The domestic results were “slightly” ahead of the Louisville, Ky.-based pizza chain’s expectations. Speaking on the company’s third-quarter earnings call Tuesday afternoon, executives said that same-store sales improved in September from the decline of 10.5% in July and into August. Steve Ritchie, Papa John’s CEO, said that the comparable store sale and traffic improved after… read more

The Starbucks experience in China is different. Perhaps the biggest difference: Chinese customers can get their Frappucinos delivered to their homes. The delivery option is possible because of a partnership with e-commerce platform Alibaba that rolled out in August, connecting it with the company’s online marketplace, delivery and logistics networks and on-site mobile apps and… read more

Yum China Holdings, Inc., and Taco Bell Corp. have opened the first Taco Bell restaurant in China. Taco Bell’s first restaurant in China is part of the brand’s global growth strategy of reaching 1,000 restaurants internationally by 2022. Currently, Taco Bell operates more than 7,000 restaurants in the world with more than 300 in 26… read more

Tony Lowings has been promoted to chief executive officer of the KFC division at Yum! Brands, Inc., effective Jan. 1, 2019. Mr. Lowings currently is president and chief operating officer for the KFC division. In his new role, Mr. responsible for driving KFC’s brand strategy and performance of the chain’s more than 21,000 restaurants around… read more

Daphne’s Inc. has acquired Noon Mediterranean out of bankruptcy in a deal expected to be announced later this week. Within 60 to 90 days, Daphne’s parent Elite Restaurant Group of Los Angeles plans to rebrand New York-based Noon, which has 12 units, under the Daphne’s banner. The 12 units in Texas, Pennsylvania and Massachusetts will become… read more

A new survey of teenage consumers has good news for Chick-fil-A and limited-service restaurants and bad news for Starbucks and casual dining. Chick-fil-A has officially displaced Starbucks as teens’ preferred restaurant across income groups, according to the latest Taking Stock With Teens survey by Piper Jaffray. The Atlanta-based chicken chain was preferred by both upper-income teens… read more

Help-wanted signs in North Dakota. The numbers: The number of job openings in the U.S. rose slightly to a record 7.14 million in August, reflecting strong growth in the economy and the best labor market in decades. Job openings topped 7 million in July for the first time ever, revised figures show, and they increased again… read more

Public health officials in Canada have recorded hundreds of laboratory confirmed cases of Salmonella infections linked to raw chicken, including frozen raw breaded chicken products despite efforts at educating the public on safe handling practices. There have been 419 laboratory confirmed cases of Salmonella illnesses investigated as part of foodborne illness outbreaks across Canada, according to the Public Health… read more

The scores were published in a report called “Chain Reaction IV: Burger Edition,” which was produced by the Center for Food Safety, Consumer Reports, Food Animal Concerns Trust, U.S. PIRG Education Fund, Friends of the Earth, and Natural Resources Defense Council. The report says 22 chains received “F” grades “for lacking any announced policy to… read more

Starbucks Corp. on Oct. 23 announced it has opened its first deaf-friendly sign language store in the United States in Washington, D.C. The new store format will be a distinctive retail experience that promotes accessibility and offers employment and career advancement opportunities for deaf and hard of hearing people. Twenty to 25 deaf and hard… read more