May 25, 2013
Industry News
Fatburger Takes Over Downtown Los Angeles

Fatburger has announced the opening of its first location in downtown Los Angeles. The Hollywood burger chain maintains and upholds the unique culture that Lovie Yancey created when launching the brand 60 years ago. With an array of toppings and condiments to select from, each burger is grilled to order and topped with fresh...

Read Full Story // read more about: Fatburger, Burgers, Franchising, Growth
Industry News
Togo's Reels In Fan-Favorite Lemon Pepper Tuna

Togo’s, a “West Coast Original” since 1971 serving up big, made-to-order sandwiches, is celebrating the return of its Lemon Pepper Tuna. Fans can get hooked once again on the melt and cold sandwich, available for a limited time through May 28 at all 250 Togo’s locations. Togo’s Lemon Pepper Tuna returns as...

Read Full Story // read more about: Togo's, Menu Development, Sandwiches
Industry News
Del Monte Takes on Spring Break with 'Beach Bash Dash'

As part of its initiative to raise awareness among college students of the benefits of eating healthful, fresh, and fresh-cut produce, Del Monte Fresh will provide its first “Beach Bash Dash” competition during spring break from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. March 6-8 and March 11-13 in front of the Plaza Resort and Spa, 600 North...

Read Full Story // read more about: Entertainment, Healthy Menus, Marketing, Food & Beverage, Health
Promotions
Get in the Game

Imagine a market of 173 million potential customers. Seventy-eight million of them are female (often the primary decision-maker in the family), 61 million are college students, and 29 million have an income of more than $100,000. Seems like a no-brainer for operators, right?

Read Full Story // read more about: Chick-fil-A, Kona Ice, Mooyah, Wingstop, Marketing
Industry News
The Debt-Free Debate

The past few years have not been the kindest to the $660.5 billion restaurant industry. Faced with frugal consumers, scarce credit, and rising food prices, operators suffered through lower sales and tighter margins. Adding to the pressure was last summer’s drought (the largest in the U.S. since the 1950s), which spiked the cost of...

Read Full Story // read more about: Firehouse Subs, Tin Drum, Finance, Franchising, Growth
Taco Bell Gets Loco with Cool Ranch Taco

In this newscast: Taco Bell launches Cool Ranch Doritos Locos Taco, brown spirits are on the rise, Panera Bread lives consciously with new marketing platform, and more.

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.

Read Full Story // read more about: Fatburger, Pancheros
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 .

Read Full Story // read more about: Equipment
Industry News
LiveWall Creates Vertical Gardens for Restaurants

Vertical gardens, or plants on walls, can offer a cost-effective opportunity for restaurants to improve nutrition, meal taste, and prestige. 

By providing a convenient method for growing and harvesting produce, owners and managers can provide their chefs with low-cost fresh herbs and...

Read Full Story // read more about: Green, Healthy Menus
Industry News
BFS Announces $82M Credit Line for Small Businesses

Business Financial Services Inc. (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 the...

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Industry News
And the Kitchen Innovations Award Goes to Follett 7 Series

Follet's 7 Series ice and water dispenser was selected as a 2013 Kitchen Innovations award recipient by the National Restaurant Association (NRA). The 7 Series will be featured in the Kitchen Innovations exhibit at the NRA Show 2013, held May 18-21 in Chicago.

The 7 series was...

Read Full Story // read more about: Back of House, Equipment, Kitchen
Industry News
Orange Julius Hits the Small Screen for the First Time

For the first time in its 87-year history, Orange Julius products will be advertised in a national television campaign.

The 30-second spot celebrates the new Orange Julius Premium Fruit Smoothies Julius Originals and Light Smoothies that are now available at more than 4,000 Dairy Queen...

Read Full Story // read more about: Orange Julius, Beverage, Marketing
Industry News
NRA & McCormick for Chefs Pick Winners of Recipe Contest

The National Restaurant Association announced the winners of the Kids Recipe Challenge, a new initiative showcasing restaurants’ culinary ingenuity for creating healthful menu options for children. Created with founding partner McCormick For Chefs, the Food Away From Home business of...

Read Full Story // read more about: National Restaurant Association, Healthy Menus, Competition, Food & Beverage
Industry News
Big Smoke Burger Heats Up in the UAE

 

Big Smoke Burger is taking the Middle East by storm since working with Fransmart, the franchise development company whose track record in the region includes the sale of eight brands and more than 200 units. 

After signing 2012 deals for Kuwait and Bahrain, Big Smoke...

Read Full Story // read more about: Big Smoke Burger, Burgers, Franchising, Growth
Industry News
Mama Fu's Gets Digital With New Menuboards

Mama Fu’s Asian House announces the development of new Digital DNA menuboards across all company locations.

On the heels of last year’s exterior and interior reimaging efforts, Mama Fu’s continues to improve the look and feel of their brand with the addition of Digital...

