic as businesses look for new ways to enforce social distancing and no-contact service.
(Approx. reading time: 4 min.)
www.businessinsider.comIf you would like to read more in-depth stories from the international hospitality business, take a look at our trade journal for the Horeca sector foodservice Europe & Middle East.
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