fastfood

Good morning, and welcome to the Essential California newsletter. It’s Friday, Nov. 4. I’m Suhauna Hussain, a reporter on the L.A. Times business desk. I write about issues affecting workers.I’ve been closely following the expensive battle over new California law Assembly Bill 257, known as the Fast Food Accountability and Standards Recovery Act. The law seeks to boost protections for workers at large chain restaurants and could raise their minimum wage as high as $22 next year.It’s a pretty big deal. The law, signed by…

Let’s just launch right into the exhaustive and extremely correct Fast-Food Burger Power Rankings. I’ve evaluated burgers from large, national chains in this ranking, making a couple of notable exceptions for California-based chains. I’ve tried to put these burgers into context: I’m not picking the best burger in general. I’m picking the best fast-food burger, which is an important distinction. (To get a better idea of what I mean, please refer to this piece I wrote last year about chicken nuggets versus chicken…

A sign is posted in front of a McDonald's restaurant on April 28, 2022 in San Leandro, California.Justin Sullivan | Getty ImagesThe head of McDonald's U.S. on Wednesday publicly criticized a landmark California bill that would give the state more control over pay for fast-food workers, saying it unfairly targets big chains.The remarks by Joe Erlinger, president of McDonald's U.S., come after the California state Senate earlier this week passed a bill that would give a 10-person council the authority to raise the…

Restaurant operators and business advocates mobilized Tuesday to try to persuade California Gov. Gavin Newsom to veto a bill that would set wages for fast-food workers, a move they said could increase costs and set a precedent other states and cities might follow. The effort is being pushed by franchise owners, including many who would have to take on the cost of paying workers a minimum wage as high as $22 an hour starting next year, set by a government-run council created by the bill.…

Pollo Campero, the world’s largest Central American chicken franchise, is eyeing Denver and Colorado Springs to expand into the Colorado market for the first time. The fast-casual chain aims to build four to six locations in next five years in the Centennial State, with the potential for 16. Each site would create 40 jobs. The chicken and side dishes that can be had at Pollo Campero. (Courtesy of Pollo Campero) “There’s a lot of excitement,” said Blas Escarcega, director of franchise development. “The brand has never been…

Fast-food chains are playing up the value of their burgers, pizzas and tacos as inflation squeezes budgets — but expect higher prices, skimpier portions and more deals enticing people to sign up for rewards programs as companies rethink their value strategies.Citing rising costs, Domino's Pizza earlier this year raised the price of its Mix & Match delivery deal from $5.99 to $6.99, and made its $7.99 national carry-out offer available only for digital orders. Burger King removed the Whopper from its value menu and…