Weekly Global News Wrap: McDonald’s, Panera entering the Metaverse; Chipotle not seeing ‘Great Resignation’ effects; Doordash starts financing arm

Here is a summary of the most interesting news stories of the week from around the world.

McDonald’s and Panera Bread have joined corporations looking to ride the potential wave of virtual reality marketplaces, recently filing trademarks for ​​digital goods, services and even restaurants. Read more from Nation’s Restaurant News.

Yum Brands reported mixed results for its fourth quarter as higher costs weighed on profits. The company’s same-store sales grew 5% compared with the year-ago period and 4% on a two-year basis. Read more from CNBC.

Chipotle CEO Brian Niccol said the brand is not  seeing the effects of the "Great Resignation" in its workforce. The Mexican chain is reportedly staffed up to pre-pandemic levels. Read more from Business Insider.

Starbucks has fired seven workers involved in organising a union in the U.S. state of Tennessee, reportedly fueling accusations that the coffee giant is retaliating against the growing labor movement it is facing. The chain “denied that the layoffs were linked to union efforts or retaliation for staff speaking to the media.” Read more from The Guardian.

Doordash is now lending money to restaurants. Those eligible can use the DoorDash Capital programme to buy equipment or pay rent, repaying the balance over time. Read more from Restaurant Business.