On this week’s Extra Serving, NRN editor in chief Sam Oches and executive editor Alicia Kelso discuss the latest restaurant industry news, including innovations in loyalty programs, new value deal launches, and how non-chicken brands are crashing the chicken party. First up is news around loyalty programs; McDonald’s is connecting its famed Monopoly game to its loyalty program, while Krystal is launching its first loyalty effort in nearly a century of existence. Sam and Alicia discuss the latest advancements in loyalty and how it’s helping to support value messaging in this difficult economy. Speaking of value, they also tackle the recent Circana report that showed demand for value at a 50-year high. How can restaurants meet that demand without falling into a discounting pit they can’t climb out of? Finally, they discuss recent data that showed non-chicken brands using chicken innovation to steal market share from chicken chains. What does this suggest about the state of chicken in the industry — and chains’ innovation efforts more broadly? 

For more on these stories:  

McDonald’s adds digital aspect to Monopoly

Restaurant customers are seeking deals at the highest rate in 50 years

Chicken spending jumps 2 points in the QSR category