May 18, 2013
Industry News
Ryan’s, HomeTown Buffet Offer Lent Season LTOs

Ryan’s, HomeTown Buffet, and Old Country Buffet are offering a sea of dishes for families observing the Lenten season. From seafood to pasta to home-style sides, there are plenty of options for guests. All 337 buffet restaurants are serving up seafood specials every Friday during dinner, plus other Lent-friendly offerings daily....

Read Full Story // read more about: HomeTown Buffet, Old Country Buffet, Ryan's, Menu Development, In the Store, Food & Beverage, Menu Innovations
Emerging Concepts
The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis

At the world’s largest children’s museum, healthy eating is on display. Spurred by the National Restaurant Association and Healthy Dining—an organization dedicated to helping people maintain healthier lifestyles—The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis became the globe’s first museum to embrace the Kids...

Read Full Story // read more about: Healthy Menus
Industry News
The Future of Food Trucks

Gone are the days when the conventional taco truck was the only show in town. Contemporary food trucks slinging gourmet cupcakes, Korean BBQ, and $20 lobster rolls now vie for their share of consumers’ dollars in nearly every city across the U.S.

Read Full Story // read more about: Luke's Lobster
Industry News
Server Products Debuts Large-Portion Dispensing Pumps

A new line of 2-ounce pumps specifically designed to dispense larger portions of condiments and ingredients has recently been introduced by Server Products. Ideal for back-of-house dispensing, these pumps deliver portions up to 2 ounces (60 milliliters) per stroke to help speed prep time and improve operational efficiency. They come...

Read Full Story // read more about: Equipment, Ingredients & Dayparts
Industry News
Jersey Mike's CEO Recognized as IFA Entrepreneur of the Year

Peter Cancro, founder and CEO of Jersey Mike’s Franchise Systems, has been named Entrepreneur of the Year, receiving the honor during International Franchise Association’s (IFA) 53 rd  Annual Convention, February 17–20, 2013. First presented in 1982, the Entrepreneur of the Year Award recognizes an individual who...

Read Full Story // read more about: Jersey Mike's, Charitable Giving, Sandwiches, Growth
Growth
Africa: The Final Frontier?

They knew it wouldn’t be easy. Being the first U.S. quick serve to enter a foreign country always comes with a share of challenges. But for Cinnabon’s executives, becoming the first U.S. franchise to open in Libya didn’t just include dealing with training and supply-chain difficulties. The brand also faced political...

Read Full Story // read more about: Cinnabon, KFC, McDonald's, Competition, Franchising
Industry News
Seafood Concept or Not, Brands Gear Up for Lenten Season

The Super Bowl hype may have fizzled weeks ago, but for seafood companies, their Super Bowl season is just beginning, thanks to the start of the Lenten season. With many customers abstaining from meat consumption, Lent can be a true goldmine for seafood brands and other chains that introduce seafood-focused LTOs and menu. At Captain...

Read Full Story // read more about: Arthur Treacher's Fish & Chips, Captain D's, Huddle House, Marketing, Menu Development, Promotions
Industry News
The Roster Is In: McDonald's Announces All-Americans

The McDonald’s All American Games unveiled the official rosters for the 36th Annual McDonald’s All American Boys Game and 12th Annual Girls Game during today’s Selection Show on ESPNU. The annual high school all-star event will again be played at Chicago’s United Center on April 3.

Read Full Story // read more about: McDonald's, Burgers, Promotions, Health
Industry News
NRAEF Hands Out Restaurant Neighbor Awards

The National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF) honored its 2013 Restaurant Neighbor and Faces of Diversity American Dream award winners at an April 17 gala during the National Restaurant Association’s Public Affairs Conference in Washington, D.C.

The Foundation...

Read Full Story // read more about: Arby's, Charitable Giving
Industry News
DOLE Announces Winners of Fruit Flash Mob

Dole Packaged Foods is pleased to announce the grand-prize winner of the second annual DOLE Fruit Flash Mob contest is Indian River High School (Chesapeake, Virginia).

Last fall (August 30–December 31, 2012), Dole challenged schools nationwide to create videos that promote healthy...

Read Full Story // read more about: Healthy Menus, Marketing
Industry News
Jack in the Box Donates $325K to Big Brothers Big Sisters

The Jack in the Box Foundation announced a $325,000 donation to Big Brothers Big Sisters, its primary charitable partner since 1998.

Monies for the donation were raised during the 23rd annual Jack in the Box Charity Golf Tournament, which was held April 26 in Indian Wells, California.

Read Full Story // read more about: Jack in the Box, Charitable Giving
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
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...

Read Full Story // read more about: Marketing
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
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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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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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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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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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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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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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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