The well known Yum! Brands Inc. (NYSE:YUM) has been seen to be working on a brand new concept that is expected to bring it up to the level of its subsidiaries; Taco Bell, Pizza Hut Inc and KFC Corp. – all of whom are seen trying to win back U.S. sales from fellow competitors.

The restaurant giant started the first of its two locations on Friday on a trial basis. The restaurant is to be called Banh Shop – it will be a place inspired by Vietnamese culture. It aims to sell banh mi sandwhiches as reported by the Nation’s Restaurant. While this will be run now, the second store aims to open in the next month. The stores are located somewhere within the Dallas district and will set up work soon.

The executive of Yum (NYSE:YUM) in charge of the Banh Shop project, Christopher Poirer reported to Nation’s Restaurant News that with the increasing popularity of Southeast Asian foods in the U.S., Yum! (NYSE:YUM) saw the opportunity to launch a different fast-casual concept. They would be imitating street food of Saigon, which is how they came up with banh mi Vietnamese sandwiches.

It is said that the menu will comprise of Southeast Asian soups, salads, banh mi sandwiches and wok-fired bowls that include cilantro, protein, pickled carrots, daikon, aioli, Thai basil and cucumber cut in ribbons are also on the menu.

This concept is so new in the lineup that Yum! (NYSE:YUM) as well as its subsidiaries are currently just testing it. The famous Taco Bell is also testing one of its upscale taco outlets named U.S. Taco Co. along with Urban Taproom. KFC’s also has its KFC Eleven concept. The subsidiaries are not far away from achieving their goals with continuous market research and additions to the businesses simultaneously.

Yums! (NYSE:YUM) made a wise decision of looking out for local talented chefs like Yasmin and Braden in creating different types of banh mi along with other dishes and beverages.

However, Super Chix’s has a menu with such variety thus making it appear as a version of Five Guys that focuses only on poultry. Ad Age made a comparison of it to Chick-fil-A -KFC’s rival. Starting with a chicken burger, customers get the opportunity to choose toppings and the option of chicken tenders or fries as sides. This marketing is more premium than that of KFC as Super Chix shows off its signature dish as the best true chicken sandwich there is; however, it just isn’t the best U.S. chicken sandwich. KFC needs to pull up its socks in order to compete in the market.

Increasing comparable sales for Yum! Brands (NYSE:YUM), considering all three concepts is challenging. In Q1, comparable sales in the U.S. dropped 3% for KFC, 5% for Pizza Hut and 1% for Taco Bell. Therefore, the brands may become a means of growth with new items on their menus. The brand is definitely stopping the U.S. sales slide though. Yum! brand (NYSE:YUM)  is without a doubt reaching for the stars.

All this resulted in a global decline of 3.7% this August which was much deeper than the expected 3.1% using the Consensus Matrix analysis. Wall Street was warned beforehand as well that McDonald’s (NYSE:MCD) gross profit was likely to take a blow from the current events. Putting on a brave face McDonald’s (NYSE:MCD) CEO, Don Thompson, tried to say the situation was out of their hands but they were trying to steer through the storm as best as they could.

The latest figures state a 2.8% fall in MCD (NYSE:MCD) same restaurant sales revenue for restaurants opened for 13 months or more throughout the US. The Wall Street prediction of a much lesser decline was 2%. This is a cause for concern as this US SRS revenue is one-third for MCD (NYSE:MCD) around the globe.

The continuing breakfast competition, consumers seeking cheaper options and an operational mess on their hands has kept dinners heading the other way in great numbers. Getting restless, McDonald’s (NYSE:MCD) took drastic measures and replacing its head of the US and Canada division who hadn’t even completed two years.

2013 bought in decline of sales in the same store restaurants spread thru out the US, in such a big dollar amount that it succeeded in breaking its record for 10 straight years of gains.

The Asian market after the food safety scandal outburst in July had its aftermath continuing for months. Sales in China were ofcourse affected but they even fell in Japan by a staggering 25%. This ordeal started when Shanghai TV channel broadcasted McDonald’s (NYSE:MCD) largest meat supplier in China was relabeling expired meat and selling it to MCD (NYSE:MCD), YUM (NYSE:YUM) and KFC. After this outburst McDonald (NYSE:MCD) was short on meat for three consecutive weeks.

McDonald (NYSE:MCD) predicted that this problem would result in a decline of 15 to 20 cents (per share) in its third quarter profit. The company also said that it was putting in extra time and effort to regain the trust of its customers. On the other side of the globe, the recent conflict between Russia and Ukraine, led MCD (NYSE:MCD) to close down of a few its restaurants. However Europe is still considered a bright spot due to British consumption.

