Leigh Anne Zinsmeister

The ‘You Wait for This’ push highlights seasonal ingredients and getting outside

Old Orchard Beach School District in Maine leans into the absurdity of monkfish.

Joe Jordan will step into the role at the fast-food pizza chain this fall.

Wendy’s is getting the meme treatment. The fast-food chain’s shares soared as much as 40% on Wednesday after traders on the social media site Reddit began a push to “save” the company by buying up its stock. The push may also have had a residual impact on other restaurant stocks, including Jack in the Box, whose shares are up more than 14%. A meme stock is a publicly traded company whose shares soar unexpectedly due to social media discussion. In this case, the investors are betting on a comeback while also pushing to hurt short-sellers betting on the company’s decline. Nearly a quarter of Wendy’s shares are short.

KFC recently unveiled a strategy for its “next chapter of growth,” including menu innovation, modernized restaurants, and refreshed branding. During a recent Bank of America event, CEO Scott Mezvinsky said the chain is pulling pages from its global markets, as well as its Yum Brands sibling chain Taco Bell. KFC UK, for example, served as the launching pad for a new beverage platform called Kwench that is now rolling out to other markets. It also rolled out a new sandwich drenched in sauce. Mezvinsky said KFC is also learning from Taco Bell’s success in being culturally relevant, as well as having a strong value proposition and loyalty program.

Get all the headlines in today’s Restaurant Daily podcast.

Burger King launches two new chicken sandwiches today. Both are boldly flavored versions of the chain’s Original Chicken Sandwich, identified by its iconic oblong shape. The Loaded Jalapeño Original Chicken Sandwich layers the oval white meat chicken patty with creamy jalapeño sauce, crispy and pickled jalapeños, crispy onions, lettuce, tomatoes, and American cheese, while the Club Original Chicken Sandwich starts with the same chicken patty, lettuce, mayo, and bun as the Original, but changes up the build with the addition of crispy bacon, melted Swiss cheese, and tomatoes. The sandwiches join the menu at participating BK locations for a limited time.

Here’s what Futurist Mike Lee predicts for the decade ahead.

An AI-powered weather forecasting tool, a solution designed to improve soil health, and a tech company that facilitates payments through biometrics. These are some of the ideas behind the companies that received the latest round of investments from Chipotle’s Cultivate Next venture fund. The fund was created in 2022 and doubled in 2024 to support companies that create solutions in agriculture, supply chains, sustainability, food systems, and restaurant technology. The companies also support Chipotle’s long-term goal of operating 7,000 restaurants in North America.

Cougar Woods Dining Commons was awarded the 2026 Waste Reduction Award and tied for the 2026 Sustainable Seafood Award.