On this week's Extra Serving, NRN editor in chief Sam Oches and executive editor Alicia Kelso discuss the latest restaurant industry news, including Popeyes’ reintroduction of its $6 Big Box, Domino’s new Detroit-style pizza, and new data showing that fast food’s value perception is slipping.
First up is Popeyes, which reintroduced its $6 Big Box as a value offering and rolled out a new promotional campaign around the tagline “THAT Chicken from Popeyes." Popeyes, which experienced a 5.2% drop in same-store sales last quarter, is looking for a way to set itself apart from the rest of the chicken category while also going back to its Cajun roots, and Sam and Alicia talk about the moves and whether they can help the chain reclaim some of the momentum it had gained in 2019 with its iconic Chicken Sandwich launch. They also dive into the broader chicken category competition and how chains are turning to new packaging platforms and value deals to get customers’ attention.
Next they tackle data from Morning Consult, which shows that QSR brands’ value perception is starting to slip after picking up in 2025. Alicia details her reporting on the data, including perspectives from top executives at several chains that are actively retooling their value propositions. Sam and Alicia then explore how value has evolved over the past few years and how American consumers are looking for more holistic value from their favorite restaurant chains.
Finally, they wrap things up with a conversation on Domino’s and its newest menu item: The Domino, a Detroit-style slice that the pizza chain thinks could be transformative for sales. In fact, Domino’s thinks the Domino could become just as popular as other iconic QSR dishes, and the company is offering a free slice to any customer that shows receipt of a McDonald’s Big Mac, Burger King Whopper, Taco Bell Crunchwrap Supreme, or select other dishes. Sam and Alicia talk about the Domino, its bold marketing campaign — including a new commercial hyping the dish that toes the line of controversy — and how it fits into pizza trends today.
For more on these stories:
Popeyes aims to reclaim 'best tasting, best value chicken' title with new campaign
Why fast food’s promotional blitz couldn’t sustain value perceptions
Domino’s is encouraging customers to buy signature items from other brands