There was still a great lack of consumer sentiment in Europe, which is the major reason for the decline in sales and profit for three running quarters and this is expected to continue in September as well. Now it’s for us to see and up to McDonald’s (NYSE:MCD) to effectively manage the situation and change strategies where needed.

Taco Bell, of the parent company Yum Brands (NYSE:YUM), has been quick to realize that most of the fast food customers that come to the restaurant are looking for food that costs less, which brought on a few changes to the price menu. McDonald’s (NYSE:MCD) also worked on the same principal back in 2002 with sandwiches, burgers and other edibles all for the price of $1. This move gave McDonald’s (NYSE:MCB) and edge in its same-store sales for ten years.

However, McDonald’s (NYSE:MCD) failed to act on its own smart move when it introduced its new menu last year with exclusive items going far beyond a dollar. Its $5 McNugget Box was a hit but considering all the fast food lovers in the country, a price such as this couldn’t have gained much revenue. The fast food chain suffered from this scheme and lost its place as a go-to restaurant among its customers. Getting back up from this isn’t easy with such tough competition in the market.

Considering both these giants; Taco Bell and McDonald’s (NYSE:MCD) both are not exclusively famous for the quality of their food; it has always been about the prices they offer. A recent consumer report which targeted over 32,000 consumers states that both companies fall short in the burger and burrito category dropping down to last positions. They were ranked much lower than their rivals in the market, including In-N-out and Chipotle Mexican Grill (NYSE:CMG).

On the other hand, comparing Taco Bell and McDonald’s (NYSE:MCD) to each other, it is clear which is performing better; with Taco Bells positive nine quarters out of the last ten and McDonald’s (NYSE:MCD) constant negative sales growth for the past three quarters, Taco Bells is ahead.

This isn’t the first time that Taco Bell has successfully used one of McDonald’s (NYSE:MCD) own schemes against it. Last March, Taco Bell decided to start its own breakfast line. McDonald’s (NYSE:MCD) dominated this line with its hash browns, coffee and breakfast sandwiches for a while. In April, the Mexican restaurant wiz hired people to endorse the breakfast line; this move seemed to show the market the extent of competition between the two. It went on top of its game to try and overthrow McDonald’s (NYSE:MCD) by dominating the market and attracting more customers.

The fast food industry sees ups and downs every quarter. With such a huge mass of food lover out there, the dollar menu is the picture perfect tactic for getting customers attention and increasing comparable same-store sales. All eyes are on McDonald’s (NYSE:MCD) counter strategy now; it would be interesting to see who the fast food giant bounces back.

Aurora is an OSI group based in Illinois. They publicly apologized to their customers. On the very day that the Dragon TV, a local channel, reported that Shanghai Husi were selling expired chicken and beef, the authorities of the city closed down the company. The case causes people to become more concerned about the safety of food in the country. Recently, melamine was discovered in a baby formula and fox DNA was found in Donkey meat.

Both McDonald’s Corp. (MCD:US) and Yum! Brands Inc. (YUM:US) said that they have ceased purchases from Shanghai Husi and have apologized to the customers for the unavailability if some items in their menu. Similarly, Starbucks Corp.(SBUX) also had to remove one item from its menu.

Heidi Barker, a McDonald’s Corp. (MCD:US) spokeswoman, said that the meat only affected the outlets in Shanghai and some in Japan. The meat supplier was not responsible for meat in all the branches in China, it was only the supplier of meat for branches in Shanghai and some in Japan. Fortunately, in Japan only McNuggets were discontinued. She also said that the company is cooperating with the China government and FDA in the investigation and, if proved guilty, trade with Shanghai Husi will be completely stopped.

The reporters for Dragon TV claimed to have seen Shanghai Husi repackaging expired meat. FDA China asked all the companies that buy meat from Shanghai Husi to remove their items from the shelf. Starbucks Corp.(SBUX) was only affected in China, because the product that was affected was chicken apple Panini; an item that has been sold in China only.

Yum! Brands Inc. (YUM:US)’s shares decreased in New York by 4.2 percent, closing at price $74.13. McDonald’s Corp. (MCD:US)’s shares fell by 1.5% closing at $97.55. Starbucks Corp.(SBUX)’s shares reduced by 0.4%, closing at $77.61.

Both Yum! Brands Inc. (YUM:US) and McDonald’s Corp. (MCD:US) have been affected by food safety issues in China for the second time in two years. Other companies in China were also affected by sloppy food suppliers. Many companies, after suffering at the hands of food suppliers, have decided to take up their inspections by a few notches. They will personally investigate the food from suppliers before using it.

