May 24, 2012

Panera

Fame, Fortune & Fries at McDonald's
January 2012

Late last year, McDonald’s announced that it would launch in 645 California stores its own TV channel that broadcasts news, sports, and local-interest stories. The move resonated loudly across the industry, signaling that food alone might not be the future of quick-serve dining rooms....

Interpreting the Top 100
June 2011

Every year, many of us anxiously await the release of Technomic’s Fast Casual Top 100 report. Technomic’s Darren Tristano, one of the most knowledgeable people in the industry, gave me an interview and a sneak peek at the report. Here are his thoughts, followed by a few of my own....

Exclusive First Peek! Fast-Casual Top 100

Last week QSR's in-house fast-casual expert, George Green, snagged the interview of the season with Darren Tristano, executive vice president at leading research firm Technomic. Not only did he get Tristano's coveted insight on the fast-casual industry, he gained exclusive...

Moreton’s View from the Top
May 2011

On the evening of May 12, 2010, Bill Moreton and dozens of his Panera Bread colleagues celebrated the career of Ronald Shaich, the bakery-café’s cofounder, departing CEO, and ultimate visionary. For 25 years, Shaich guided Panera’s growth from a 19-unit chain into a fast-casual giant...