Good, Bad, and Other News! - July 2022

So far, so good this summer in the U.S. with Covid being held at bay. Let’s hope this continues, and count our blessings while they last. Here’s our roundup of franchise news, delivered your way every first Tuesday of the month. (Yes, we’ve changed the schedule, as well as the design!) And if you’re not doing it already, send us your news here and see it next month in this very same newsletter!

POST-COVID REOPENING & RECOVERY

Pandemic Hangover: Consumers Are Wary as They Resume Purchasing

Cooling Consumer Spending Points to Further Economic Slowdown

High Cost of Airfare More Likely than Gas Prices To Hurt Travel Recovery

High Gas Prices Are Weakening Customer Traffic at C-stores

Massachusetts Station Owner Quits Selling Gas Over Pump Prices

Companies Find Leaving Russia Difficult, Though Many Are Trying

Western Brands Are Up for Grabs in Sanctioned Russia

Hangry Planet, U.S.’s First 100% Plant-Based Convenience Store, Opens in California

Impacts of the Dobbs Decision on Employer Benefit Plans (Littler)

McDonald’s Tightens Ownership Rules as It Looks for New Franchisees

HIRING & EMPLOYMENT

5 Strategies for Leaders To Increase Employee Engagement

To Keep Workers Long Term, Employers Swear by the 90-Day Rule

Just Salad Is Offering Employees On-Demand Pay

Some Food Companies Say Hiring Challenges Are Starting To Ease

FINANCE & M&A

Main Line Brands Acquires Fitness Machine Technicians

LEADERSHIP

KFC names Tarun Lal President of U.S. Business

Scooter’s Coffee Names Joe Thornton President

Whataburger Hands Out $2 Million in Scholarships Across 14 States

MARKETING/CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE

New Research Sheds Light on the Shopping Habits of Gen Z

Burger King To Debut 2 New Plant-Based Impossible Offerings on June 27

Being a Virtual Restaurant Regular Customer Has Its Perks

Sweetgreen Tests a New Loyalty Program Named Rewards and Challenges

House Data Privacy Bill Raises Concerns for Restaurants

BurgerFi and Anthony’s Coal-Fired Pizza & Wings Launch a Co-Branded Visa Card

TECHNOLOGY

New Study Finds Digital Is the Starting Point for More than 85% of Customers

The Most Successful Restaurants in 2021 Grew Their Omnichannel Technology, Not Their Units