Top restaurant TV ads marry price, quality
While many quick-service restaurants touted price in January TV ads, not all of them improved their value perceptions with consumers, according to new “value score” data from YouGov BrandIndex, a...
View ArticleChina, new unit growth drive 4Q results at Yum! Brands
Yum! Brands Inc. said Monday fourth-quarter earnings increased 30 percent, driven by a revenue jump of 15 percent from strength in China and new unit openings around the world. The parent company to...
View ArticleTwo bidders compete in Real Mex auction
Two bidders have emerged in the bankruptcy auction of Real Mex Restaurants and a decision by the court is expected this week. One is a group of noteholders including investment funds managed by...
View ArticleWhataburger adds chicken-fajita taco to menu
Regional burger chain Whataburger is adding a chicken-fajita taco to its permanent menu. San Antonio, Texas-based Whataburger on Monday made the taco part of its regular menu after offering a version...
View ArticleChick-fil-A reports 2011 sales of $4 billion, eyes growth
Quick-service chicken chain Chick-fil-A outlined plans for growth in 2012 as it reported annual sales of $4.05 billion in 2011, a 13.1-percent increase over last year. The privately held company also...
View ArticleYum outlines plans for sales growth, expansion abroad
Yum! Brands Inc., the parent of KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell, said expansion abroad and profit growth in the United States would enable the company to maintain the earnings momentum it achieved in...
View ArticlePanera eyes urban locations
As part of a move to open more urban locations, Panera Bread recently debuted its first unit in New York. The bakery-café unit in busy Midtown Manhattan marks the St. Louis-based chain’s 1,500th...
View ArticleBuffalo Wild Wings 2011 profit rises 31%
A strong fourth quarter of sales and unit growth helped drive a more than 31-percent increase in Buffalo Wild Wings 2011 annual net income compared with a year earlier. For the fourth quarter ended...
View ArticlePanera's 4Q earnings increase 5.8%
Panera Bread Co. on Tuesday said profit increased 5.8 percent in the fourth quarter after special charges, and same-store sales rose at both its corporate-owned and franchised locations. The 1,541-unit...
View ArticleInvestors press for board seats at J. Alexander's
Three groups of investors acting in concert are proposing to replace the full board of J. Alexander’s Corp., officials of the casual-dining company said Monday. The investors said in regulatory filings...
View ArticleDunkin’ Brands names new president of international division
Dunkin’ Brands, the parent company of Dunkin’ Donuts and Baskin-Robbins, has named Giorgio Minardi president of its international division, the company said Tuesday. Minardi replaces Neal Yanofsky, who...
View ArticleCustomers’ top 10 limited-service restaurant chains
Chick-fil-A, Panera Bread and Chipotle topped a list of limited-service restaurant chains with “excellent” customer satisfaction ratings for 2011, according to a survey by Sandelman & Associates....
View ArticleMcDonald’s global January comps up 7%
McDonald’s Corp. reported a 6.7-percent increase in global same-store sales for January, with each of its three operating regions across the world beating previous estimates. The Oak Brook, Ill.-based...
View ArticlePanera to expand table service, drive-thrus
Panera will expand a test of table service and drive-thrus this year, Panera Bread Co. executives said Wednesday. Company executives spoke with analysts after reporting Tuesday that profit increased...
View ArticleMarco’s enters $100M deal with Family Video
Marco’s Pizza, the franchisor of more than 280 restaurants in 21 states, has partnered in a $100 million deal with privately held movie rental chain Family Video to open Marco’s outlets within as many...
View ArticleRestaurants roll out Valentine’s Day menu specials
Red, chocolate and heart shapes are the unsurprising themes for chains as they gear up for Valentine’s Day. Baskin-Robbins is taking the opportunity to add two flavors to its line of ice cream cake...
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Fast-casual segment influences restaurant industry
Growth in the fast-casual sector is having a deep impact on the restaurant industry as operators in other segments try to imitate its successful strategies, the NPD Group said Wednesday. Fast-casual...
View ArticleBeef ‘O’ Brady’s makes first international push
Family sports pub operator Beef ‘O’ Brady’s has inked its first international franchise agreement to open restaurants in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. The Tampa, Fla.-based casual-dining chain signed the...
View ArticleDairy Queen opens 500th restaurant in China
International Dairy Queen Inc. has opened its 500th Dairy Queen restaurant in China, and plans to maintain its accelerated growth in that country in 2012 by adding more than 100 new locations this...
View ArticleBurger King debuts two-for-$3 breakfast sandwiches
Burger King is offering two value-positioned meal deals as limited-time offers this month. Through Feb. 29, the Miami-based quick-service chain is selling two breakfast sandwiches for $3. The...
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