Come Get It: KFC Canada Launches New Beverage Brand to Kwench Nationwide Thirst

KFC Canada has launched Kwench, a new specialty beverage brand featuring made-to-order drinks across four categories: Krunch Shakes, Sparkling Lemonades, Boba Refreshers, and Iced Lattes. Starting at $3.50, the brand will expand from 170 locations by summer 2026 to 600 locations in 2027, backed by a $30 million investment. This marks KFC Canada's first expansion outside its core chicken category and the North American debut of the globally successful Kwench brand.

07/27/2026, 1:43 PM • GlobeNewswire

Faites-vous plaisir: PFK Canada lance Kwench, une nouvelle marque de boissons

PFK Canada launches Kwench, a new beverage brand featuring four categories of specialty drinks (Krunch Shakes, Sparkling Lemonades, Pearl Tea Refreshments, and Iced Lattes). The brand will be available in over 170 locations by end of summer, expanding to 600 by 2027, with a $30 million investment from PFK and franchisees. This marks Kwench's North American debut and represents PFK's expansion beyond its core chicken business.

07/27/2026, 1:43 PM • GlobeNewswire

PepsiCo vs. Molson Coors: Which Stock Will Quench Investor Thirst For Profits in 2026?

PepsiCo and Molson Coors represent two different investment strategies in the consumer staples sector. PepsiCo offers stability with slow but steady growth, diversified snack and beverage brands, and a strong global presence, though it faces headwinds from GLP-1 medications and consumer spending caution. Molson Coors trades at cheaper valuations with a higher dividend yield but struggles with declining beer sales and is in the midst of a risky turnaround into premium beverages. The article recommends PepsiCo as the safer choice despite Molson Coors' attractive valuation metrics.

07/09/2026, 1:27 PM • The Motley Fool

Pizza Hut UK reopens iconic Marble Arch restaurant and launches search for four decades of memories

Pizza Hut UK has reopened its iconic Marble Arch restaurant after a significant refurbishment. The company is launching a social media competition inviting customers to share throwback photos from Pizza Hut locations over the past four decades, with prizes including £19.73 vouchers and a £1,973 grand prize draw. The reopening marks Pizza Hut's continued investment in upgrading its UK estate, with plans for further refurbishment at The Trafford Centre in Manchester.

07/02/2026, 12:51 PM • GlobeNewswire

Domino’s Stock Slides to 52-Week Low as Investors Digest CEO Change

Domino's Pizza announced the retirement of CEO Russell Weiner, effective end of September, with company veteran Joe Jordan taking over on October 1. The announcement sent the already struggling stock to a 52-week low, prompting analyst downgrades. The leadership change comes amid slowing sales growth, disappointing Q1 results, and reduced full-year guidance. While the promotion of an insider suggests a focus on reigniting growth rather than strategic overhaul, investors remain cautious about whether the slowdown is temporary or signals deeper challenges.

06/26/2026, 11:02 AM • Investing

Top Consumer Discretionary Brands Add Buyback Capacity Amid Weakness

Three major consumer discretionary companies—Yum! Brands, AutoZone, and Birkenstock—are significantly expanding their share buyback programs despite recent stock weakness. Yum! announced a $4 billion buyback after selling Pizza Hut for $2.7 billion, AutoZone added $1.5 billion in buyback capacity amid a 10% decline, and Birkenstock launched a $500 million buyback following debt refinancing. These moves signal management confidence in their valuations, though each company faces distinct challenges.

06/25/2026, 12:02 PM • Investing

Yum! Brands Is Selling Pizza Hut. Investors Should Be Cautiously Optimistic.

Yum! Brands is selling Pizza Hut in two transactions—to LongRange Capital for international operations and to Yum China for mainland China—netting approximately $2.3 billion. The company plans to focus on growth in KFC and Taco Bell, which have stronger unit economics. While the sale strengthens the balance sheet and enables a $4 billion share buyback, concerns remain about consumer spending pressures, rising inflation, and U.S. consumer debt at record highs, warranting a cautiously optimistic outlook.

