As voters went to the polls on Election Day, many restaurant marketers were following one issue more closely than the congressional contests: an effort by the San Francisco Board of Supervisors to override Mayor Gavin Newsom’s promised veto of a proposed ban on restaurant toys.


Called the Healthy Meal Incentive legislation, which closely resembles a ban already in place in unincorporated Santa Clara County, Calif., the law would restrict restaurants from using toys to market meals to children, unless those offerings met stringent nutritional requirements. 


America has a growing case of the munchies, and quick-service operators are looking to milk it by focusing on the hours between traditional meals as the means to build traffic.


Not only are Americans snacking between meals more than ever before, but — in a boon to fast feeders — their definition of “snack” has broadened to include a range of treats, including sandwiches, burgers, chicken strips and drinks, according to researchers.