Analyst: Casual-dining comps could fall in March
After seeing strong same-store sales increases from December through February, March may bring a downward trend for restaurants in the casual-dining sector — possibly the worst since December 2010,...
View ArticleTop chefs on today's American cuisine
The shift in American cuisine over the past 30 years to an ingredient-driven, regionally influenced style of cooking largely has been embraced by consumers, a panel of top fine-dining...
View ArticleDitch Dog
Cool Plates features dishes from across the country to help inspire chefs' creativity. Chef-owner Marc Murphy combines two trendy comfort foods with this item — a favorite at both of the restaurant’s...
View ArticleWendy's ads: We've never used 'pink slime'
The Wendy’s Co. proactively defended its beef sourcing for its more than 6,000 restaurants in North America, running an advertisement in eight major daily newspapers Friday that said it never has used...
View ArticleDunkin’ Donuts debuts ad campaign targeting Hispanics
Dunkin’ Donuts has debuted a new ad campaign targeted to the Hispanic market that translates its tagline, “America Moves With Dunkin’,” to “América se Mueve con Dunkin’,” in Spanish. The campaign’s...
View ArticleNRA: Performance index rises in February
Upbeat operators reporting positive same-store sales and customer traffic gains helped to fuel growth in the National Restaurant Association’s Restaurant Performance Index for February, keeping the...
View ArticleDenny's COO Robert Rodriguez leaves company
Denny’s Corp. said Friday that chief operating officer Robert Rodriguez has left the company for unexplained reasons after 18 months, effective immediately. The company noted the development in a...
View ArticleMeal break lawsuit could affect California restaurants
The California Supreme Court is expected to rule in mid April on a landmark case about meal and rest breaks that could have a significant impact on all employers in the state. Restaurant operators...
View ArticleGrowth Chains: Prepkitchen
HEADQUARTERS: San Diego MARKET SEGMENT: casual MENU: seasonal comfort food NO. OF UNITS: 2 SYSTEMWIDE SALES: $2.7 million AVERAGE CHECK: $25 LEADERSHIP: Arturo Kassel, owner and managing partner;...
View ArticlePotato skins have renewed appeal
Potato skins are the latest type of retro comfort food to get an upscale makeover. As with the gussied up macaroni and cheese, hot dogs, grilled cheese sandwiches and hamburgers that preceded them,...
View ArticlePinning down Pinterest
Social media is fast-changing, and nearly every month a new darling steals the spotlight. But the latest hot platform, Pinterest.com, is snatching up share faster than most and giving restaurant...
View ArticlePeople, Performance and Profits
“Management is the delusion that you can change people. Leadership is deluding other people instead of deluding yourself.” — Scott Adams in Dilbert Since my book “Multi Unit Leadership” was...
View ArticleSkinner: A tough act to follow at McDonald's
Confidence is widespread that Don Thompson is the right man to take the reins at McDonald’s Corp. as the fast-food behemoth enters a new era of leadership. But there’s also no doubting that Thompson,...
View ArticleAt your service
At a time when the industry’s growth overall is minimal and stealing market share is necessary to build sales, improving the guest experience is proving to be a key factor in differentiating a brand....
View ArticleHaving Words With: Jim Balis
HOMETOWN: Boise, Idaho EDUCATION: bachelor of arts in psychology from Duke University, Durham, N.C. PERSONAL: married, two children EXPERIENCE: chief executive of Sticky Fingers, Charleston, S.C.;...
View ArticleEditor's Letter: Selling service
“No, tuna has nothing to do with it,” my husband said into the phone, shooting me an exasperated look. “I said pepperoni, black olives and mushrooms. Can you read me back my order?” That exchange, with...
View ArticleItalian beers next on the craft beer scene
For a glimpse of where craft beer in American restaurants may be headed, scan the beer list of Alla Spina, the new Philadelphia dining spot that showcases distinctive, hard-to-find Italian craft beers...
View ArticleTim Hortons to sell Cold Stone ice cream at Canadian drive-thrus
Drive-thrus at nearly 100 co-branded Tim Hortons and Cold Stone Creamery restaurants in Canada will now serve ice cream products. While Cold Stone Creamery has provided ice cream to dine-in guests...
View ArticleBurger King eager to take on McDonald’s
The ink is not yet dry on Burger King’s plan to become a publicly traded restaurant company through a merger with shell company Justice Holdings, but one of its newest investors, hedge fund founder...
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Casual dining raises stakes at lunch
While the recession tried to eat the lunch of casual-dining restaurants’ afternoon daypart, major chains fought back by retooling lunch promotions and offering guests time and menu flexibility. A new...
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