Marketing

  • A person holds a Subway sandwich and drink cup
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    Permission granted by Subway
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    Subway hires CMO from PepsiCo beverages to lead global marketing

    Greg Lyons, who left the beverage giant late last month, will join the sandwich chain on the tail of a recent creative agency switch-up. 

    By Peter Adams • April 9, 2025
  • A hand dips a chicken tender into a sauce
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    Courtesy of Wingstop
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    Wingstop launches NYC pop-up to spotlight tenders

    Chicken tenders are having a menu moment and could help the fast casual chain continue its wild sales momentum.

    By • April 9, 2025
  • Dessert items with ice cream and baked good elements.
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    Courtesy of Cinnabon
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    GoTo Foods debuts Cinnabon Swirl dual-branded concept

    Rather than simple co-branding, Cinnabon Swirl will have its own rewards program, indicating the possibility of an independent brand identity.

    By • April 8, 2025
  • An image of Papa Johns sign on a store
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    Courtesy of Papa Johns
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    Papa Johns will use Google AI for analytics, marketing

    The pizza chain has tapped Google Cloud’s AI tools to optimize delivery routes, create a customer-facing chatbot and deliver personalized rewards in real time.

    By • April 3, 2025
  • A hand holds a smartphone with the screen showing different rewards available from Sweetgreen's rewards program.
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    Permission granted by Sweetgreen
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    Sweetgreen abandons tiered loyalty for points-based program

    Executives previously predicted the loyalty program would be a traffic driver, as the salad chain faces a competitive fast casual environment.

    By • April 3, 2025
  • Two people sit at a tiled table inside a Chili's with an Awesome Blossom in front of them.
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    Courtesy of Chili's
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    Chili’s serves up ‘Office’ nostalgia at new Scranton location

    The Pennsylvania location arrives as the workplace comedy, which stopped airing over a decade ago, continues to resonate strongly with consumers.

    By Sara Karlovitch • April 1, 2025
  • Doechii appears on Hot Ones with a Jack in the Box segment
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    Retrieved from First We Feast on March 20, 2025
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    How Jack in the Box is working its brand into ‘Hot Ones,’ ‘Call Her Daddy’

    Agency TBWA\Chiat\Day Los Angeles is looking beyond quirky TV ads to drive cultural impact for a new “So Munch More” brand platform. 

    By Chris Kelly • March 31, 2025
  • Busy Phillips holds a pizza box in a California Pizza Kitchen campaign
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    Courtesy of California Pizza Kitchen
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    Why California Pizza Kitchen faked a midlife crisis with a rebrand stunt

    CMO Dawn Keller details a humorous effort and new partnership with Busy Philipps timed to the casual dining chain's 40th anniversary.

    By Chris Kelly • March 27, 2025
  • A person using their phone to pay in a store checkout line
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    Zebra Media Library

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    Sponsored by Lowry Solutions

    Running fast vs. running smart: How QSRs stay ahead with technology and precision

    Orders flying, stock disappearing—are you struggling to keep up with your QSR’s inventory demands? Uncover the solution with Lowry Solutions and Zebra Technologies.

    March 24, 2025
  • Pizza Hut Hutty
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    Courtesy of Pizza Hut
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    Pizza Hut introduces second-screen mobile companion for March Madness

    The digital experience can be accessed via Instagram and leverages Meta AI to dish out real-time game reactions, hot takes and exclusive offers.

    By Aaron Baar • March 20, 2025
  • A Walmart storefront showcases its refreshed brand identity, with a new typeface and the spark logo set apart as a standalone asset.
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    Permission granted by Walmart
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    Walmart links with chain to open made-to-order pizza restaurants

    Nozzleman Pizza plans to debut locations inside more than a dozen of the retailer’s stores this year.

    By Catherine Douglas Moran • March 19, 2025
  • Papa Johns "Meet the Makers" campaign imagery.
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    Courtesy of Papa Johns
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    Papa Johns invites pizza fans to ‘Meet the Makers’ for TV, social ads

    The chain’s first work under CMO Jenna Bromberg includes tie-ups with food influencers and real team members for behind-the-scenes content. 

    By Jessica Deyo • March 7, 2025
  • An evening shot of a building with white and red coloring and signage that says "Portillo's."
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    Courtesy of Portillo's
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    Portillo’s launches loyalty without an app

    The hot dog chain hopes its loyalty program, based in digital wallets, can offer personalized options for guests and businesses without causing app fatigue.