The supplier of both companies, Husi Food Co. Ltd, was the perpetrator in question. Footage surfaced of employees of the company picking up meat from the factory floor and taking meat that had gone past its expiration date and mixing it with fresh meat product.

The incriminating footage was broadcasted on Shanghai based broadcasting station DragonTV. The TV reporter went undercover and found the workers picking up meat that had fallen onto the floor and mixed expired meat with the fresh meat. When the reporter, still undercover, asked an employee if these actions were okay, the employee replied that it was no problem, and went on to explain that the expired batch of chicken breasts and chicken skin would be made into chicken nugget products.

The employee also explain that the supplier was cutting corners, and that neither Yum Brands nor McDonalds knew about these ill practices. The television report showed footage of a McDonald’s inspector examining the Husi factory. After the inspector left, employees took the unqualified chicken nuggets that were separated and put them back onto the production lines with the qualified batches.

Soon after the events were broadcasted, both Yum! and McDonalds have made announcements that they would stop using Husi Food and have switched to an alternate supplier.

This scandal is an especially fatal blow for the two food companies, because they are still in the process of recovering from a fast-food controversy from 2012, where accusations were being thrown at them for purchasing and using meat that was filled with excessive antibiotics.

Regarding yesterday’s fast food scare, Yum! China stated that the company refuses to tolerate an violations of government laws and regulations from its suppliers. McDonald’s released a similar statement that stated that such practices are totally unacceptable anywhere in the world.

Yum Brands has just experienced a bounce back in its Chinese market from the previous fast food health violation and a bird flu outbreak. Food industry people have stated that they hold significant reservations as to whether Yum Brands or McDonalds will ever be able to recover from these controversies and regain the trust of their customers in China.

Benjamin Cavendar, the principal at the Shanghai based China Market Research Group stated that to regain the public’s trust is going to be a challenge for both companies. An apology would not be enough, because the Chinese consumers already have very little trust in the systems that both companies have in place.

Yum Brands have seen a drop in their stock price as well, following a report released by Baird that cut their price target fro $87.00 to $84.00. The stock had dropped 4.25% when the market closed yesterday on Monday, to $74.13. The stock was trading at a volume of 8,438,316 shares.

Yum! Brands, Inc. (NYSE:YUM) had a 5.88% fall, which came as a bit of a shock for them but was due to its collapse during the second quarter of the year. The descent was recorded to be because of their Pizza Hut restaurants. Yum! Brands, Inc. (NYSE:YUM) has had a significant 19% rise in income, which now equals to $334 million or 73 cents or one share. This is higher than what it was last year, which was $281 million or 61 cents per share. This was what about 22 analysts had predicted; some had even gone to a higher value of 81 cents. The revenue for the company was a gain of 10% to $3.2 billion, which was slightly less than the value they had expected which was $3.24 billion.

Previously, there had been some big announcements related to Elbit Imaging Ltd (NASDAQ:EMITF) regarding their plan also known as the ‘Plan’ for refurbishing their Plaza, the ‘Plan’ has recently been approved by Dutch Court. The Plan was supported and accepted by 92% of the creditors who thought re-doing the Plaza would be a great idea. Elbit Imaging Ltd (NASDAQ:EMITF) is going to have their annual meeting with the shareholders at their company office; the meeting is to be held on Thursday, August 14^th at 11.00am according to Israel timings and important matters concerning the Company shall be discussed.

In recent times, Elbit Imaging Ltd (NASDAQ:EMITF) has revealed that there shall be an addition to their board of directors and will take over as soon as possible. These new inclusions include David Dekel, Mr. Ron Hadassi, Shlomi Kelsi, Mr. Yaov Kfir and Nadav Livni will accompany the previously appointed members Sarig Shalhav & Messrs Marco Habib Wichers to constitute a board of directors’ team consisting of seven members.

Barbie, once the favorite of all little girls and a fashion icon for many teen girls, is now being faced with some problems. Mattel, Inc. (NASDAQ:MAT), the makers of Barbie, have recently had their sales diminishing a heavy 6.48% due to which, consequently, earnings are depreciating as well. The profits and revenue are less than what was predicted by the market.

The U.S. and European Union now have hard and firm rules set against Russia, and Yandex NV (NASDAQ:YNDX), unfortunately, got sacrificed. The President of the United States, Barack Obama has himself declared these rules concerning Russian banks as well as energy companies due to their strong military support for Ukraine and its separatists.