May 21, 2013
Industry News
KFC's Li'l New Menu Idea: Bucket Kids Meals

This March, KFC introduces a meal that is sized just for its Li’ttlest fans: KFC’s Li’l Bucket Kids Meals. Packaged in a kid-friendly version of KFC’s iconic bucket, the Li’l Bucket Kids Meals come complete with a Kentucky Grilled Chicken drumstick, green beans, a GoGo squeeZ applesauce on the go, and a...

Read Full Story // read more about: KFC, Menu Development, Consumer Trends, Menu Innovations, Promotions
Industry News
With Unprecedented Growth, WFF Launches New Campaign

The foodservice industry is expected to have its fourth straight year of growth, reaching sales in excess of $660 billion, according to the NRA Industry Forecast. The results of this growth are seen every day in headlines—the pressure for innovation, mergers and acquisitions, the struggle for talent recruitment and retention. These...

Read Full Story // read more about: Women in Foodservice, Human Resources
Industry News
Huddle House Puts on Fresh Face, Readies for Growth

The times are a changin' at family-dining chain Huddle House. With new CEO Michael Abt on board since October 2012, an updated design prototype, and a sharper focus on franchisee growth and profitability, the brand is ready to hit new heights in 2013 and beyond. To ensure its success, Abt says the brand will continue its long-time...

Read Full Story // read more about: Huddle House, Breakfast, Menu Development, Operations, Franchising, Growth
Industry News
Finally! Wendy’s Debuts Flatbread

After two years of planning, trials, tests, retooling, and finding a vendor willing to spend millions on a new ingredient, Wendy’s is rolling out its latest offering: Flatbread Grilled Chicken Sandwiches. The Smoky Honey Mustard and Asiago Ranch limited-time offers hit stores nationwide this week in an effort to compete with...

Read Full Story // read more about: Wendy's, Burgers, Menu Innovations
Industry News
KFC Doubles Down in South Africa

KFC South Africa launched the iconic Double Down, the first all-meat burger with no roll. This launch follows the product’s introduction in other global markets, including North America, Asia, and Australia. The Double Down “man-meal” will be available in all of KFC’s 700 restaurants across South Africa until the...

Read Full Story // read more about: KFC, Menu Development, Sandwiches
Industry News
Pie Five Lands First Multiunit Agreement in Florida

Pie Five Pizza Co., a subsidiary of Pizza Inn Holdings, has awarded the first multiunit franchise agreement for Florida to develop 10 locations. The deal with one of Florida’s most successful entrepreneurs, L. Gale Lemerand, will introduce the fast-casual brand to the state with aggressive growth plans for the Orlando,...

Read Full Story // read more about: Pie Five, Pizza, Franchising, Growth
Menu Innovations
Dressing Up

Not that long ago, consumers visited limited-service restaurants mostly for items such as burgers, fried chicken, french fries, and sandwiches. But in the past two decades, salads have become an integral part of quick-service and fast-casual menus, now showcased as a prominent entrée on many restaurants’ menuboards. “The...

Read Full Story // read more about: Corner Bakery Cafe, Saladworks, Sweetgreen, Tender Greens, Tossed, Wendy's, Healthy Menus, Ingredients & Dayparts
Franchising
Breaking Out in Captivity

January marked Rick Glitchen’s 20th year in the coffee business. Previously a lawyer, Glitchen started off in the quick-service industry with his brother, opening his own street-side café location in 1993. The duo ran their own units for more than two years before signing on with Seattle’s Best Coffee in 1996 and converting...

Read Full Story // read more about: Seattle's Best, Promotions, Growth
Industry News
Whataburger Condiments Hit the Shelf at Texas, Mexico H-E-Bs

At the Whataburger Family Convention, a biannual gathering of more than 2,000 Whataburger attendees, CEO Preston Atkinson announced Whataburger will launch into retail sales for the first time by bottling its popular line of condiments—Fancy Ketchup, Spicy Ketchup, and Original Mustard...

Read Full Story // read more about: Whataburger, Burgers, Menu Development
Industry News
Bruster's Gives Fans a Taste of What's to Come

Bruster’s Real Ice Cream, ranked No. 10 out of 100 limited-service restaurants nationwide by premier consulting firm WD Partners, has introduced the first of three new spring flavors.

Freshly made Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake, with ribbons of raspberry sauce and creamy chocolate...

Read Full Story // read more about: Bruster's, Desserts, Menu Development
Industry News
California-Based Dog Haus Launches National Franchise

Born from a passion for hot dogs, what started between friends as an idea for a fun new concept has turned into Dog Haus, a full-fledged thriving restaurant with three locations in Southern California.  

Read Full Story // read more about: Dog Haus, Operations, Franchising, Growth, Expansion
Industry News
CIA President Increases Student Scholarships by $3.6M

Dr. Tim Ryan celebrated the college's accomplishments of the past year before more than 700 employees of the college's four campuses during The Culinary Institute of America's (CIA) annual State of the Institute address. Accomplishments included the graduation of 1,051 associate...

Read Full Story // read more about: Back of House, Finance, Kitchen
Industry News
Cintas Identifies 5 Overlooked Sustainability Areas

Identified by the National Restaurant Association (NRA) as a top trend for 2013, sustainability continues to rank high on the list of what consumers expect most from restaurants. From locally-sourced food to recyclable and compostable products, many quick-service restaurants (QSRs) are looking...

Read Full Story // read more about: Operations, Sustainability
Industry News
Rational Grows 11% in 2012, Wins Technology Awards

This year, the first-class industry publications, GVmanager and 24 Stunden Gastlichkeit, once again awarded the best in the industry with the BEST of Market 2013 at the Internorga fair in Hamburg on behalf of their readers.

More than 2,200 decision makers from the hotel...

Read Full Story // read more about: Back of House, Equipment, Finance, Kitchen
Industry News
Freshens Gets Sweet and Savory With New Crepe Options

Freshens relies heavily on customer research to keep its product offerings relevant and on trend with its customers.  

The Atlanta-based company conducted a series of focus groups to gain insight into flavor profiles that its loyal customer base was seeking for new crepe menu...

Read Full Story // read more about: Freshens, Desserts, Healthy Menus, Menu Development
Industry News
Hispanics' Restaurant Visits Fall by 86M in 2012

While total restaurant visits increased by 1 percent in 2012 compared to prior year, visits by U.S. Hispanics declined by 1 percent, a loss of 86 million visits, reports The NPD Group, a leading global information company.

Declines were steepest among less bicultural U.S. Hispanics, who...

Read Full Story // read more about: Consumer Trends, Outside Insights
Operators must protect their quick serve business from credit card fraud.
Back of House
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...

See More
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...

See More
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...

See More
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...

See More
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...

See More
Twitter cofounder Jack Dorsey is innovativing the POS space with Square.
Point Of Sale
Can Square Change POS Forever?

Jack Dorsey, who cofounded Twitter and Square, was raised by parents in the quick-service industry. His father owned a pizza restaurant, and his mother ran a coffee shop.

It’s little surprise, then, that Dorsey’s latest initiative with Square is to broaden its use within quick...

See More
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....

See More
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...

See More