Weekly Global News Wrap Up: KFC US unveils new Internet Escape Pod; McDonald's Korea to launch novelty building for games; Coffee retailers look to conquer the supermarket aisles
Here is a summary of the most interesting QSR news stories of the week from around the world.
KFC US has introduced its new merchandise, Internet Escape Pod, on the brand's e-commerce store. It is an anti-technology product to escape the holiday chaos, and it comfortably fits four adults. It is made in the USA out of steel, adorned with enamel paint and 8-pound high-density architectural foam, and priced at $10,000 on KFC Ltd. The KFC Internet Escape Pod is the first major new product to hit KFC Ltd. since its limited-edition collection launch in July. A full second collection will hit the brand's e-commerce store in early December.
McDonald’s Korea has started building a novelty building with the shapes of a giant burger, box of fries and drink carton to serve as its outpost at next year’s Pyeongchang Winter Olympic Games in South Korea, as per the report in Inside Retail Asia.
Coffee makers are looking to conquer the supermarket aisle as US retail sales of refrigerated ready-to-drink coffee rose 29% in the 52 weeks ended September 10 to more than $289 million, according to market researcher IRI. Nigel Travis, chief executive of Dunkin Brands Group Inc., said that the chain's bottled cold coffee has exceeded $100 million in retail sales since being rolled out in supermarkets and convenience stores early this year. Starbucks said it plans next year to roll out new bottled Frappuccinos and coffee-and-fruit smoothies made with almond milk and bottled single-serve cold brew. The report is originally posted in Fox Business.
According to The Verge, new application which tells you if your local McDonald’s ice cream machine is down has been created by Raina McLeod. McLeod made an iPhone app called Ice Check that directs you to the nearest working McFlurry machine at a McDonald’s. The app works via GPS and input from users. You can locate a McDonald’s and it will then tell you if the machine is in service, based upon crowdsourced reports.
