The Americas
The MICHELIN Guide adds four new states to its newest regional selection
Making its debut in the America southwest, MICHELIN has added Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico and Utah to its upcoming restaurant selection: The MICHELIN Guide Southwest. This comes after its recent expansion into the American south, as well as northeastern cities Philadelphia and Boston earlier this year. The prestigious guide’s anonymous Inspectors will be keenly experiencing unique dining destinations the four new states have to offer to showcase the region’s best culinary gems. “We are excited to showcase the distinct cuisine styles that are representative of the cultures throughout the Southwest,” said Gwendal Poullennec, international director of The MICHELIN Guide, “which blends a rich mix of traditions and culinary talent.”
Chipotle opens its 4,000th branch in Kansas
Chipotle Mexican Grill has announced opening its 4,000th restaurant in Manhattan, Kansas, also known as the ‘Little Apple’. This marks a key milestone in the chains ambitious plans of expansion, as it aims to open between 315 to 345 more restaurants in 2025, with 350-370 openings projected for 2026. Like the new Kansas joint, 80% of the restaurants opening this year will feature a Chipotlane, the company’s drive-thru pick-up lane for orders made online. It also “showcases more convenient access points, sustainable design features and equipment upgrades that elevate the experience,” for customers and employees, says Stephen Piacentini, chief development officer at Chipotle.
Asia Pacific
Jolibee is set to open its first branch in Australia
The Philippine fast-food giant, Jolibee Foods Corp, is reportedly looking to open its first branch in Australia. Plans, which have development consent from Campbelltown City Council until July 2029, suggest that a currently abandoned Sizzler site in Campbell Town in west Sydney will be bulldozed to make way for three fast food premises, alongside a Taco Bell and Krispy Kreme, although “no date for work beginning at the site was known,” said one spokesperson. The Sizzler site has remained empty since 2020, when the franchise shut down having been unable to appeal to Australians’ shifting tastes for fresher food, until Covid shut it the branch down for good. For Jolibee, with over 10,000 restaurants across 33 countries, this opening would put a new country on its map, in a move to open 800 new restaurants globally. Other foodservice operators are also expanding into the area, with Chick-fil-A opening its first locally owned and operated outlet in Singapore at Bugis+.
Registrations open for Asia’s QSR sector 2026 industry summit in Singapore
QSR Media Asia Conference & Awards returns for a full day of discussion, networking and recognition in March 2026, hosted in Singapore. This annual event brings together leading quick-service and fast-casual restaurant executives from across the region to examine key movements in the industry, from shifting consumer behavior and competitive growth strategies to digital transformation and menu innovation, as well as regional expansion and other key opportunities or trends shaping the industry. Registration is now open for partners, groups and industry leaders to participate in this comprehensive event, which provides opportunities for leaders to share insights and solutions to key industry challenges. The QRS Media Awards will also ‘highlight brands and individuals driving innovation, operational excellence, and impactful customer experiences’.
Europe, Middle East, Africa
Hilton adds two hotels to its lifestyle range in Turkey
Hilton has announced the launch of its lifestyle range, Canopy by Hilton, in Istanbul and Izmir. This marks the next phase in the hotel group’s regional development strategy. The Canopy by Hilton range is part of a broader expansion plan, driven by the acceleration of lifestyle projects across several European markets. The Istanbul property will have 110 rooms with An all-day restaurant combining Turkish and international cuisine positions F&B as a central experiential and revenue driver, aligned with Canopy’s lifestyle operating model, while the Izmir property will have 191 rooms. The project highlights Hilton’s ‘focus on lifestyle hotels embedded in urban regeneration dynamics.’
UK pubs report flat November sales after Budget blows
New data reflects a ‘very difficult 2025’ for the hospitality industry, says NIQ, with concerns about the future after the 2025 budget. The latest Business Confidence Survey from NIQ and Sonda reveals that only 26% of leaders feel optimistic about their business for the next 12 months. Managed pubs reported a positive month with sales up 2.5% YoY, but sales were down across bars and restaurants, down 5.2% and 2.1% respectively, pressuring ambitions for strong Christmas trading. The latest NIQ RSM Hospital Business Tracker reports a 0.3% increase in like-for-like trading ahead of the same month last year, based on monthly sales data from 116 hospitality groups, including PizzaExpress, Dishoom, Gordon Ramsay Restaurants and BrewDog. This reflects continued low footfall levels, with any growth attributed to higher menu prices and new openings of well-performing foodservice operators.
Lauren Hurrell
