5 must-know restaurant news stories: May 6, 2014

Subway is testing hummus (Associated Press/Huffington Post)
CMO Tony Pace said that the hummus would give people looking for meatless options another choice. The sandwich chain is also testing thinner slices of deli meats.

—Marcella Veneziale

Drought likely to push up prices of lettuce, avocados, grapes, broccoli the most (Los Angeles Times)
If the California drought continues, some produce prices will be more affected than others, according to a study by an Arizona State University agribusiness professor. The study looked at which crops were likely to be most sensitive and how much their prices might increase. It found that nine popular items — avocados, berries, broccoli, grapes, lettuce, melons, peppers, tomatoes and packaged salads — would see the biggest jumps in prices.

—Ron Ruggless

Taco Bell won't stop tinkering with the Doritos Locos juggernaut (Bloomberg Businessweek)
Taco Bell’s new chicken version of Doritos Locos Tacos debuts Thursday for a limited time, and the chain is continuing to look for ways to innovate with the item. Possible future additions: habanero peppers and bacon. Yes, please.

—Lisa Jennings

Dunkin’s Costello to chair Mobile Marketing Association (MediaPost)
The Mobile Marketing Association has named John Costello, president of global marketing and innovation for Canton, Mass.-based Dunkin’ Brands, as the advertising trade group’s new chairman. MediaPost editor Mark Walsh characterized the move as the marketing industry acknowledging Dunkin’s mobile leadership under Costello and a change in direction to have a brand marketer lead the MMA. The association also said Costello’s appointment reflects its new mission statement: “To accelerate the transformation and innovation of marketing through mobile, driving business growth with closer and stronger consumer engagement.”

—Mark Brandau

Next reveals upcoming restaurant theme (Next/Vimeo)
Next, the Chicago restaurant by Grant Achatz and Nick Kokonas that reinvents itself every four months, has released a promotional video for its latest incarnation, Modern Chinese, complete with a hip-hop song in Mandarin.

—Bret Thorn