May 25, 2013
Industry News
Portland Int'l Airport Donates Food to Local Residents

Portland International Airport (PDX) concessionaries, Port of Portland and St. Vincent de Paul (SVdP), are partnering to fight hunger in the Portland metro area by donating extra food to local residents. The new food donation program at PDX collects and distributes unsold, ready-to-eat food products such as sandwiches, salads, parfaits,...

Read Full Story // read more about: Charitable Giving
Health
The Extra Mile

There’s been no shortage of foodservice professionals who are striving to do right by their customers in the health department. Whether it’s brands offering healthier menu items or executives practicing what they preach about nutrition, the industry is coming together to bring real change to the way Americans eat and live.

Read Full Story // read more about: Freebirds, Fresh D'Lite, Garbanzo, Sharky's Woodfired Mexican Grill, Healthy Menus, Competition, Consumer Trends, Menu Innovations, Promotions
Women in Foodservice
R&D Finds Its Feminine Side

Though research and development used to be an old boys’ club in the limited-service industry, the tables are slowly starting to turn. As quick serves and fast casuals expand their gender horizons both in the C-suite and beyond, more women are leading R&D efforts and bringing their unique viewpoint to the menu-creation process....

Read Full Story // read more about: Noodles & Company, Popeyes, Zaxby's, Menu Development, Consumer Trends, Menu Innovations
Industry News
Burger King Shakes Up Senior Management Team

Burger King Worldwide (BKW) announced an evolution of its senior management team as CEO Bernardo Hees and chief financial officer Daniel Schwartz assume new roles within the company. With a succession plan firmly in place, additional changes to BKW’s senior management team are a testament to the depth and breadth of the...

Read Full Story // read more about: Burger King, Burgers, Finance, Operations, Growth, Human Resources
Industry News
Not a Fan of Spicy Chicken? Bojangles' Has an Item for You

Bojangles’ has added a milder, Southern-flavored, 100 percent white meat boneless chicken product to its menu called Homestyle Tenders.  The new tenderloin filets have a one-of-a-kind flavor for fans looking for a milder option at Bojangles’.  Homestyle Tenders are now available for purchase at all company...

Read Full Story // read more about: Bojangles', Menu Development
Industry News
In a Search for Foodies, Ritter's Creates Unique Flavors

Inspired by consumers’ ever-increasing obsession with the story of their food and everything Food Network–related, Ritter’s Frozen Custard realized last summer that the time had come to spice up its menu and capture this growing market. And the chain wasn’t afraid to go outside of its comfort zone. Developing a...

Read Full Story // read more about: Ritter's, Desserts, Menu Development, Social Media
Industry News
A Quick-Serve Rebound?

In a sign that the economic landscape might finally be rebounding for quick serves, early results from Technomic’s upcoming “Top 500 Restaurant Chain” report reveal that the fastest-growing limited-service restaurant chains in the U.S. realized average sales increases of 22.3 percent between 2011 and 2012.

Read Full Story // read more about: Chipotle, Dickey's, Firehouse Subs
Industry News
McAlister's Gets Hearty and Healthy with New Menu Items

McAlister’s Deli, a leading fast-casual restaurant, is offering guests new limited-time menu items including sandwich grillers, a seasonal berry salad, and hearty pot roast. The menu runs April 8–June 30 and features:

Read Full Story // read more about: McAlister's Deli, Healthy Menus, Menu Development, Sandwiches
Industry News
HME Goes Multi-Lingual with Drive-Thru Equipment

With the number of international quick-service restaurants growing at a rapid pace, the need for multi-language drive-thru equipment continues to increase.

To meet this growing global demand, HM Electronics, Inc. (HME) introduces the French version of its ZOOM Drive-Thru Timer System. For...

Read Full Story // read more about: Drive Thru, Equipment
Industry News
CKE Approves Panasonic's Attune Drive-Thru Headsets

Panasonic announced that the Attune drive-thru communications system is now certified by CKE Restaurants for use in Carl’s Jr.and Hardee’s locations across the nation.

Panasonic’s Attune has met the rigorous certification standards set forth by CKE and is now available...

Read Full Story // read more about: Carl's Jr., Hardee's, Drive Thru, Equipment
Industry News
Alaska Seafood Goes Vintage with Marketing Materials

Capture the delicious heritage of wild Alaska cod with new merchandising materials from the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI).

Inspired by the tradition of Alaska's fisheries, this vintage-inspired creative evokes the energy and dedication that have been passed down for...

Read Full Story // read more about: Marketing
Industry News
Small Businesses Get a Shot at $82M Credit Line

Business Financial Services (BFS), a leading specialty finance company since 2002, announced a new $82 million credit facility provided by Wells Fargo Capital Finance, part of Wells Fargo & Company.

