Major events impacting the restaurant industry in 2014

January

The Polar vortex dampened restaurant traffic and sales, but operators remained optimistic that the macroeconomic climate would improve.

January

Arby’s got major digital love on Twitter after the Grammys, with more than 78,000 retweets and have increased the federal minimum 43,000 favorites of its tweet directed at musician Pharrell Williams. Arby’s savvy social-media manager — commenting on the singer’s “100-gallon hat” fashion choice — tweeted, “Hey, @Pharrell, can we have our hat back? #GRAMMYs.”

January

Companies began preparing for the Affordable Care Act employer mandate, which kicks in Jan. 1, 2016. In January 2014, employers needed to start recording employee hours. Meanwhile, the restaurant industry continued to press for change.

February

Chipotle Mexican Grill launched a satirical original TV series on Hulu called “Farmed and Dangerous.”

March

Taco Bell rolled out breakfast nationwide with largest marketing push in the 52-year-old chain’s history, including ads featuring “Ronald McDonald.”

March

Quiznos filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection with a pre-packaged restructuring plan to reduce debt by more than $400 million.

April

The U.S. Senate blocked legislation that would have increased the federal minimum 43,000 favorites of its hourly wage from $7.25 to $10.10.

May

Carlson Restaurant Inc. agreed to sell TGI Fridays to Sentinel Capital Partners and TriArtisan Capital Partners for a reported $800 million.

May

Darden Restaurants Inc. agreed to sell Red Lobster to private-equity firm Golden Gate Capital for $2.1 billion.

June

P.F. Chang’s China Bistro Inc. announced an investigation into a possible data breach involving customers’ stolen credit and debit cards.

June

Seattle’s city council voted unanimously to increase the city’s minimum wage to $15 per hour.

July

El Pollo Loco held an initial public offering, raising $112.8 million.

July

A National Labor Relations Board ruling declared McDonald’s a “joint employer” with its franchisees. This could open McDonald’s to liability for labor practices of its franchisees.

August

Burger King Worldwide Inc. announced its plan to acquire Tim Hortons Inc. for $11.4 billion, moving global headquarters to Canada. Some see the move as attempted tax inversion.

August

McDonald’s USA president Jeff Stratton announced retirement and was replaced by Mike Andres, former chief executive of Logan’s Roadhouse Inc.

September

California became the first state to require paid sick leave, regardless of size of employer.

September

JAB Holding Co. agrees to buy Einstein Noah Restaurant Group Inc. in a deal estimated to be worth $374 million, taking the bagel chain operator private.

October

McDonald’s Corp. reported third-quarter same-store sales fell 3.3 percent, including a 4.1-percent decline in September, the worst monthly performance since 2003.

October

Darden’s entire board of directors was ousted after shareholders elected 12 nominees from activist investor Starboard Value LP.

October

Apple Inc.’s proprietary mobile payment system, Apple Pay, launched and several restaurant brands — McDonald’s and Panera Bread among them — got on board. A confident Apple chief executive Tim Cook said at the time, “It’s going to change the way we pay for things.”

November

Ruth’s Hospitality Group Inc. agreed to sell Mitchell’s Fish Market restaurants to Landry’s Inc. for $10 million.

November

The Food and Drug Administration publishes long-awaited menu labeling rules.

November

Pizza Hut re-launched its menu and branding in what parent Yum! Brands Inc. said was the biggest change in the 56-year-old chain’s history. The “Flavor of Now” marketing push includes a series of TV ads featuring “Old World” Italian villagers taste-testing the new items.