This week's top story was NRN's Menu Tracker. Sweetened bacon with pepper is full-on mainstream now as family-dining chain Bob Evans has added it as a permanent addition to its menu. Other chains are going full gingerbread, with food and drink offerings inspired by the treat from Jeremiah’s Italian Ice, Outback Steakhouse and Red Robin Gourmet Burgers & Brews. Plus innovation at Bob Evans, Dolly Llama, Halal Guys and more.
In other news, Starbucks employees at a Buffalo, N.Y.-area store voted in favor of becoming the first Starbucks union in the United States. The National Labor Relations Board counted votes from three individual stores in the Buffalo, N.Y. area: The Elmwood store voted 19-8 in favor of unionizing, while workers voted 8-12 against unionizing at Camp Road, the second store eligible to vote. The third store was still hanging in the balance.
Also, Jack in the Box sold the Qdoba Mexican Eats chain in 2018 after owning it for about 15 years without great success. So why the heck would the company buy yet another Mexican brand?
That was the (somewhat paraphrased) first question from a Wall Street analyst after Jack in the Box Inc. announced an agreement to acquire rival brand Del Taco for about $575 million on Monday. The deal is expected to close in the first quarter of 2022 and is subject to shareholder and other regulatory approvals.
See what else was trending on Nation's Restaurant News this week.