May 23, 2013
Executive Insights
Kick the Stress Out

Quick-service leaders have a lot on their plate, from running complex organizations and overseeing financials to being the voice and face of their concepts. But as they juggle these responsibilities and wade through the myriad daily decisions they need to make, something threatens to derail everything: stress.

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Industry News
Frontline International Launches Revitalized Website

Frontline International—whose Smart Oil Management systems help foodservice establishments protect their brands, monitor their cooking oil usage, and get more value out of their fresh and waste cooking oil—announces the launch of its newly revamped website at www.frontlineii.com .

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Industry News
Barberitos Hits Cary, NC, in Early March

Barberitos announced that it will be opening two new locations as March 2013 rolls around, one of which is in Cary, North Carolina. This will be the 32 nd Barberitos location to open its doors. The Cary Barberitos will be opened at the beginning of March by Parker and Glynda McConville. The store is located in the Waverly Place...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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Industry News
McD's Franchisees Make the Switch to Automated Oil Management

It took some time for McDonald’s area supervisor Andy Suckiel to embrace automated oil management for the two California franchises he oversees in San Juan Capistrano and San Clemente, California.

Now with four years of experience using Restaurant Technologies, Inc. (RTI) oil...

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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...

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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...

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Industry News
Dunkin’ Intros New Coolatta Frozen Beverage Flavors

As temperatures start to heat up, Dunkin’ Donuts, America’s all-day, everyday stop for coffee and baked goods, is helping people chill out by introducing three cool new Coolatta frozen beverage flavors: Berry Blast, Raspberry Lime, and Minute Maid Orange.  

Read Full Story // read more about: Dunkin' Donuts, Beverage, Food & Beverage, Menu Innovations
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...

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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
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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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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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...

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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...

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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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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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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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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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