McDonald’s has revealed its new sponsorship plans for the 2012 Olympic Games. The games will be held in London next year and the fast food chain is launching their Champions of Play for the Olympic Games promotion. The program will unite children from around the world to encourage a blend of healthy eating and daily exercise for life long health.
McDonald’s also reports profit growth for the eight straight quarter. This rise in profits, coming at a time when food costs are cutting the profits of other restaurant chains, is driven largely by low-cost beverages. McDonald’s new frozen lemonade has proven popular and is returning a fair profit on each sale, while returns on hamburgers drop as beef prices rise.
Labor shortages are being reported by restaurants across the state of Georgia after new laws were passed to cut down on immigration. The Georgia Restaurant Association reports that over 250 restaurant owners reported having trouble finding workers during the summer hiring season. 91 of survey respondents were against the immigration reform bill.
Big Apple Bagels was honored by Restaurant Business Magazine as one of the 50 fastest growing chains in America in the most recent issue. The chain has been around since 1993 but has recently experience a surge in popularity and expansion. The company is working on seven new locations due to an attractive franchise package.
Venus Williams, world renowned tennis star and health enthusiast, has joined the Jamba Juice team. Williams will serve as a celebrity spokesperson for the company as well as owning her own locations in the Washington D.C. and Maryland area. She chose the chain for its concern with the health needs of consumers and its tasty menu of smoothies and shakes.
Bruegger’s is adding new sandwiches to their menu in all restaurant locations based on their artisan Ciabatta bread. The chain is known for their New York style, freshly made bagels but is expanding lunch and dinner options as well. Two new paninis, the Turkey, Artichoke and Mozz and the Chicken Aioli Melt will soon be available.
Pizza Patrón, a new pizza chain offering new Hispanic flavors, is featuring the Toluqueña pizza until September. The pizza is topped with classics like pepperoni, ham and the Mexican sausage chorizo. The sausage was developed with the same blend of spices and ingredients as used by the artisans in Toluca, Mexico where chorizo originated.
Pizza Pizza will soon launch a new line of Italian sandwiches that includes four different options. Chicken Cutlet, Meatball Marinara, Spicy Italian Sausage and Veal subs are coming to all Pizza Pizza locations. These sandwiches are all traditional Italian recipes to balance out the innovative toppings of the pizzas on the menu.
Grimaldi’s Pizzeria has announced their plans to open a third restaurant of their newest concept brand. Coal Burger uses a coal fired oven like the ones used to give Grimaldi’s pizza its signature taste. This produces flavorful, charbroiled burgers very quickly. The new restaurant will open in Casa Paloma, Arizona.