Executives at J.M. Smucker Co. believe the Orrville-based company has the blueprint in place for two $1 billion brands over the next five years: Uncrustables and Dunkin’. Since its debut 20 years ago, Uncrustables has been a steady performer for Smucker. Despite accounting for only 9% of the category in which it competes, Uncrustables drove… read more

After launching last October, Cracker Barrel is getting ready to double its investment in its virtual brand The Pancake Kitchen by expanding to 200 locations by the end of 2022, roughly doubling the count from the start of the year, the company announced. The delivery-only concept cooked in Cracker Barrel kitchens is meant to make… read more

The National Restaurant Association and all 52 of its state-level affiliates have asked the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to adjust its tax collection process for restaurants that have yet to receive the advance refunds promised to employers as a form of pandemic-related financial aid. The Employee Retention Tax Credit entitles companies whose operations were disrupted… read more

The covid-19 pandemic caused huge disruption and a ripple effect of unintended consequences – and change – for foodservice More than two years ago the way in which the world’s population worked and lived changed forever. The coronavirus pandemic that began in China and began to spread rapidly, globally, was first identified as a “contagious… read more

Brendan Mauri was promoted to president of Rusty Taco just a few months after joining the brand as head of marketing. He describes it as both an interesting and challenging time. Interesting because the fast-casual was looking to fuel franchise growth, but challenging because those events took place during the early part of 2020, just… read more

Video ads for eight QSR chains—topped by Chick-fil-A—made up the list of the 10 most-viewed QSR spots on YouTube in 2021, according to digital ad-tech provider AcuityAds. With 71.3 million views, Chick-fil-A’s two-minute effort titled “The Whoopsery” was a Willy Wonka-style, an animated fairy tale that launched in November in the walkup to Christmas. While helping… read more

It’s a theme that runs through many of the go-forward initiatives for the Costa Mesa, Calif.-based grilled chicken chain. Roberts is also chief financial officer and stepped in after the resignation of Bernard Acoca in October while the board conducts a search. Acoca was named CEO of Zaxby’s. There’s no update on the permanent replacement at El Pollo… read more