Restaurants have Black Friday success
The holiday shopping season got off to a merry start for restaurateurs as year-over-year foodservice sales during Thanksgiving Day and Black Friday grew at a higher rate than did total sales across all...
View ArticleJames Beard Foundation adds award categories
The James Beard Foundation, whose annual restaurant and chef awards in May are considered among the most prestigious in foodservice, has added a new award category to honor excellence in beverage...
View ArticleRed Mango makes push into Mexico
Red Mango is making its first foray outside the United States with a franchise agreement in Mexico. The Dallas-based frozen yogurt chain said Thursday it struck a deal with Cinemex, a Mexican movie...
View ArticleCool Plates: Coral Caviar
Cool Plates features dishes from across the country to help inspire chefs' creativity. Caviar service has long been an integral part of the offerings at this fine dining institution, but executive chef...
View ArticleWendy’s consolidates HQ in Dublin, Ohio
The Wendy’s Co. said it would consolidate its world headquarters in Dublin, Ohio, and close its restaurant support center in Atlanta in late 2012, relocating 170 positions to the Buckeye State. For the...
View ArticleSuccessful holiday restaurant advertising
Restaurant marketers looking to tap into consumers’ holiday spirit would be served best by using seasonal tie-ins along with a brand’s long-term marketing message, according to a new study from...
View ArticleKrispy Kreme 3Q earnings jump nearly 96%
Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Inc. said Wednesday higher domestic same-store sales helped boost revenue and earnings in the third quarter ended Oct. 30. However, the quick-service operator reported continued...
View ArticleTasti D-Lite buys Planet Smoothie
Frozen dessert chain Tasti D-Lite said Thursday it has purchased Planet Smoothie LLC, the 110-unit smoothie and snack chain, from Petrus Brands in Atlanta. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Petrus...
View ArticleGarbanzo eyes national growth
Garbanzo Mediterranean Grill, based in Denver, is poised for growth next year with the launch of a new franchising program and plans to open its first corporate locations outside Colorado. Founded in...
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Survey: Operators positive on sales, margin expectations
Restaurant industry same-store sales set records in October, according to the latest NRN-MillerPulse survey, and restaurant operators reported more optimism as margin outlooks for the near term turned...
View ArticleChains add snacks, drinks to menus
Several quick-service chains added new snacks and beverages to their menus this week. Frozen yogurt chain Red Mango launched a line of hot chocolate drinks as a limited-time offer for December. The...
View ArticleLazy Dog Café grows from family base
Many in the upscale casual-dining segment have struggled in recent years with value and accessibility as consumers have cut spending. Chris Simms, chief executive of the Lazy Dog Café chain, however,...
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Casual dining menu prices rise modestly
Average menu prices in the casual-dining restaurant segment rose only slightly this year despite increased commodity costs and early predictions from restaurant operators that price increases would be...
View ArticleThe latest chefs on the move
Chuck Jaloski has been named vice president of culinary for Stonewood Holdings in Ormond Beach, Fla., which operates 16 Stonewood Grill & Tavern locations and four Peach Valley Cafés. The former...
View ArticleSteak 'n Shake helps boost Biglari Holdings' 4Q earnings
Biglari Holdings Inc. reported Saturday a 28.3-percent increase in fourth-quarter net income, driven by traffic and same-store sales gains at its Steak ’n Shake chain. San Antonio, Texas-based Biglari...
View ArticleMichael’s chef–owner on restaurant trends
Chef Michael McCarty — who was raising his own ducks and cooking seasonal, regional cuisine in the 1970s — was a pioneer in the culinary philosophy that now dominates American dining in independent...
View ArticleBreakfast shows opportunity for quick service
Consumers want morning meal options that are healthful and convenient, a market research report said Monday. The breakfast daypart has been growing steadily in recent years and now accounts for about...
View ArticleChurch's launches holiday movie promotion
Church’s Chicken is the latest restaurant chain to tie a promotion to a movie release during the holidays. The 1,700-unit quick-service chain has launched a national sweepstakes tied to “Joyful Noise,”...
View ArticleCosì names Carin Stutz chief executive
Così Inc. said Monday it has named restaurant industry veteran Carin L. Stutz its new chief executive and president. Stutz, 55, most recently was president of global business development at Brinker...
View ArticleCracker Barrel, Biglari continue war of words
The battle of words in the proxy fight between Cracker Barrel Old Country Store Inc. and activist investor Sardar Biglari is nearing an end given the family restaurant company’s Dec. 20 shareholders...
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