This week on Nation's Restaurant News the top story was Menu Tracker: New items from Dunkin’, IHOP, and Sonic Drive-In. Plus innovation at Baja Fresh, Blaze Pizza, Bruster’s Real Ice Cream, Burgerville, Friendly’s, Fuzzy’s Taco Shop, Gott’s Roadside, Junior’s Restaurant, La Madeleine, Ninety Nine Restaurant & Pub, Nothing Bundt Cakes, Robeks, Snappy Salads, Taco Time, Tender Greens, and Velvet Taco.
In other news, Todd Penegor stepped down as the chief executive officer of Wendy’s in early February after spending eight years in the role – an unusually long tenure in the dizzyingly fast quick-service space. Factor in the COVID-19 pandemic, and it undoubtedly felt even longer.
Penegor’s plan from there was simple – retirement peppered with a few board of directors’ roles. In June, he joined the Dutch Bros board, adding to his already existing role on the Ball Corporation board. His plan was going smoothly.
Also, Denny’s Corp. in a few weeks will officially relaunch its $2-$4-$6-$8 value menu, with an added $10 category, to help drive traffic at the family-dining chain, executives said Tuesday.
The Spartanburg, S.C. company, which also owns the Keke’s Breakfast Café brand, is “about to go even deeper into value, bringing back a key brand differentiator in a big way,” said Kelli Valade, Denny’s CEO and president, on an earnings call for the second quarter, which ended June 26.
See what else was trending on NRN.com this week.
