Fast Food

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.

Wingers launches franchising with plans for 50 new sites

30-Aug-2023 By Hannah Currie

Buttermilk fried chicken concept Wingers plans to double its estate by the end of the year as it opts to expand through the franchising route.

Greater demand for value offerings sees plant-based diners shift away branded meat alternatives

25-Aug-2023 By Hannah Currie

Plant-based consumers are increasingly value led when eating out, according to data from Lumina Intelligence.

Subway announces sale to Roark Capital

25-Aug-2023 By James McAllister

Subway has entered into an agreement to be acquired by affiliates of Roark Capital, the owner of US chains Arby’s and Buffalo Wild Wings, for a reported $9.55bn (£7.6bn).

Subway nears $9.6bn sale to Roark Capital

22-Aug-2023 By James McAllister

Sandwich giant Subway is set to be acquired by Roark Capital, the owner of US chains Arby’s and Buffalo Wild Wings, in a deal worth $9.6bn.

Miss Millie’s heads east

14-Aug-2023 By Joe Lutrario

Currently Southwest-centric fried chicken chain Miss Millie’s will make its debut outside the region later this year with a site in Eastbourne.

Popeyes to make Scottish debut

08-Aug-2023 By Joe Lutrario

US-born fried chicken brand Popeyes will make its debut north of the border later this year with a drive-thru site just outside Glasgow.

The Lowdown: KFC's omakase dining experience

04-Aug-2023 By James McAllister

The Colonel has used the capital’s growing appetite for omakase restaurants as inspiration for the launch of its latest burger special.

Popeyes UK secures £50m funding package to drive next phase of growth

01-Aug-2023 By James McAllister

Popeyes UK has secured £50m of additional funding from private equity firm TDR Capital to accelerate its restaurant opening programme.

McDonald’s plans small-format spinoff brand

28-Jul-2023 By James McAllister

McDonald’s is developing a small-format spinoff restaurant chain called CosMc’s, which it plans to test in a handful of sites in early 2024.

McDonald’s launches dedicated unit to investigate workplace allegations

24-Jul-2023 By James McAllister

McDonald’s has established a dedicated Investigation Handling Unit following fresh allegations published last week that detailed a ‘toxic work environment’ in its UK restaurants.

McDonald’s admits it’s ‘fallen short’ amid fresh allegations of ‘toxic’ workplace culture

18-Jul-2023 By James McAllister

McDonald’s admits it has ‘fallen short’ following fresh allegations made by current and recent UK staff that detail a ‘toxic work environment’.

Shake Shack UK operator sees losses widen

26-Jun-2023 By Georgi Gyton

Diverse Dining, which operates the Shake Shack brand in the UK, has seen losses widen despite sales returning close to pre-pandemic levels.

How I Got Here: Anthony Murphy

20-Jun-2023 By James McAllister

The co-founder of Hereford-based burger slingers The Beefy Boys on maintaining a good work/life balance, staffing struggles, and an arrogant business decision that paid huge dividends.

Leon to launch in Italy

02-Jun-2023 By James McAllister

Leon will open its first outpost in Italy later this year in Rome as part of a partnership between SSP Group and Italian rail station operator Grandi Stationi.

Pizza Union looks to expand

01-Jun-2023 By Finn Scott-Delany

Pizza Union, the Roman-style pizza bar from Babby Hashemi, is looking for new sites across central London, and negotiating on a few potential locations.

QSR occasions rise as diners seek inexpensive meal options

31-May-2023 By James McAllister

QSR occasions have increased by 1.3 percentage points (ppts) year on year, according to new data from Lumina Intelligence, as consumers seek inexpensive meal options amid the cost-of-living crisis.