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Trending this week: Bloomin’ Brands expands Tender Shack virtual restaurant brandTrending this week: Bloomin’ Brands expands Tender Shack virtual restaurant brand

NRN staff

February 25, 2021

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This week on Nation’s Restaurant News, Bloomin’ Brands announced it had expanded its Tender Shack delivery-only brand to 750 locations nationwide. The concept uses Outback, Carrabba’s and Fleming’s kitchens, and CEO David Deno expects it to reach $75 million in annual incremental sales.

In other news, McAlister’s Deli president Joe Guith sat down with NRN to talk about combining convenience technology with hospitality. The Focus Brands-owned McAlister’s just launched tableside ordering to combine the sit-down experience with the safety and convenience of digital ordering.

As Texas restaurants emerged from a winter storm and massive power outages last week, operators were continuing to struggle with water systems and the supply chain. We took a look at how these challenges were being navigated.

As Taco Bell entered the “chicken sandwich war” with its announcement of a fried chicken taco, NRN’s senior food and beverage editor Bret Thorn provided some perspective: Chick-fil-A is still top of mind for consumers, and Americans still eat a lot more burgers than chicken.

Get all these popular stories and more in this week’s trending gallery.

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