May 18, 2013
Industry News
Romeo’s Pizza Wins Best Pizza in Midwest

Craig Jenkins, a three store franchise partner of Romeo’s Pizza, baked a perfect “Butcher Shop” pizza to claim the “Best of the Midwest” title in the Traditional category of 2013 Pizza Pizzazz on February 18. Jenkins’ effort also netted him a $6,000 cash prize. This is the third time in 10 years that...

Read Full Story // read more about: Romeo's Pizza, Pizza, Competition, Food & Beverage
Industry News
Subway’s Virtual Reality

It’s being compared to the Sims computer-game franchise and Facebook’s infamous Farmville game. But Subway’s new competition, which has participants creating their own virtual stores online, is handing out more than just token points; the program is also successfully engaging young entrepreneurs, giving the company an...

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Industry News
Wienerschnitzel Wants Fans to Cash in on a Corn Dog

Wienerschnitzel, the world’s largest hot dog chain, is offering guests the chance to win big once again during its fourth annual “Cash in on a Corn Dog” sweepstakes by giving away $100,000 in cash prizes andmore than 1.2 millionfree corn dogs. Beginning February 25, every corn dog stick will reveal either an instant...

Read Full Story // read more about: Wienerschnitzel, Marketing, Social Media, Promotions
Industry News
Dutch Bros. Brings in More Than 200,000 Pounds of Food

This year, Dutch Bros. Coffee’s February 14 Dutch Luv Day tipped the scales with 205,322 pounds of food collected — more than double last year’s total — for food banks across seven states.

Read Full Story // read more about: Dutch Bros. Coffee, Charitable Giving, In the Store
Industry News
Vincent Celano Designs First Clarke's Standard Burger Joint

Vincent Celano of Seed Design has just completed the design of Clarke’s Standard, P.J. Clarke’s iteration of a casual authentic burger joint. This quick serve restaurant, located on Lexington Avenue and 54th Street, provides guests with the brand’s famous menu, a classic New York-inspired interior, and a convenient...

Read Full Story // read more about: Clarke's Standard, Design, In the Store, Food & Beverage
Consumer Trends
Bringing the Juice

Juice isn’t just for kids, and it’s not just a breakfast option. As busy Americans seek quick, better-for-you options at all day- parts, juice has become a more critical part of their regular diet. Juice’s healthy halo might encourage restaurants to move beyond serving just old favorites like orange and apple juice....

Read Full Story // read more about: Beverage, Ingredients & Dayparts
Industry News
Jersey Mike's Kicks Off 3rd-Annual Month of Giving

This March, Jersey Mike’s Subs, known for its fresh-sliced and fresh-grilled East Coast–style subs, is joining forces with 86 local charities for the company’s third-annual March “Month of Giving” fundraising campaign. Last year’s Month of Giving raised nearly $858,000...

Read Full Story // read more about: Jersey Mike's, Charitable Giving, Sandwiches
Industry News
New Wendy's Logo Rolls Out Nationwide

On February 25, the new contemporary Wendy’s logo will begin appearing in Wendy’s advertising, and on product packaging, crew uniforms, new restaurant signage, menuboards, and digital assets. The evolved logo is contemporary and iconic, as it further emphasizes the Wendy cameo while retaining the familiar Wendy’s...

Read Full Story // read more about: Wendy's, Burgers, Design, Marketing, Menu Development
Industry News
Kellogg's Wins Outstanding Website Award

Kellogg’s and KelloggsFoodAwayFromHome.com have been awarded the Outstanding Website Award by the Web Marketing Association during the Association’s 11th annual Internet Advertising Competition Awards (IAC).

The website, KelloggsFoodAwayFromHome.com, was launched in...

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Industry News
Great American Cookies Tips Off at Philips Arena

Global Franchise Group, a strategic brand management company, is pleased to announce its partnership with the Atlanta Hawks and Philips Arena in Atlanta, Georgia.

A co-branded store featuring Pretzelmaker and Great American Cookies will be open to guests during all ticketed events held at...

Read Full Story // read more about: Great American Cookies, Pretzelmaker, Desserts, Growth
Industry News
Perkins Puts On a New Face with Remodeled Restaurants

Perkins Restaurant & Bakery announced a remodeling initiative that will be seeded in more than 20 corporate locations during the first half of 2013, with franchise restaurants to follow shortly thereafter. 

The culmination of extensive research conducted across the country,...

Read Full Story // read more about: Perkins, Design
Industry News
Salsarita's Signs on for 3 in KY; Acquires 5 in NC

Salsarita’s, the Fresh Mexican Cantina with locations across the country, has announced a development agreement that will bring three new restaurants to Lexington, Kentucky, by the end of 2016 as it expands nationally through franchising.

Long-time local residents Bill and Holli...

Read Full Story // read more about: Salsarita's, Franchising, Growth, Fast Casual
Industry News
Natural Low/No-Calorie Sweeteners Use Increases

The arrival of natural low/no-calorie sweeteners has met an eager audience. Use of these products has doubled in the past six years as consumers have become more familiar with them.   

Read Full Story // read more about: Healthy Menus, Food & Beverage, Health
Industry News
Cold Stone Keeps Int'l Momentum Going

The Cold Stone Creamery brand continues to pave its way internationally with its newest locations in Saudi Arabia and Pakistan.

The brand, which has spread to 20 countries, is teaming up with a variety of master partners in order to expand the ice cream concept into key strategic markets...

Read Full Story // read more about: Cold Stone Creamery, Desserts, Franchising, Growth
Industry News
Huddle House Offers $25K to Operators Who Remodel

Huddle House is offering a $25,000 financial incentive to the first 100 franchisees who commit to a remodel by July 31, 2014.

Franchisees would use $20,000 of the incentive to offset the costs of the remodel, with the remaining $5,000 to be used for local marketing efforts.

Should...

Read Full Story // read more about: Huddle House, Design, Finance, Franchising, Growth
Industry News
Capriotti's Stays Up Late at Newest Arizona Unit

Capriotti’s Sandwich Shop has announced its newest restaurant in Old Town Scottsdale, Arizona, which will stay open until 3 a.m. on weekends for late night Caps cravings.

The Scottsdale restaurant will offer another spot for Capriotti’s fans to enjoy the award-winning subs. To...

Read Full Story // read more about: Capriotti's, Sandwiches, Growth
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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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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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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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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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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Secure quick serve restaurants improve sales and have high return on investment.
Back of House
Safety, Security, Sales

Traditionally, when quick serves plan security strategies, they address three main industry challenges: prevent shrinkage, guard against in-store and drive-thru robbery, and protect the company from fraudulent lawsuits. Operators need to carefully examine security solutions that will provide the...

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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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Burger King's new coffee beverages position the brand to compete with McDonalds.
Beverage
Coffee is King

Forget quick-serve mainstays like burgers and fries. These days, limited-service brands are looking to coffee to beef up business, and Burger King is the latest chain to get in on the action.

Burger King’s customers can now enjoy 10 new specialty drinks, including iced coffees in a...

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