Shaq Exits Papa Johns' Board, Wendy's Falters: The Week's Top Fast Food News

The year 2024 has been kind to a number of major fast food chains: Wingstop is slaying, Popeyes' latest menu addition is a hit, and The Cheesecake Factory continues blasting off into the stratosphere. But some chains had a bad week, with Wendy's forced to clarify that its planned "dynamic pricing model" is (allegedly) not the same as surge pricing, and Chick-fil-A issuing a recall on mislabeled, potentially allergen-filled sauces. Read on for the top fast food news of the week. 

Put down the grilled nuggets and step away from the Polynesian Sauce. Chick-fil-A has just announced a recall on some sauce cups distributed at its restaurants because they may contain certain allergens. - Angela L. Pagán Read More

It's already become the norm for these establishments to replace human cashiers with kiosks that are usually out of order, but at Kernel, the latest concept from Chipotle founder Steve Ells, robots perform the work of making the food, too. We tasted everything on the 100% plant-based menu to see what's worth ordering. - Luke Gralia Read More

The beautiful and somehow still surprising five-year relationship between a former NBA star and a top fast food pizza chain will soon come to an end, in a way. In May, Shaquille O'Neal will finish his term on the board of directors of Papa Johns, and although he'll remain involved with the brand in other ways, the athlete turned businessman has no plans to seek re-election. - Angela L. Pagán Read More

McDonald's is now officially an anime meme come to life. The fast food chain recently dropped a new flavor of McNugget dipping sauce named after "WcDonald's," a cheeky fictional depiction of the company often seen in anime shows since, without proper licensing, McDonald's official name can't legally be represented in fictional settings. With this new offering and manga-inspired packaging, McDonald's is now in on the joke. So what does anime taste like, exactly? - Dennis Lee Read More

On Wendy's most recent earnings call with investors, plenty of big plans were discussed, like how the chain plans to amp up its breakfast marketing. But one plan was only given a brief mention, and from a customer perspective, it's probably the worst idea Wendy's has ever had: a dynamic pricing model. – Angela L. Pagán Read More

When it comes to fast food poultry, Popeyes is a giant making serious gains. Its celebrated catalog of chicken sandwiches and chicken dinners has already won over a huge portion of the U.S. population, and now its new wing menu is poised to do the same. Since wings were permanently added to the menu, sales have been through the roof—so they must be incredible, right? I went to the nearest Popeyes here in Los Angeles to assess the good and the bad. Read on, because there's plenty of both. - Danny Palumbo Read More

If there were a fast food chicken wing hall of fame, Wingstop would be celebrating its induction right about now. The chain is thriving in 2024, and as Restaurant Business reports, the secret to its success doesn't just lie in the sauce. - Angela L. Pagán Read More

North America in the 2020s has been introduced to more trendy South Korean foods than ever before—so it's only right that we reciprocate by exporting some of our old favorites. Sprinkles, the once virally popular bakery chain that made waves in the 2010s with its Cupcake ATM, has announced that it is "leading the way in dessert innovation" by opening its first international location in South Korea in 2024. But it plans to open a whole lot of new shops here in the United States, too. - Marnie Shure Read More

While restaurant prices increase and some chains struggle to prove their value to customers, one chain restaurant has stood the test of time. The Cheesecake Factory's performance has remained so steady, its executives are raving about the predictability of casual dining spot. - Angela L. Pagán Read More