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Wendy's turned an old restaurant into a test lab

Nov 9, 2017
With sales under pressure, the chain is looking at new ways of doing business.
The Wendy's in the Clintonville neighborhood of Columbus, Ohio, has a flat screen TV, an outdoor patio, printed menus and electronic ordering kiosks.
(Marielle Segarra/Marketplace)

How McDonald's serves as a refuge for local communities

Jul 27, 2017
For some, the fast food giant allows them to connect with others.
A 1955 Ford, left, and a 1955 Oldsmobile are parked in the lot of the McDonald's museum in Des Plaines, IL. 
Tim Boyle/Newsmakers

Chipotle is hoping to put the 2015 E. coli scandal behind it

Apr 25, 2017
Mexican restaurant chain Chipotle reports earnings after markets close today. The beleaguered burrito brand’s stock is up nearly 20 percent this year, signaling a possible comeback from its E. coli scandal of 2015. Analysts expect a recovery quarter for Chipotle, but the company has a ways to go. Click the audio player above to hear […]

McDonald’s beefs things up with fresh meat for Quarter Pounders

Apr 3, 2017
McDonald’s is trying to give its Quarter Pounder some juice by using fresh beef instead of frozen patties. The move will help the burger giant better compete with the likes of Wendy’s and Shake Shack, which use fresh beef. The burgers will cook faster, but the meat goes bad faster, too. McDonald’s franchise owners risk losing […]

Somebody's in McTrouble

Mar 16, 2017
Donald Trump’s favorite fast-food giant McDonald's deletes a tweet insulting the president.
McDonald’s CEO Steve Easterbrook supported Andrew Puzder, President Donald Trump’s first pick for Secretary of Labor, before Puzder withdrew.
Darren McCollester/Newsmakers

Why a burger at Carl's Jr. may be the same at Hardee's

Mar 6, 2017
Why do seemingly identical brands go by different names in other regions?
Is this a Carl's Jr. burger or a Hardee's burger? Or both?
CKE Restaurants

McDonald's moves into mobile ordering and delivery to boost sales

Mar 3, 2017
In an attempt to reverse a continuing slump in sales, McDonald’s is making an innovation push: letting people order and pay on their phones for curbside pickup and even delivery. Starbucks already uses an app. It’s been so successful, it’s caused congestion in stores. So will all these new strategies help or hurt McDonald’s?  Click […]

For public good, not for profit.

McDonald's to offer soda for a dollar as customer numbers continue to decline

Feb 23, 2017
McDonald’s is slashing drink prices. Starting in April, you can get any size soda for a buck and drinks like smoothies and frappes for $2. It’s the latest in a number of promotions — from all-day breakfast to three sizes of Big Mac — to keep customers coming back in a time of increased competition.

Wendy’s to shell out $30 million for smaller, tastier chickens

Feb 16, 2017
As Wendy’s releases its earnings, we take a look at the fast food chain’s hunt for a tastier chicken. The company is prepared to spend $30 million on smaller chickens in hopes they’ll provide more tender, less rubbery meat. Turns out, quality is an important consideration for legacy fast food companies, as they try to […]

The true origin story behind McDonald's

Feb 9, 2017
Journalist Lisa Napoli joined us to talk about the inaccuracies in Michael Keaton's "The Founder."
The exterior of a McDonald's restaurant from the '70s.
Hulton Archive/Getty Images