May 26, 2013
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...

Read Full Story // read more about: Barberitos, Franchising, Growth, Fast Casual
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...

Read Full Story // read more about: Subway
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
Doc Popcorn's 100th Agreement Taking Brand to Oklahoma

Capitalizing on the $1.7 billion industry and gourmet popcorn trend, Doc Popcorn announced the awarding of its 100th franchise agreement, signifying a new company milestone for the rapidly expanding snack brand that began franchising its concept less than four years ago.

The popcorn...

Read Full Story // read more about: Doc Popcorn, Kiosk, Consumer Trends, Franchising, Growth
Industry News
Salsarita's Welcomes Cinco de Mayo with 5-Day Celebration

Learn “the Secrets of Cinco” with Salsarita’s. The Fresh Mexican Cantina is celebrating Cinco de Mayo with a five-day celebration full of food and special offers from Thursday, May 2 through Monday, May 6, at participating locations.

Read Full Story // read more about: Salsarita's, Marketing, Food & Beverage
Industry News
eThor Secures $1M in Financing from AVAC Ltd.

eThor, the point of sale (POS) integration platform, has announced a $1 million investment into the company by AVAC Ltd., a private Alberta Company that invests in promising tech companies.

Read Full Story // read more about: Point Of Sale, Technology
Industry News
Satisfaction Up Among Foodservice Franchisees

According to the “2013 Guide to Today’s Top Franchises,” published annually by market research firm Franchise Business Review, franchisee satisfaction in foodservice is up over recent years.

Read Full Story // read more about: Auntie Anne's, Culver's, Firehouse Subs
Industry News
Dunkin' Donuts Puts a Sweet Twist on Mother's Day

Dunkin’ Donuts has brewed up a variety of sweet and easy ways to help celebrate Mother’s Day this year.

First, participating Dunkin’ Donuts restaurants nationwide will once again offer the Mom’s Heart Donut, a heart-shaped donut filled with Bavarian Kreme and...

Read Full Story // read more about: Dunkin' Donuts, Beverage, Desserts, Promotions
Industry News
Celebrate Graduation with a Custom DQ Mortarboard

As part of the Dairy Queen system’s launch of Orange Julius Premium Fruit Smoothies and Light Smoothies, the Berkshire Hathaway company is offering a custom-designed graphic for the graduate’s mortarboard with a question that all parents can appreciate: “Orange you glad I...

Read Full Story // read more about: Dairy Queen, Desserts, Promotions
Industry News
Ben & Jerry's Truck Doles Out Free Scoops in L.A.

Thirty-four years ago, two homemade ice cream guys named Ben and Jerry opened up the front door at their little mom and pop Scoop Shop in Burlington, Vermont, to celebrate their first year of business by handing out free ice cream all day long.

Read Full Story // read more about: Ben & Jerry's, Desserts, Social Media, Promotions
Industry News
Dole Unveils Winners of Fruit Flash Mob Contest

This past fall (August 30-December 31, 2012), Dole challenged schools nationwide to create videos that promote healthy eating and incorporate fruit consumption in a school foodservice setting. Packaged Foods LLC is pleased to announce the grand prize winner of this 2nd annual DOLE Fruit Flash...

Read Full Story // read more about: Healthy Menus, Food & Beverage, Promotions
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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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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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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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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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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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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