Read Full Story // read more about: Mama Fu's Asian House, Design, Digital Signage & Menuboards
Industry News
Dunkin’ Hits Twitter to Say Hello to Simply Orange

With National Orange Juice Day this Saturday, May 4, Dunkin’ Donuts, America’s all-day, everyday stop for coffee and baked goods, is giving fans easy ways to squeeze some simple excitement from the holiday right now, including an opportunity to win a trip to Florida. Dunkin’...

Read Full Story // read more about: Dunkin' Donuts, Beverage, Marketing, Social Media
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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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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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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Women leaders like Flatbread Grill's owners successfully launch new brands.
Finance
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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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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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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Innovations like the Marinara Tower were featured on the NRA Show floor.
Back of House
Recapping the NRA Show

As the lights went out on the National Restaurant Association’s Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show (NRA Show) in Chicago on Tuesday, there was plenty to consider about the future of the industry.

The show featured no shortage of technological advancements, not just in computing hardware...

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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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Industry News
Marilyn Stapleton Joins Anchor as Director of PR, Advertising

Anchor Packaging,one of the largest thermoformers in North America, is pleased to announce the appointment of Marilyn Stapleton to the newly created position of director of corporate advertising and public relations.

Stapleton joins Anchor from Dart/Solo, where she served as product manager, take-out packaging since 2010.

Read Full Story // read more about: Packaging, Women in Foodservice, Human Resources
Industry News
Doc Popcorn Cofounder Honored by Magazine

Doc Popcorn, the largest popcorn retailer in the world, announces that Renee Israel, co-founder and CMO of Doc Popcorn, has received the Enterprising Women of the Year Award for 2013 from Enterprising Women magazine.

Read Full Story // read more about: Doc Popcorn, Operations, Women in Foodservice
Women in Foodservice
Mother Knows Best

No longer do women have to choose between a career and motherhood. But finding time to work and have a successful foodservice career—while also raising kids and staying in tune with a busy family—can be a daunting challenge.

“The restaurants are very important to us, but my family is very important to me, as well,” says America Corrales Bortin, cofounder of America’s Taco Shop in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Read Full Story // read more about: America's Taco Shop, Doc Popcorn, PBandU, In the Store, Human Resources
Industry News
Taco Bell and Lorena Garcia Team Up for New Steak Items

Taco Bell is introducing a new steak to all menu items, including the Cantina Bell Steak Burrito, priced at $4.99.

As part of Taco Bell's commitment to quality and listening to customers, the new steak is the latest menu item to Cantina Bell, which was launched nationally in 2012. 

Read Full Story // read more about: Taco Bell, Menu Development, Women in Foodservice
Industry News
Penn Station Subs Pulls into the Northern Virginia Station

Penn Station East Coast Subs, the fast-casual restaurant known for its Philadelphia Cheesesteak Sub sandwich served hot and made-to-order on freshly baked French bread, will open its first Northern Virginia restaurant in early February in the Haymarket Village Center.

Penn Station will bring 40 new jobs to Haymarket with this store opening. The owner is Anna Prendergast, whose second Penn Station location is already under construction in Fairfax, Virginia, and will open in March.

Read Full Story // read more about: Penn Station East Coast Subs, Sandwiches, Women in Foodservice, Franchising, Growth
Industry News
SPIN! Pizza Touted by Local Missouri Publications

SPIN! Neapolitan Pizza has been named best pizza by two local publications in Missouri. Both Kansas City Magazine and 435 South Magazine have awarded SPIN! top honors in their annual “City’s Best” issues.

Kansas City Magazinereported that SPIN! was “far and away” the leader in its readers’ votes. The repeat awards join a raft of local and national awards that SPIN! has accrued for its food and environs since opening its first location in 2005.

Read Full Story // read more about: SPIN! Neapolitan Pizza, Design, Pizza, Women in Foodservice, Franchising, Growth, Ingredients & Dayparts
Industry News
Dickey's Barbecue Pit Serves Up $1 Pulled-Pork Sandwiches

Dickey’s franchise owners Peggy and Joe Anicka have enjoyed serving the Commerce Township, Michigan, community slow, pit-smoked barbecue.

On Friday, January 25, Dickey's will be offering $1 Pulled Pork Big Barbecue sandwiches from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in honor of its grand-opening celebration.

Read Full Story // read more about: Dickey's Barbecue Pit, Marketing, Women in Foodservice, Franchising, Promotions, Growth
Industry News
Cousins Subs Makes it Better with New Foundation

Cousins Subs restaurants has established The Make It Better Foundation to improve the welfare and quality of life in the communities Cousins Subs serves.

"Cousins Subs has a longstanding tradition of commitment to the communities we serve," says Christine Specht, president and COO at Cousins Subs. "We have supported a multitude of causes and organizations throughout our 40-year history. By establishing The Make It Better Foundation, we hope we can do even more."

Read Full Story // read more about: Cousins Subs, Charitable Giving, Sandwiches, Women in Foodservice