The food and restaurant business is always a hot industry in franchising. Trends and hot topics can change in the blink of an eye in the fast-paced food service industry, so franchises are constantly working to keep up with and stay ahead of major market changes. A lot can happen in just one week. Find out the latest innovations in the food franchise industry in this week’s Friday Franchising News.
McDonald’s UK Ditches the Plastic Straws
Plastic straws are out; paper straws are in. McDonald’s is the latest franchise to opt out of providing single-use plastics, such as plastic straws, that can be harmful to the environment. McDonald’s reportedly uses 1.8 million straws a day at its UK restaurants. Plastic straws are not easily recycled and end up in the nation’s landfills and eventually make their way into the oceans. McDonald’s decision comes amid a global movement against the prevalence of plastic straws, and the franchise is testing out its first measures towards change in the UK and Ireland, with a switch instead to biodegradable paper straws.
Papa John’s Franchisees Opens Five Stores in Five Months
Sukhbir Gill and Lakhwinder “Lucky” Singh have gotten a taste of success owning Papa John’s franchises. The duo already managed four other Papa John’s locations before opening their newest store in Sunderland. Sukhiber had previously worked for a rival pizza company before making the move towards Papa John’s franchising. The Papa John’s franchise model won Sukhbir over with its rapid growth and opportunities for expansion. The franchisees have found great success with their pizza franchises, thanks to the support and motivation of the Papa John’s head office.
Casual Dining Group Invests £30 Million in Growth Opportunities
Casual Dining Group (CDG), the UK-based operator of restaurant franchises such as Las Iguanas, Café Rouge and Bella Italia, are investing £30 million in opportunities that will position the firm for growth, boost balances, and provide a long-term capital structure. CDG is one of the UK’s largest restaurant groups and has opened seven new sites in airports and hotels so far in 2018. The group has an active schedule for opening new UK and international franchise locations.
Subway Introduces 6-Foot Sandwich
If a 6-inch or a foot-long sub from Subway aren’t enough to curb your appetite, Subway has just the thing for you – a 6-foot long sandwich. The new sub sandwich is 2 inches taller than the average UK man, and while you could eat it all yourself if you’re in the mood, the sub can feed up to 25 people. The 6-foot sandwich is being trialled in London with plans to soon be rolled out to the rest of the UK, upon success. Subway hopes this unique meal will encourage Brits to enjoy their lunch hour again.
Harry Ramsden’s Plans UK Franchise Expansion
The 90-year-old fish and chip restaurant, Harry Ramsden’s, is planning a franchise expansion across the UK. People in the UK reportedly spend £1.2 billion per year on fish and chips, making this a great market to get into. The franchise is looking for franchisees to run the fish and chip restaurant in 30 towns and cities, particularly in seaside locations, where the brand expects the most interest. The restaurant franchise will be available in quick service and assisted service models, and typical investment is estimated to cost between £300,000 and £450,000.