06/24/2026, 7:20 AM • The Motley Fool

Deal Dispatch: Yum! Brands Sells Pizza Hut, Fox Corp. Buys Roku For $22 Billion, Salesforce Acquires Fin

Major M&A activity includes Fox Corp acquiring Roku for $22 billion, Salesforce buying Fin for $3.6 billion, Yum! Brands selling Pizza Hut to LongRange Capital for $1.5 billion, and Nuvei acquiring Payoneer for $2.75 billion. Additionally, Domo is pursuing a strategic transaction, and two companies filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

06/18/2026, 2:05 PM • Benzinga

S&P 500 Rally Faces Its First Real Test From the Fed

U.S. markets surged to record highs on Monday following President Trump's announcement of a completed Iran peace deal, with the Dow, S&P 500, and Nasdaq all posting strong gains. Oil prices plummeted below $81 as the Strait of Hormuz reopened, benefiting airlines and transport while pressuring energy stocks. However, the rally is concentrated in semiconductor and tech names, with narrow breadth raising concerns about durability ahead of the Federal Reserve's Wednesday decision. SpaceX's IPO has tripled from its offer price in three days, signaling extreme momentum-driven speculation.

06/16/2026, 12:59 PM • Investing

Yum China Buys Pizza Hut Brand In China

Yum China Holdings agreed to acquire ownership of the Pizza Hut brand in Mainland China from Yum! Brands for $1.2 billion in cash. The deal, expected to close in Q3 2026, will eliminate licensing fee payments and provide greater strategic flexibility. Pizza Hut China generated $2.3 billion in revenue in 2025 with plans to expand to 6,000+ stores by 2028. The acquisition is expected to immediately improve margins and be accretive to EPS. Yum China shares were down 0.82% at $43.88 on Tuesday.

06/16/2026, 12:38 PM • Benzinga

Yum! Brands Is Selling One Of America's Most Iconic Pizza Chains For $2.3 Billion— Here's What To Know

Yum! Brands confirmed the sale of Pizza Hut to private equity firm LongRange Capital for approximately $1.5 billion, with Yum China Holdings acquiring mainland China operations for $1.2 billion. The total net proceeds are projected at $2.3 billion. The sale reflects Pizza Hut's persistent financial struggles and shift toward delivery and carryout models as it falls behind competitors in a weakening pizza industry.

06/16/2026, 9:09 AM • Benzinga

Slice of the Pie: Why Yum’s Deal Lifts QSR

Yum! Brands' planned divestiture of Pizza Hut to LongRange Capital for $3.6-4.3 billion signals a strategic pivot in the quick-service restaurant sector. The deal will reduce Yum's debt from $9.3B to $5.3B and eliminate a drag on margins, establishing a valuation benchmark that benefits competitor Restaurant Brands International. Institutional investors are expected to rotate capital from the newly expensive Yum! Brands into the relatively cheaper Restaurant Brands International, which demonstrates stronger operational performance and shareholder returns.

06/03/2026, 12:28 PM • Investing

Yum China Reportedly Not included In Second Bidding Round For Jardine Restaurant Group

Yum China has been excluded from the second round of bidding for Jardine Restaurant Group, which operates KFC and Pizza Hut franchises in Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, Vietnam, and Myanmar. The group operates approximately 1,000 stores across these markets. Other bidders reportedly include private equity firm Carlyle and Taiwan-based Uni-President.

05/26/2026, 9:28 AM • Benzinga

Domino’s Pizza: Outlook for the Berkshire Holding After Q1 Drop

Domino's Pizza shares fell nearly 20% in early 2026 after missing Q1 earnings expectations with revenue of $1.15B (vs. $1.16B expected) and adjusted EPS of $4.13 (vs. $4.29 expected). The company lowered full-year guidance citing weak consumer sentiment and increased competitive pricing pressure. However, Domino's remains the only major pizza chain expanding store count while competitors close locations, and its free cash flow has grown at 16% CAGR since Q1 2023. Berkshire Hathaway has doubled its position to 3.4M shares despite the stock's weakness, reflecting confidence in long-term value.

04/30/2026, 4:54 PM • Investing

$4 Gas Is Draining American Wallets: Here's Why Pizza Stocks Could Actually Gain

A Bank of America analysis of credit card data shows that when gas prices spike, consumers maintain driving but cut discretionary spending, particularly shifting from casual dining to quick-service restaurants and pizza chains. Pizza QSR spending accelerates to 7.8% during gas spikes versus a 5.1% long-term average, making pizza delivery chains potential beneficiaries of this consumer trade-down pattern.

04/13/2026, 12:37 PM • Benzinga