Centerbridge Partners to complete $1B purchase of P.F. Chang's
Centerbridge Partners L.P., the New York-based private equity firm, said it planned to complete its $1.1 billion going-private purchase of P.F. Chang’s China Bistro Inc. on Monday. RELATED • P.F....
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Designing a hotter dog
From food trucks to chains to chef-driven restaurants, hot dogs are experiencing a renaissance. And while well-done classics continue to thrive, many of the crowd-pleasers on menus across the U.S. are...
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Applebee's rolls out new ad campaign
Applebee’s launched Monday a new advertising campaign designed to highlight a new-and-improved, food-focused brand, along with a “Fresh Flavors of Summer” menu with seasonal ingredients. VIDEOS "We...
View ArticleAnalyst: Tough year ahead for new McDonald's CEO
Don Thompson became chief executive of McDonald’s Corp. Sunday, and while he currently faces significant headwinds in all three of the company’s major regions of business for the rest of the year,...
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Summer seafood promos feature bold flavors
Bold and exotic flavors are major themes for this summer’s seafood promotions at restaurant chains across the country, with wasabi, chiles, miso and coconut combining with classic citrus. RELATED •...
View ArticleNRN readers divided on health care ruling
After the U.S. Supreme Court announced its decision last week to uphold President Barack Obama’s highly controversial health care law, Nation's Restaurant News polled its readers to find out what they...
View ArticleWomen in foodservice discuss progress, obstacles
The hospitality industry has grown beyond being the man’s world of the last century, with women now mentoring and motivating the next generation of leaders. RELATED • Yum CEO: Know your employees •...
View ArticleBullritos franchisee takes on customer feedback
Restaurant franchisees don’t often have the chance to moonlight as tech entrepreneurs, but for John Carlew, a Houston-based operator of three Bullritos fast-casual restaurants, his second job as...
View ArticleUmami Burger founder acquires stake in L.A. Creamery
Umami Burger founder Adam Fleischman said Monday he has acquired a stake in artisan ice cream maker L.A. Creamery, with plans to build a wholesale business that will tap into the growing demand for...
View ArticleCool Plates: Umami ramen
Umami, the so-called “fifth flavor,” is how our taste buds detect protein, that is, certain free-floating compounds associated with protein. One of those compounds, free glutamate, is found in...
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Chains roll out summer burger offerings
A number of chains this summer are using burgers to reinforce their brands, offering new items that range from spicy to sweet and indulgent to healthful. RELATED • Summer seafood promos feature bold...
View ArticleWetzel's Pretzels cofounders talk growth
When it comes to unit growth, Wetzel’s Pretzels has been a bit of a tortoise compared with some of the metaphoric hares in the snack world, according to cofounders Bill Phelps, now chief executive, and...
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Chuck E. Cheese's fights sales slump with mascot makeover
CEC Entertainment Inc., parent to the Chuck E. Cheese’s family eats and entertainment chain, has given its signature mouse mascot a major facelift as it tackles first-quarter slippage of same-store...
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How to achieve customer satisfaction
This video post is part of Sullivision on NRN.com, a resource center for restaurants looking for service, leadership and sales-building techniques from industry expert and NRN columnist Jim Sullivan....
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How restaurants are catering to kids
As parents spend more time with their children during the summer, restaurants have the chance to help families grab dinner during vacation or celebrate a Little League victory, but recent trends show...
View ArticleMoe's Southwest Grill president on menu strategy
Anita Jones-Mueller, M.P.H., president and founder of Healthy Dining, a nutrition-related marketing and consulting firm, interviews Paul Damico, president of Moe's Southwest Grill, on the progress of...
View ArticleSmashburger owner to open full-service restaurant concept
As Smashburger brings its “better burger” brand into the Los Angeles market for the first time this week, the chain’s private-equity owner Consumer Capital Partners is also expanding its restaurant...
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Taco Bell delivers Doritos Locos Tacos to Alaskan town
VIDEOS Taco Bell's "Operation: Alaska" commercial Taco Bell's "Discovering Bethel, Alaska" short film RELATED • Chef Lorena Garcia discusses Cantina Bell menu • Taco Bell CEO reveals coming menu moves...
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Former Panera exec named Wahlburgers chief executive
Wahlburgers, the better burger brainchild of entertainers Donnie and Mark Wahlberg and their chef brother Paul, has hired a former Panera Bread official as chief executive, with the mission of refining...
View ArticleRestaurant associations praise move to repeal health care act
Restaurant association officials praised members of the U.S. House of Representatives for voting to repeal President Barack Obama’s 2-year-old health care law. Lawmakers passed the “Repeal of ObamaCare...
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