Panera names Thomas Patrick Kelly interim CFO
Panera Bread Co. this week named Thomas Patrick Kelly as interim chief financial officer while the company continues to search for a permanent executive. Kelly temporarily fills a position at the St....
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Grilled cheese sandwiches spotlighted
April is National Grilled Cheese Month. It’s also National Pecan Month, National Soft Pretzel Month, National Soyfoods Month and Fresh Florida Tomato Month. Actually, it’s National Food Month, too, as...
View ArticleCalifornia Supreme Court: Restaurants must provide, not ensure employee breaks
The California Supreme Court on Thursday offered a qualified ruling in favor of employers in a long-awaited meal-and-rest break lawsuit involving Chili’s parent Brinker International Inc. In a decision...
View ArticleCap'n Crunch halo halo
Halo halo, which means “mix mix” in Filipino, is a traditional shaved ice dessert. It’s traditionally topped with tropical fruit, evaporated milk, and a variety of items such as sweetened beans and...
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Growth in China to benefit restaurants
The world’s largest restaurant brands have been growing rapidly in China, but the country’s dynamic growth holds more potential in the coming decades, even for established powerhouses, according to...
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Wing and sports chains reveal post-peak strategies
Peak-demand season for chicken wings and sports-theme restaurants may be over, but some of those brands are staying in the game with sales- and traffic-building strategies to sustain their momentum...
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Nestle Toll House Café plans growth in the Middle East
Nestle Toll House Café by Chip is among several U.S. restaurant chains expanding to the Middle East. The Dallas-based restaurant opened its first unit in that region in 2010 in Beirut, Lebanon. Lebanon...
View ArticleDenny’s inks $250M credit facility
Denny’s Corp. has entered into a new five-year, $250 million credit facility that refinances its senior secured debt and is expected to result in annualized interest expense savings of about $5...
View ArticleRestaurants seize tax-day promotions
Move over, Valentine’s Day, July 4th and Halloween: The deadline for Americans to pay their taxes is emerging as another opportunity for restaurants to drive traffic with themed deals and promotions....
View ArticleCosí files for secondary shareholder offering
Cosí Inc. has filed for a secondary offering of stock to its shareholders, the company said Thursday. The fast-casual restaurant company plans to use the expected proceeds of approximately $15 million...
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Traffic increases despite higher menu prices
Customers visited restaurant chains more often at the end of 2011, even as menu prices rose — an indication of improved consumer confidence, according to The Bellwether Food Group Inc. In reporting on...
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A chef’s journey to his first restaurant opening
Ten years ago, recent Culinary Institute of America graduate Cornelius Gallagher approached the New York-based Livanos Restaurant Group, owner of Oceana and Abboccato, with a business plan to open his...
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Restaurant comps remain steady in March, operators expect strong April
Restaurant industry same-store sales in March remained consistent with gains posted in February, but operator outlook improved to its highest level as restaurant operators expect a strong April,...
View ArticleEatzi's expands into two new locations
Eatzi’s Market & Bakery will be opening a third store in the Dallas suburb of Grapevine, Texas, in May and on Tuesday signed a lease for a fourth unit in Plano, Texas. The culinary retail concept,...
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A look at baseball season's culinary highlights
Baseball's opening month has arrived, and some ballpark foodservice operations are serving up treats that go beyond the traditional hot dog and cold beer. This season, baseball fans are being treated...
View ArticleNRA honors 2012 Restaurant Neighbor Awards winners
The National Restaurant Association is honoring the recipients of the 2012 Restaurant Neighbor Awards at a gala dinner Tuesday night in Washington, D.C. The awards recognize restaurateurs who have...
View ArticlePanera COO John Maguire leaves to head Friendly's as CEO
John Maguire has resigned as chief operating officer of Panera Bread Co. to become chief executive of Friendly’s Ice Cream LLC, which emerged earlier this year from bankruptcy, the bakery-café chain...
View ArticleIT in 3: Former OSI exec Bill Allen on guest self-order systems
Former OSI Restaurant Partners LLC chairman and chief executive Bill Allen said he believes foodservice can benefit today from customer-facing technology such as at-table tablet computers that let...
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Soft-shell crabs trend early on springtime menus
Soft-shell crab season has arrived. Every spring, mature crabs shed their old shells and start growing bigger ones. That natural process temporarily transforms them from hard-shell crustaceans that are...
View ArticleWhole Grain Pasta Marches On
This is a special message from Barilla. From casual dining restaurants to school cafeterias, menus today are sporting a wider array of healthful options, including more creative and flavorful whole...
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