Restaurant Industry Roundup: February 2020

As menus shift from soups and teas to light salads and lemonades, we’re back with another news industry roundup. Spring is on the horizon, and we’re here to serve you a leafy green mix of restaurant industry happenings filled with Domino’s digital efforts, consumer data control, and McDonald’s Quarter Pounder inspired merchandise. Do we taste a hint of international flavors in the dressing? Dig into this month’s restaurant industry news!

Chancellor Urged to Cut Beer Duty to Protect “Future of Pubs.”

At the budget hearing next month, Chancellor Rishi Sunak is facing pressure not to increase the beer duty, which is a system that helps smaller breweries pay fewer taxes, to help prevent pubs closing. Protests claiming pubs are being overtaxed were held outside parliament by the Long Live The Local campaign group. According to group spokesman David Cunnigham, pubs pay an average of “£140,000 every year.” This amount includes various taxes, one being beer duty, which is reportedly eleven times higher in the U.K. than it is in Germany and Spain.  A local pub owner emphasizes the role of pubs as the “beating hearts of cities, towns, and villages up and down Britain” and are places “where everyone and anyone can meet and socialise.” The Chancellor’s decision would have a significant impact on the future of pubs across the UK.  

Report: 56% of Consumers Want to Know How Restaurants Use Their Data. 

Customers want to have control over their personal data and want their restaurant data secured. As restaurants continue to embrace technology like self-service kiosks and AI-powered mobile apps, they require customer data. According to Technomic’s Technology Consumer Trends Report, customer control over personal data is becoming “the expectation.” Thirty-seven percent of customers trust restaurants not to misuse their data.   However, convenience seems to outweigh the control over personal data. Most customers feel that if giving some data means a more personalized experience with a restaurant, they’re willing to make that trade. Sevenrooms predicts that eventually, restaurants will be able to use data to know information about their customers, including birthdays and food allergies. Ghost kitchens use customer data to operate.   Experts predict that the figure will increase from 56% as customers continue to demand off-premise options and digital ordering.  

Domino’s Hits 25M Active Loyalty Members. 

In 2019, Domino’s hit a digital milestone of 25 million active loyalty members. Presently, the company has over 40 million loyalty program members, with over 85 million customers in its database. Domino’s has been expanding over the year with new products, new locations, and improving their delivery efforts. The company has focused on customer experience with delivery by growing its GPS delivery tracking technology.   While dealing with delivery aggregators, Domino’s noticed quarterly profit and U.S. sales figures have come out ahead of prior predictions. Chief Executive Officer Ritch Allison states that Domino’s is still feeling the pressure from the third-party aggregators.  

McDonald’s debuts pickle- and beef- scented candles for “Quarter Pounder Fan Club.”  

McDonald’s has debuted a collection of Quarter Pounder with Cheese-scented candles. “There’s no better smell than 100 percent fresh beef and a perfect combination of toppings,” states the press release. The candles are available in a collection of six scents included in a bigger group of food-themed merchandise. The six glass candle jars represent each of the six parts of McDonald’s Quarter Pounder: the bun, ketchup, pickle, cheese, onion, and beef. The company suggests buying all the candles and burning them all at once.   These candles launched along with other items for McDonald’s Quarter Pounder Fan Club. Other items are available for those that don’t want to smell like a Quarter Pounder including, a locket and calendar. These items will be available for a limited-time online. Fans can keep up by following McDonald’s on Instagram.   Subscribe to the blog for more interesting restaurant content!

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About the Author

Devyn is the Social & PR Specialist on the Marketing Team. She has a B.S. in Communication and an M.S. in Global Strategic Communication. She liked QR codes (before they were cool) ever since a two-week trip to China. She’s obsessed with true crime and enjoys quality time with her friends and family. Ask her about books she’s read, Criminal Minds, her dog-child, or her favorite cocktails!