February 4, 2012
Brands like KFC and McDonald's have successfully grown around the world.
The Global 30

Editor insights into the top quick-serve and fast-casual brands outside the U.S.

Special Report

The Foreign Exchange

Operators must know how to ensure the safety of their imported foods.

Web Exclusive

Love is in the Air
Quick serves attract customers with Valentine’s promotions.
Industry News
Panera Opens in Manhattan, Competition Happy

When Panera Bread’s 1,500 th store opens Tuesday, Feb. 6, it will be the company’s first location in Manhattan. The brand ranked No. 13 on the most recent QSR 50 list , and it already boasts 90 cafes in the tri-state area. Analysts praise it for not just sustaining, but accelerating the fast-casual dining segment, and even...

Read Full Story // read more about: Panera, Panera Bread
Industry News
Chipotle Plans Biggest Growth Yet in 2012

Chipotle Mexican Grill executives sounded an optimistic note for the coming year during the company's fourth-quarter earnings call, despite an anticipated double-digit rise in costs for the company's naturally cultivated commodities . Montgomery Moran, co-CEO of Chipotle, said the company expects to open 155–165 new...

Read Full Story // read more about: Chipotle, Growth, Fast Casual
Industry News
YO!Sushi Readies for US Debut, Growth in 2012

London-based YO!Sushi signed its first U.S. franchisee in 2011 and the company is piggybacking on that success for 2012. YO!Sushi will open its first two American locations this year in Washington, D.C. with leases signed for at least one additional location. The company also plans to sign two to three franchise agreements for...

Read Full Story // read more about: YO!Sushi, Marketing, Operations, Franchising, Growth, Emerging Concepts, Expansion
Industry News
NRA: Quick-Serve Sales to Increase 3.1% in 2012

Limited-service restaurant sales are expected to grow 3.1 percent to $174 billion in 2012, according to the National Restaurant Association’s (NRA) annual Restaurant Industry Forecast. The NRA announced Forecast results in a webinar today. Hudson Riehle, senior vice president of the NRA’s Research and Knowledge group, said...

Read Full Story // read more about: Growth
Industry News
Popeyes Gets Wicked With Garlic Pepper

Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen brings back Wicked Chicken with a twist this February with all new Garlic Pepper Wicked Chicken. For a limited time, consumers can experience the flavor spin of Garlic Pepper Wicked Chicken with Cajun fries, a buttermilk biscuit, Garlic Pepper Parmesan Dipping Sauce, and a mini bottle of Tabasco brand Pepper...

Read Full Story // read more about: Popeyes, Menu Development, Menu Innovations
Industry News
Wendy's: It's Time to Compete with Fast Casuals

Wendy's president and CEO Emil J. Brolick unveiled in the company’s fourth-quarter earnings call yesterday a new recipe to "take the brand where we need it to be,” and said reviving the iconic brand will require competing with upstart fast-casual brands. While Wendy’s North American company-operated same-store...

Read Full Story // read more about: Wendy's, Burgers, Fast Casual
Industry News
Sbarro Taps Former Wendy's, Breugger's Execs

James Greco has been named president and CEO of Sbarro, effective immediately.  Greco was the former CEO of Bruegger’s Enterprises and is credited by industry experts with the strong performance and growth of the 28-year-old national bagel bakery chain.  Nicky McGrane, who has been serving as Sbarro’s interim...

Read Full Story // read more about: Sbarro, Pizza, Human Resources
Marc Halperin: Resident F&B Expert
Umami at the Center of Asian Fusion

What are you craving, exactly, when you yearn for a heaping mound of pad thai noodles, or a plate of kung pao chicken, or a bowl of miso soup? On one very obvious level, it’s undoubtedly the taste. In the former two examples, the blend of sweet, savory, and spicy flavors offers a pleasing complexity quite unlike anything native to...

Read Full Story // read more about: Healthy Menus, Ingredients & Dayparts
Cities like Orlando help quick serve concepts like Burger 21 find big growth.
Growth
The Growth 40

In October, upstart fast-casual burger concept Burger 21 launched its franchise program. Rather than pursuing partners to build the brand across the national landscape, Front Burner Brands, the Tampa-based parent company of Burger 21 and the popular Melting Pot restaurants, identified its first...

Read Full Story // read more about: Auntie Anne's, CiCi's Pizza, Nestle Toll House Cafe, Popeye's, Finance, Operations, Franchising, Growth
Pollo Campero's menu is organized in a way that maximizes sales.
Ordering
Top Menuboard Strategies

When the federal menu-labeling law goes into effect this year, restaurants with 20 or more locations will need to provide calorie counts on menus and menuboards. Experts say the calorie shuffle presents a good opportunity for restaurants to reevaluate their menu strategy and menuboard design,...

Read Full Story // read more about: La Madeleine, Pollo Campero, Design, In the Store
Executive Insights
Who is Sardar Biglari?

When Sardar Biglari moved with his family to the U.S. in 1984, Steak ‘n Shake was already a verified favorite on the quick-serve scene. In fact, the tried-and-true Midwestern chain was celebrating its 50th anniversary the year Biglari immigrated to San Antonio from Iran.

Today, 28...

