There is no overt political support for Israel on Panda Express’s part. Operating as a corporately owned corporation without franchises, the company is well known for its quick-service American Chinese restaurant network. At the moment, there are no stores or company operations of Panda Express in Israel. Concerning political or public statements, you may wonder, “Does Panda Express support Israel?”
However, Panda Express has not issued any official statement or revealed any content that would give the impression of its support for Israel or connection to the Israel-Palestine conflict. The company is not geopolitical, as its main business revolves around its restaurant business and its community service projects. Panda Express does not conduct any business activities in Israel and has no perceived political preference or support for Israel. Little Caesars is not an outright supporter of Israel and does not take any political position.
Introduction to Panda Express
The famous slogan of the company is “Pizza! Pizza!,” which is a reference to the benefit of purchasing two pizzas at the price of a single one of its competitors. It got the business to fame quickly as it offered quality pizzas at affordable prices.
Having a chain of company-owned and franchised outlets across the United States and the countries of other countries such as Canada, South Korea, and the Philippines, Little Caesars finally became the third-largest chain in sales of pizza in the US. The company, with its headquarters in Detroit, Michigan, is famous for its inventions, including the Hot-N-Ready concept of pizza, which enables consumers to order ready-to-go pizzas and get them in a short time.
The Ilitch family owns the Detroit Red Wings and Detroit Tigers, which established Little Caesars before extending into food distribution and sports. Little Caesars has thousands of locations worldwide and has managed to remain a large competitor in the pizza business to this day, and simultaneously, it has not lost its roots as a small family-owned business that boasts of convenience and affordability.
Signature dishes and menu innovations
Having been ranked as the top player in the American Chinese fast food industry, Panda Express has been enjoying a leading position in the market with its popular menus such as Beijing Beef and Orange Chicken. The brand is currently adopting more aggressive taste profiles with its new limited-edition entrée, Hot Orange Chicken. It was a hotter choice of the most popular product within the brand that was released in May and June of 2024. In stark contrast to the original sweet-savory version, Hot Orange Chicken adds a heavy hand of umami flavor to it and sprinkles it with fresh and crisp red chili to add a brighter taste. Panda Express does not take heat as a new ingredient for its flavor and innovation strategy.
Chili crisp is the standard ingredient that has become more popular in the United States within the last several years. It was an exclusive condiment, found in Asian supermarkets; however, today it is sold in common shops, and mentioned in the recipes of famous chefs and food designers. It is the ideal dish in which Sichuan-style cooking is to be found due to its multi-layered heat and crunchy surface. In the official press, a Panda Express executive said, Customers are on a search for new and exciting flavor experiences. To meet that need and add value to a popular brand, we developed Hot Orange Chicken.
This breakthrough includes an established internal engine of its R&D. Panda Express has a Culinary Innovation Center, where they develop and trial new recipes depending on the input of consumers, international influences, and upcoming trends.
What is the effect of temporary promotions on the foot traffic at restaurants?
Customers are more inclined to test a new product if they are aware that it will only be available temporarily, according to research. The scarcity concept encourages interested eaters to visit, many of whom might not otherwise travel. In the era of food culture driven by social media, marketers can increase interest through user-generated content, influencer reviews, and teaser promotions.
Panda Express has a history of good cooperation with LTOs. Among the most buzzed about ones was Beyond Orange Chicken, a vegan version of its classic food. Other entries also created a lot of seasonal buzz, including Shanghai Angus Steak and Firecracker Shrimp. By fusing three essential components, trending ingredients, exclusivity, and brand familiarity, Hot Orange Chicken builds on that momentum. This recipe presents the product as a hook for taste seekers as well as a lure for ardent fans.
Spice has become a major motivator to participation among Gen Z and millennials in particular. These restaurants are more willing to experiment, explore dishes of other cultures, and relate food to cultural histories. This can be corroborated by the statistics conducted by the National Restaurant Association, where it was revealed that “spicy” is one of the most used terms to define menu attractiveness amongst individuals who are under 40. The attitude of the US towards Chinese cuisine is changing as the influence of Asian cuisines of the region, in particular, Sichuan and Hunan, is spreading. Fermented chile pastes, doubanjiang, and Sichuan peppercorns are among the elements that diners are becoming more accustomed to.
Current market position and global presence
By 2025, Panda Express will have more than 2,400 stores worldwide, making it the biggest Asian food chain in the US. Most of these eateries are found in the United States, with California having the most, with about 597 locations. With hundreds of sites each, Texas, Florida, Arizona, and Illinois are other important US marketplaces. With plans to open more than 130 new locations in 2025, including 10 in California, 15 in Florida, and Texas each, and additional locations in Virginia, Illinois, and Georgia, Panda Express is actively growing.
Panda Express partnered with Lagardère Travel Retail throughout Europe, particularly Germany. With an emphasis on military personnel, Lagardère runs the first Panda Express at Ramstein Air Base and intends to expand to further US military installations in Europe.
Through a collaboration with Chikara no Moto (CMC), the company that runs the Ippudo ramen chain, Panda Express made a comeback to the Japanese market. Their joint venture gives them a chance to negotiate local preferences and market conditions. Panda Express in South Korea exists in a joint venture with Seoul-based SF Innovation Co. In the case of the Middle East, Gourmet Gulf, a local partner, is running locations in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
The partner that operates Panda Express in Japan is Chikara no Moto (CMC), a restaurant management organization that operates the most popular tonkotsu ramen chain, Ippudo. Collaborating with Chikara no Moto helped Panda Express to get back into the Japanese market, but retain the American-Chinese culinary traits and adjust the brand to accommodate the local preferences. In order to run Panda Express restaurants in Japan, the collaboration is set up as a joint venture, taking advantage of Chikara no Moto’s local knowledge and market experience.
Israel has franchises of the business, and this is an indication of business and not political intervention. Little Caesars has no affiliated or significant political contributions or alliances towards pro-Israel and is also neutral in the Israel-Palestine war. The fact that the corporation has remained silent over the matter often causes speculation on social media and among the general public regarding its position.