The new credit line, which replaces a smaller facility with another lender, bolsters...

Read Full Story // read more about: Finance, Growth
Industry News
Sublime Doughnuts Open Up Shop for Franchising

Sublime Doughnuts, Atlanta’s award-winning doughnut shop, announced plans to open franchise opportunities for interested investors.

Sublime Doughnuts is owned by Culinary Institute of America graduate Kamal Grant. Grant opened Sublime Doughnuts in 2008 in the eclectic West Midtown...

Read Full Story // read more about: Sublime Doughnuts, Desserts, Franchising, Growth
Industry News
Oklahoma Sonic Unit Makes Ordering a Breeze for Truckers

Sonic Drive-In in Valliant, Oklahoma, wants people to know, “Truckers Welcome!”

This message scrolls across a large banner in front of the drive-in, and local franchisees, Tommy and Julie Dorries, have gone to great lengths to deliver a unique experience for truck drivers in a...

Read Full Story // read more about: Sonic, Beverage, Design, Digital Signage & Menuboards
Industry News
Dairy Queen Delivers Choco Peanut Butter Brownie

The Dairy Queen system is serving up a new, decadent Choco Peanut Butter Brownie as the featured Blizzard of the Month for May.

A smooth blend of peanut butter, choco chunks, and brownie pieces tumbled with DQsignature creamy vanilla soft serve, Choco Peanut Butter Brownieis available...

Read Full Story // read more about: Dairy Queen, Desserts, Menu Development
Industry News
Grecian Delight Foods Grows With Help of New Execs

Grecian Delight Foods, a manufacturer, national marketer, and distributor of Mediterranean-inspired foods based in Elk Grove Village, Illinois, announced it is another step closer to surpassing aggressive growth goals with the hiring of three top-level executives.

Recently hired...

Read Full Story // read more about: Finance, Food & Beverage, Human Resources
The Boston Fire Department was treated to free meals at Firehouse Subs.
Charitable Giving
Nurturing Boston

As soon as he learned about the April 15th Boston bombings, Dave Tucci, the New England area representative for Firehouse Subs’ DMA, called the Firehouse franchisee closest to the bombings.

Tucci was relieved to find out that all employees at Firehouse’s Copley Square location...

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Superfoods like whole grains and oatmeal offer healthy menu alternative.
Healthy Menus
The Other Side of Super

Superfoods have swept the culinary world into a frenzy, enticing consumers with a taste of the exotic and courting them with nutrition and functionality, to the point where restaurants across the country are trying to stake a claim in this fledgling movement.

Quick-service restaurants are...

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Fast casual brands attract customers with alcoholic beverage programs
Beverage
Buying into Booze

Fast-casual restaurants were once able to claim premium food, modern décor, and all-around upscale service as hallmarks of their category. But with more quick-service chains retooling in those areas to compete for post-recession consumers, fast casuals have been left to search for new ways to...

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Operators must protect their quick serve business from credit card fraud.
Point Of Sale
How to Prevent Credit Card Fraud

Every merchant that accepts credit and debit cards is required to be compliant with the Payment Card Industry (PCI) Data Security Standards (DSS), whose next set of standards will be released in October 2013. Yet despite these compliance requirements, the food and beverage industry had the...

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Women leaders like Flatbread Grill's owners successfully launch new brands.
Back of House
Cleared for Launch

Starting any business can be a difficult prospect, but in an industry where men have historically outnumbered women, the roadblocks to doing so can be even more challenging when you’re female.

For many female foodservice entrepreneurs, being taken seriously as a business owner is...

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Tin Drum Asia Cafe used equity firm investment to stay debt free in growth.
Finance
Striking Gold

Steven Chan’s business was at a crossroads last year. His Atlanta-based fast casual Tin Drum AsiaCafé launched in 2000, sold its first franchise in 2001, and was growing slowly due to Chan’s determination to keep it debt-free. At the beginning of 2012, Tin Drum had 10 franchises in...

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McAlisters Deli franchisee says casual dining experience helps in quick service.
Sandwiches
What You Can Learn from Casual Dining

David Blackburn has been in the foodservice business his entire adult life. Since 1979, the McAlister’s Deli franchisee has cataloged more than 25 years of experience in the casual-dining sector, spending 16 of those as regional vice president of operations at O’Charley’s....

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Corner Bakery's new menu items use fresh ingredients to offer premium quality.
Breakfast
The Corner of Innovation

In a push to distinguish itself from growing competition in the fast-casual bakery-café space, Corner Bakery Café is doubling down on menu innovation.

The 22-year-old, Dallas-based chain recently leveraged its high-quality kitchen equipment and capabilities, as well as more than 40 fresh...

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