Emily Flippen: We're eating up the tastiest trend in restaurants, Asian food chains expanding across the United States and what this means for investors today on Motley Fool Money. I'm Emily Flippen, and today, I'm joined by analysts Jason Hall and Sam Deo to discuss the rise of Asian food chains in the United States, and if their expanding reach and changing palates offer up an opportunity for investors to take a bite out of something new. We'll be discussing luck and coffee, of course, but also some busin ...

Core Insights - YY Group Holding Limited has announced a strategic partnership with Kentucky Fried Chicken Singapore to enhance operational excellence across KFC outlets in Singapore [1][5] - The partnership will utilize YY Group's YY Circle platform to provide daily casual staffing, ensuring consistent service quality and agile operations for KFC [2][3] Company Overview - YY Group is a technology-enabled platform headquartered in Singapore, offering flexible workforce solutions and integrated facility management services across Asia [8][9] - The company operates in two main verticals: on-demand staffing and integrated facility management, serving industries such as hospitality, logistics, retail, and healthcare [9][10] Partnership Details - The YY Circle platform connects businesses with a pre-vetted pool of skilled casual workers, allowing KFC to adjust staffing levels effectively during peak hours and seasonal campaigns [3][4] - This collaboration reflects a mutual trust and shared vision for operational excellence, positioning YY Group for growth in Singapore's competitive hospitality sector [5][6] Strategic Impact - The partnership with KFC highlights the scalability and reliability of YY Circle, setting new benchmarks for operational resilience and workforce agility [4][5] - YY Group aims to strengthen its market foothold and unlock new opportunities for expansion through this collaboration [5][9]

Core Insights - Yum Brands reported mixed quarterly results, with Pizza Hut's same-store sales declining more than expected, impacting overall performance [1][2] - The company’s net income for the first quarter was $253 million, down from $314 million a year earlier, translating to earnings of 90 cents per share [1] - Net sales increased by 12% to $1.79 billion, but fell short of the expected $1.85 billion [6] Financial Performance - Adjusted earnings per share were $1.30, slightly above the expected $1.29 [6] - Same-store sales across all brands rose by 3%, with Taco Bell leading with a 9% increase, surpassing estimates [2][3] - KFC's same-store sales grew by 2%, exceeding the 1.4% estimate, but its U.S. sales declined by 1% [3][4] Brand-Specific Performance - Pizza Hut's same-store sales fell by 2%, worse than the anticipated 0.1% decline, with U.S. sales down 5% and international sales flat [2] - KFC's performance in the U.S. is struggling, with competition from rivals like Wingstop and Raising Cane's [4] Digital Sales - Digital orders accounted for 55% of Yum's total sales this quarter, indicating a significant shift towards online and mobile ordering [4] Leadership Changes - CEO David Gibbs announced plans to retire in the first quarter of 2026, with the board currently searching for a successor [5]