Dining chains have scant time to enjoy the recovery this year, as gasoline prices are likely to rise sharply and impinge on both operations costs and volume as consumers drive less. "It can't be
good," said Popeyes CMO Dick Lynch, who said there's a correlation between gas prices and QSR sales. Fast food restaurants, which owe their existence to post-WWII car culture, may face the biggest
test. Popeyes is touting a Butterfly Shrimp Tackle Box for $4.99; Dairy Queen is launching a "crave-worthy" push with a "So good it's riDQulous" tag; Arby's just launched a push, saying of its fare,
"It's good mood food."
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