Australia

The NSW Supreme Court found KFC responsible for causing the salmonella poisoning of a young girl in Sydney in 2005.

Part of its plan to open more than 100 stores globally in the next two years, Crust Gourmet Pizza Bars is opening a store in Los Angeles in May.

Following the success of last year’s campaign, Mad Mex Fresh Mexican Grill is again challenging customers to eat the 1kg burrito.

Two cookie retailers teamed up to put smiles on as many faces as possible through cookies.

The chart, from BIS Shrapnel, shows the percentage of Australian Households’ food and non-alcoholic beverage budgets spent on eating out. Since the beginning of the 1960s, the foodservice dollar has risen steadily to peak around 36% prior to the GFC and economic downturn in Australia. It has since fallen quite dramatically due to the trade down effect in the market in terms of consumers’ choice of outlet and also because Australians at the moment are eating out less often and spending less each time. However, whilst we expect the foodservice dollar to remain constant during 2012, there are signs that it is slowly on the rise again. A continued, albeit slow, rise depends, of course, on consumer confidence and the overall economy as well as economic developments overseas.

With Australian online retailers expecting roughly $10 billion in revenues, according to research from IBISWorld, some QSR’s are beginning to explore the possibilities of online ordering.

WOWCOW is a funky super chilled yogurt & desert lounge with a cult like following. The first in Australia and with 6 years under their belt they have recently launched their franchising campaign. Carl Harwin, their founder and CEO sits down with QSR Media to explain what sets them apart and their plans for the future.

Typically a QSR marketing team receives pressure from the top, from board and management and from the franchisee community or both individually or via advisory councils. With a role that covers everything from working up the overall strategy to following up on every little implementation detail, QSR marketing teams have their own complexity, from managing menu rollouts to product nutritional information and seasonal produce only available in some areas. It isn’t hard to see why things can rapidly get out of control, potentially overwhelming even the best resourced and most skilled teams.

Survey showed 89% of Muffin Break customers are ‘fairly’ or ‘very satisfied’ with the coffee shop’s service nationwide.

Locals in Broome and Whyalla experienced the fruity pick-me-up, which will soon come to Bathurst, Tamworth, and Armidale.

As in-store sales data becomes increasingly on demand, large-scale QSR’s in the United States like Red Robin and Chicken Express are upgrading to next generation, Internet-based point-of-sale systems that can communicate data in real-time.

Online social media sites like Facebook and Twitter offer a relatively cheap way for QSR’s to market their new products.

Delaware North operates many QSR brands including Hungry Jacks, Oprorto, Noodle Box, Healthy Habits & Dominos. What trends are they noticing? Find out in this interview with David Mayo, their Ntl Brand Mgr, Travel Hospitality Services.

Go Sushi’s Manage to Own Program is targeted at individuals with the drive and aspiration to operate their own business but who may not have the capital to get started.

With 300 stores over 10 years as the growth plan.

Channelzero will re-develop the brand as Horizon devises an integrated PR strategy in support of Ali Baba’s growth plans.