McDonald’s Doubles down on value
McDonald’s is adding the new Daily Double burger to its value lineup. It’s the burger giant’s latest move to attempt to reverse slumping sales. The burger, an upgraded McDouble, includes two burger patties, cheese, shredded lettuce, slivered onions, mayo and two slices of tomato. (If you are in my age bracket, you may have tried to sing that to the tune of, “Two all-beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese … “ but it just doesn’t have the same ring to it.)
Luckin tests its luck in the U.S.
Fast-growing Chinese coffee chain Luckin Coffee this week opened its first two U.S. locations, both in New York City. The company currently has more than 24,000 coffee shops, all but a few dozen of which are in China. Will Luckin become real competition to Starbucks, Dutch Bros, 7 Brew and others in the U.S.? Wait and see.
Feeling thirsty?
The fast-food beverage wars have begun. Chains including Taco Bell, Whataburger and McDonald’s are all adding novel new drinks to their menus as the chains look to compete with up-and-coming drink slingers like Swig. As someone who lives with Gen Z-ers, I can attest that they like their fancy, non-alcoholic drinks. And they’re willing to pay a bunch for them. (Or, at least get mom to pay a bunch for them.)
So long, farewell, egg surcharge
With egg prices falling, Waffle House has lifted its 50-cent per egg surcharge. Denny’s also said it had ended its surcharge on eggs at the locations that had enacted it earlier this year. Egg prices, though, remain higher than a year ago. And, as with all commodities, egg prices are cyclical. So this may just be, See you again, egg surcharges.
Olo finds a buyer
Restaurant tech supplier Olo is being sold to the investment firm Thoma Bravo for $2 billion. The deal takes the company private, just four years after it went public.
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