    By • March 4, 2025
  • A hand lifts a slice of stuffed crust pizza topped with pepperoni and peppers. The slice trails strings of melted mozzarella.
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    Courtesy of Domino's
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    Domino’s launches stuffed crust pizza, encroaching on Pizza Hut

    Internal research showed as many as 13 million Domino’s customers ordered stuffed crust pizza from competitors each year.

    By • March 3, 2025
  • Chipolte's Carnitas Cinema experience in Roblox
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    Courtesy of Chipotle
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    Chipotle debuts national TV ad on Roblox to promote sustainability

    The “Unfolded” effort demonstrates how the first-mover continues to experiment with the metaverse to link gaming, content and real-world rewards.

    By Chris Kelly • Feb. 27, 2025
  • A photo of an IHOP sign
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    Bruce Bennett via Getty Images
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    IHOP in-houses creative as part of bid to return to cultural relevance

    A Guinness World Record attempt that involves creating 20,000 pancakes is the first major marketing effort under new leadership. 

    By Peter Adams • Feb. 26, 2025
  • An image of chicken wings, tacos, French fries and chicken tenders from Hurricane Grill & Wings
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    Retrieved from Fat Brands on February 25, 2025
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    Franchisees sue Hurricane Grill & Wings over mismanagement of marketing funds

    Operators claim the chain and owner Fat Brands haven’t used the funds to advertise, leading to declining franchisee profitability.

    By • Feb. 26, 2025
  • A beige building with a yellow "M" and white "McDonald's" sign.
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    Brandon Bell via Getty Images
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    McDonald’s adds Krispy Kreme doughnuts in NYC, bagel sandwiches nationwide

    The menu moves could help the Golden Arches recover from a traffic shortfall triggered by an E. coli outbreak late last year.

    By • Feb. 25, 2025
  • A man wearing a cowboy hat rides a giant margarita shaker.
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    Courtesy of Brinker International
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    Chili’s rides with NASCAR, Lifetime to push margaritas with music, TV

    Two very different campaigns look to broaden the company’s consumer base in an effort to continue its wave of success.

    By Sara Karlovitch • Feb. 13, 2025
  • Popeyes unveils new brand identity, pilots store redesign
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    Courtesy of Popeyes
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    Popeyes will remodel stores and beef up ad spending

    Restaurant Brands International will add equipment, ranging from a cloud-based point-of-sales system to an automated batter-maker, at the chicken chain’s U.S. stores.

    By • Feb. 12, 2025
  • An image of a chicken big mac sold by a McDonald's duplicate set up by the chain to promote the sandwich
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    Courtesy of McDonald's
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    McDonald’s will bring back snackwraps, chicken strips to boost sales

    The Golden Arches will emphasize menu innovation in the chicken category this year to recover traffic momentum that was stalled by its E. coli outbreak. 

    By • Feb. 10, 2025
  • The outside of a Taco Bell restaurant.
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    Justin Sullivan / Staff via Getty Images
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    Yum Brands to scale loyalty, personalization in 2025

    Taco Bell’s parent company is leveraging loyalty programs and AI-driven personalization in pursuit of higher digital sales.

    By Bryan Wassel • Feb. 7, 2025
  • A Starbucks barista hands a customer a coffee
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    Courtesy of Starbucks
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    Starbucks says ‘Hello Again’ by advertising around the Super Bowl

    A new spot and a free coffee promotion on the Monday after the big game are part of the chain’s marketing-powered turnaround plan.

    By Chris Kelly • Feb. 5, 2025
  • Just Salad location in NYC
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    Courtesy of Just Salad
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    Just Salad hires marketing, CX and development chiefs

    The appointments come shortly after the chain opened its first drive-thru restaurant as part of a growth push.

    By • Feb. 4, 2025
  • Sabrina Carpenter appears in a Dunkin ad
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    Courtesy of Dunkin'
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    Q&A

    Dunkin’ CMO on building a ‘cinematic universe’ to capture attention

    Jill McVicar Nelson explains what the brand has learned from its Super Bowl ads and how it’s facing uneasiness around TikTok’s future.

    By Chris Kelly • Jan. 30, 2025