Kansas City Chiefs stars Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce are set to open their steakhouse, 1587 Prime, in Kansas City, Mo., on Sept. 17. The restaurant, which references the players' jersey numbers, is located in the Loews Hotel Kansas City, features private dining rooms, a meat display and one of Missouri's largest wine collections.

McDonald's will reportedly begin discounting eight popular combo meals starting in September and will reintroduce its Extra Value Meals, offering $5 breakfast combos and $8 Big Mac and Chicken McNuggets meals. The company has offered to subsidize franchisees' losses stemming from the discounts, sources said, and both McDonald's and its franchisees will spend to market the new deals.

New York-based Patina Group is set to launch a new fast-casual chicken concept, Hencraft, in Buffalo, N.Y. The restaurant will focus on high-quality, locally sourced ingredients and aims to offer a unique dining experience with a menu centered around chicken sandwiches and tenders. This move marks Patina Group's expansion into the fast-casual market; it is most known for Space 220 in Walt Disney World and Stella 34 Trattoria in Macy's crown jewel New York city store.

King's Hawaiian has expanded into college dining with its King's Hawaiian Grill concept, aiming to connect with Generation Z through nostalgia and brand recognition. The concept, now at colleges including Indiana University and the University of Michigan, offers a customizable menu that features popular items such as chicken sandwiches and smashburgers. The brand collaborates closely with campus dining teams to tailor each location to local tastes, emphasizing authenticity and flexibility.

Quickservice and coffee chains are rapidly expanding their beverage menus, with the top 500 chains increasing drink offerings by over 9% in the past year, according to Technomic. The focus is on cold beverages, including specialty coffees, energy drinks and protein-infused options. Chains like Starbucks, Dunkin', Dutch Bros and McDonald's are introducing innovative drinks to attract more customers, reflecting a shift in consumer visits that are increasingly beverage-led rather than food-driven.

Brands should prioritize entertainment over virtue signaling to engage consumers, as a 2024 study by Oracle shows that humor and novelty are more memorable and likable, writes Good Conduct's Rob Lewis. Duolingo's owl and Wendy's social media roasts demonstrate the effectiveness of this approach, and Lewis advises, "A quick, humorous commentary on something that's happening in culture can entertain audiences and amplify your reach."