QSR May 2022

May

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T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S

The National Restaurant Association Show Preview BY TREVOR GRINER P. 70

M A Y 2 0 2 2 # 2 9 1

QSR / LIMITED-SERVICE , UNLIMITED POSSIBILITIES

32 / One For The Record Books BY DANNY KLEIN Popeyes’ famed chicken sandwich wasn’t the end-all for the 50-year-old

D E P A R T M E N T S

F E A T U R E S

N E W S 9 SHORT ORDER 26 FRANCHISE FORWARD

No Time Like the Present Brands are racing to get franchise programs off the ground. BY BRYAN REESMAN 92 CL IMATE RESPONSIBI L ITY Growing Up Is vertical, soilless farming the future of food? BY RACHEL PITTMAN 96 INNOVATE The Robot Restaurants Easier jobs and happier guests are a combo brands are chasing. BY AMANDA BALTAZAR I N S I G H T 15 FRESH IDEAS The Delicate Art of Pricing It's a balancing act unlike anything we’ve seen in decades. BY BARNEY WOLF 22 ONES TO WATCH Southern Grounds Sustainably sourced food meets coffee bar. BY BEN COLEY 98 OUTSIDE INSIGHTS Winning the Delivery-Only Game Off-premises guests deserve the same attention as in-house ones. BY GEOFF MADDING 104 START TO FINISH Nikki Stead Donatos continues to put its people first.

chain—it merely set the stage for something bigger.

POPEYES

42 The Origin of Restaurant Royalty BY BEN COLEY What does it take to build one of the biggest franchise companies in restaurant history? Let's ask Greg Flynn.

50 From Roots to Revival BY DANNY KLEIN KFC’s multi-year

58 What the Restaurant Guest Wants Today BY DANNY KLEIN A cross-channel digital world has emerged out of the pandemic, and it’s not going anywhere.

turnaround is taking a step up in 2022—with a look that both reflects its past and a future full of possibility.

4 BRANDED CONTENT

6 EDITOR’S LETTER

103 ADVERTISER INDEX

O N T H E C O V E R Popeyes president

Sami Siddiqui is leading the classic chain into the future. PHOTOGRAPHY: POPEYES / BOLD MAN & THE SEA MEDIA, CHICAGO SKYLINE *5$3+,& $'2%( 672&. .h5ù$7 h16$/

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www.qsrmagazine.com | QSR | MAY 2022

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