Read Full Story // read more about: Steak n Shake, Finance, Growth
Industry News
Chick-fil-A Debuts One of the Most Healthy Kid’s Meals

According to the Let's Move Initiative, one in three American children is considered overweight or obese. Children also consume 31 percent more calories and 56 percent more fat than their peers did 40 years ago.

Starting today, Chick-fil-A is taking another step in continuing to...

Read Full Story // read more about: Chick-fil-A, Healthy Menus, Menu Innovations
Industry News
Kraft Predicts Trends for 2012

Lots of trend-forecasting reports hit your desk this time of year. But this one’s different.

This one speaks in a culinary voice—addressing your audience colleague to colleague. What makes our chefs trend experts? The Kraft Culinary Centre boasts seven pedigreed culinarians...

Read Full Story // read more about: Kraft, Back Office, Consumer Trends
Merzi in Washington, D.C.
Industry News
Merzi Ready to Take Indian Food to the Masses

Merzi, the Washington, D.C.–based fast casual that has been compared to an Indian version of Chipotle, has been so successful that founder Qaiser Kazmi says it is finally prepared to open unit No. 2—and many, many more.

“We think by the end of this year we should have...

Read Full Story // read more about: Merzi, Growth, Fast Casual
Industry News
Starbucks Extends Beer, Wine to ATL, So. Cal.

Responding to customer feedback for more options to relax in its stores in the evenings, Starbucks Coffee Company today announced plans to bring wine, beer, and premium food offerings to a handful of locations in Atlanta and Southern California by the end of this year.

These stores, along...

Read Full Story // read more about: Starbucks, Beverage, Design, Loyalty, Menu Development, Operations, Consumer Trends, Food & Beverage, Emerging Concepts, Ingredients & Dayparts
Industry News
Quiznos Restructures to Avoid Bankruptcy

Quiznos completed its previously announced financial restructuring on an out-of-court basis, helping the company avoid bankruptcy.

The agreement eliminates one-third – or about $300 million – of the company's outstanding debt, and...

Read Full Story // read more about: Quiznos, Back Office, Executive Insights
Mike Lassiter plays an important role in Rising Roll Gourmet's CSR efforts.
Charitable Giving
Why Corporate Responsibility is Part of Your Job

In today’s business environment, corporate social responsibility (CSR) receives a lot of lip service from media and public relations. But experts say a CEO who steps up his company’s CSR efforts will find that his organization receives more than just media accolades.

See More
A KFC marketing campaign had Colonel Sanders delivering food to window washers.
Drive Thru
The 100 Biggest Stories of 2011

1. Roark Capital Buys Arby’s

With concerns about the economy running high, restaurant industry mergers and acquisitions dipped noticeably...

See More
Umami Burger is known for its small burgers branded with the company's logo.
Burgers
One to Watch: Umami Burger

Umami Burger has been causing a stir in Southern California since its inception in 2009 because its burgers are made from freshly ground beef, soft buns, and something extra: umami, or “the fifth taste.” In fact, just a little more than a year after the concept was launched, GQ named...

See More
Brands like KFC and McDonald's have successfully grown around the world.
Finance
The Global 30

QSR has been reporting on the largest companies in the quick-service segment for nearly 15 years. For many of those years (now more than a decade), we’ve also delivered a top-level ranking called the QSR 50 each August.

See More
Wendy's W burger helps the company bridge its value menu and premium items.
Sandwiches
Wendy’s, Subway Slash Prices

On December 1, Subway rattled the quick-service world when it announced its latest promotional offer: $2 six-inch subs.

As a “Customer Appreciation Month” promotion, the $2 December-only deal may be Subway’s boldest play yet in the pricing wars to compete with other...

See More
Papa Murphy's heart shaped pizza appeals to families looking for value.
Breakfast
Love is in the Air

While most people may associate Valentine’s Day with upscale restaurants and fine wines, dozens of quick-serve promotions, ranging from heart-shaped doughnuts to couples’ specials, are giving operators hope that they won’t be stood up this February 14.

By targeting...

See More
Specialty beverages like energy drinks can help drive fast food sales.
Beverage
Drive Incremental Sales with Drinks

McDonald’s signs boast about the incredible number of hamburgers—now many billions—it’s served over the years. But with the customer clamor for specialty beverages growing louder, the fast food icon may one day brag about the number of peppermint mochas sold.

When...

See More
A wide variety of salts can help restaurants enhance their menu flavors.
Menu Development
Season Your Menu Like a Pro

Here are three options for making a standard turkey sandwich more exciting and memorable for your valued guests:

See More
Kitchen
Steak ‘n Shake Hits Broadway

Steak ‘n Shake opened its first New York City restaurant on January 12, and the chain used the opportunity to debut its new Steak ‘n Shake Signature counter-service prototype.

The new design is a leaner outfit that does away with the all-night schedule, some menu items, and...

See More
Google executives share five tips that will help every restaurant operator.
Online & Remote Ordering
5 Restaurant Tips from Google

Facebook may be the online hub that dominates headlines and most of consumers’ personal time, but there’s no denying that Google remains the king of the Internet and the No. 1 website in the world.

So when Google speaks, people should listen—and speak Google did, to ...

See More
 
Subscribe to A.M. Jolt!
Sign up for QSR magazine’s flagship e-letter to receive:
  • The latest industry headlines and in-depth features
  • Advance notice about special programs and reports
  • Highlights of the content posted on QSRmagazine.com