Good, Bad, and Other News! – May 2022

As Covid continues to fade from the topmost concern of employers and employees, a cautionary note: So far, so good, but it ain’t over yet. In fact, in some places it’s worse. Think of the 25 million people locked down in Shanghai, with the strict quarantine eased only this week. Only two U.S. states have more people than Shanghai: California at 39.2 million and Texas at 29.5 million. So take a deep breath, count your blessings while they last, and catch up on the past month’s franchise-related news, delivered your way every third Tuesday of the month. And if you’re not doing it already, send us your good (and other) news here and see it next month in this newsletter!

POST-COVID – REOPENING & RECOVERY

$48 Billion Restaurant Revitalization Fund Faces Senate Headwinds Over Funding

McDonald’s To Exit from Russia After 30 Years, Looks To Sell Entire Portfolio

New Report Dissects Market Dynamics Affecting Today’s Consumers

Driver Shortage Squeezes Pizza Hut, Competitors

Reef Reportedly Pursuing Ownership Stake in 800 Degrees Go

Can Starbucks Come Back?

HIRING & EMPLOYMENT

Job Interviews Are Broken, But There’s a Way to Fix Them

Teen Workers Find They’re in High Demand

Worker Pay, Benefits Grow at Record Pace in Q1, Pressuring Inflation

Quarterly Remote Work Report Shows WFH Jobs Continue To Rise

Starbucks Plans Barista Raises, Says Unionized Cafes Will Have To Bargain

FINANCE & M&A

WOWorks Acquires Barberitos Southwestern Grille and Cantina & Zoup! Eatery

Instacart Preps for Possible IPO Amid Volatile Markets, Changing Consumers

Beyond Meat Shares Drop as Losses Widen; Launch Costs Blamed

LEADERSHIP

KFC U.S. President Kevin Hochman Departs Yum Brands

Brinker International CEO Wyman Roberts Retires, Kevin Hochman Named New CEO 

Four Simple Ways Bosses Can Reduce Stress at Work

MARKETING/CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE

Study: Only 26% of CMOs Are “Fully Confident” in Their Data Strategies

Friendly’s Restarts Advertising for 1st Time Since Acquisition

McDonald’s Vows To Keep Burger Prices Competitive on Value, Prices

Bottled Water Giant BlueTriton Admits Recycling and Sustainability Claims Are “Puffery”

OPERATIONS

McDonald’s Years-Long Digital, Delivery, and Mobile Transformation Is Paying Off

TECHNOLOGY

Jack in the Box Tests Flippy & Sippy Robots To Make Fries, Pour Drinks