The trend: Burger King parent Restaurant Brands International (RBI) and KFC, Pizza Hut, and Taco Bell operator Yum Brands joined the parade of quick-service restaurants (QSRs) reporting sluggish sales in the previous quarter, as price-conscious consumers continue to steer clear of fast food.

• Three out of RBI’s four brands—Burger King, Popeye’s, and Firehouse Subs —saw comparable sales decline in Q3, while Tim Hortons’ growth fell short of expectations.
• Taco Bell’s strong value proposition made it the lone brand in Yum’s portfolio to report growth, with both KFC and Pizza Hut suffering from a 4% year-over-year (YoY) decline in same-store sales.