Gorgeous Chipotles And Starbucks Rivals: The Week In Fast Food

This week saw news of Starbucks' competitors gaining traction in the coffee category, as well as a plan by Chipotle to lure Gen Z workers for the busiest time of year: burrito season. Read on for more of the top fast food news from the week of January 29-February 2, 2o24.

I'll be straight up: I'm not a fan of Olive Garden. You can easily find better pasta for a similar price elsewhere. But for whatever reason—convenience, supposed quality, and perceived low prices—people are frequenting Olive Garden more than they ever have before. Here's how all nine of its appetizers rank, from worst to best. - Danny Palumbo Read More

The fast food breakfast category has been booming for some time now, but recent data suggests customers could be losing interest in morning menus in favor of lunch and late-night bites. Foot traffic analytics firm Placer.ai notes that major chains like McDonald's and Chipotle have seen a shift from heavy morning traffic to lunch and dinner. - Angela L. Pagán Read More

Restaurant jobs are known for being particularly grueling work environments. The hours are long, you're constantly on your feet, and it really only takes one difficult customer to ruin an employee's day. That's why it can be hard for employers to convince prospective workers to apply. But Chipotle is trying a new strategy to get the freshest faces in the workforce, Gen Z, to apply for its jobs: by offering mental health support services. – Dennis Lee Read More

What keeps the wheels of the economy turning? Is it fair trade and consumer spending? No, just a whole lot of burger grease. A new report from Oxford Economics details the ways in which McDonald's impacts the U.S. economy, contributing as much $108 billion to the country's gross domestic product each year. - Angela L. Pagán Read More

Chipotle, like so many of the top fast casual chains, places such an emphasis on "fast" that you might not think of it as a place where you can eat your food at a leisurely pace in the on-site dining room. It's typically a grab-and-go operation, but you're certainly welcome to sit and stay a while, particularly at some of the chain's most interesting locations. - Read More

It's impossible to deny that Starbucks is a powerhouse. It consistently sees the second highest annual sales out of any fast food chain in America, only behind McDonald's, and it is often the top Googled brand in the food and beverage category. But Restaurant Business reports that Starbucks' sales slowed down at the end of last year, and it looks like the competition is determined to nip at Starbucks' heels. - Dennis Lee Read More