May 23, 2013
Industry News
Checkers/Rally's Shows Some Skin

Checkers/Rally’s may be known for its double drive thru and seasoned fries, says Checkers chief marketing officer Terri Snyder. But the brands are hoping their newest product, Loaded Potato Skins, will become just as popular. The potato skins—a permanent item that feature full-sized, meaty potato skins covered with cheese...

Read Full Story // read more about: Checkers, Rally's, Marketing, Menu Development, Point Of Sale, Consumer Trends, Social Media
Industry News
Stouffer's Unveils New Heat-and-Serve Comfort Foods

The Stouffer’s line of heat-and-serve products helps produce a more efficient, effective kitchen. The frozen format locks in texture and nutritional value, without adding preservatives, artificial ingredients, or artificial colors to most. Stouffer’s entrées, sides, and sauces have a consistent quality and are rated No. 1...

Read Full Story // read more about: Menu Development
Industry News
CKE Chooses PAR POS System for Carl's Jr., Hardee's

ParTech, Inc., a subsidiary of PAR Technology Corporation, announced that CKE Restaurants has selected the new PAR EverServ 7700 POS for its Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s restaurants. After a rigorous testing and certification process by CKE, the EverServ 7700 terminal is now approved and certified for all Carl’s Jr. and...

Read Full Story // read more about: Carl's Jr., Hardee's, Point Of Sale, Technology
Industry News
Taco John's Makes $50K Donation to Yellow Ribbon Fund

The long road to recovery from traumatic combat injuries is getting a little easier for hundreds of American service members and their families, thanks to a donation from Taco John’s. The quick-service Mexican restaurant chain has contributed $50,000 to the Yellow Ribbon Fund.

Read Full Story // read more about: Taco John's, Charitable Giving
Industry News
Concessions International Appoints New CEO

Concessions International (CI), a leading concessionaire with food and beverage outlets in major airports in the U.S. and Virgin Islands, announced the appointment of Donata Russell Major to the role of chief executive, effective immediately. Major, who previously served as the company’s vice chairman and has been a principal...

Read Full Story // read more about: Einstein Bros. Bagels, Fresh to Order, Genghis Grill, Women in Foodservice, Human Resources
Industry News
Uncle Maddio's Reaches Nine Units with Openings in NC, GA

Last week, Uncle Maddio’s Pizza Joint opened new restaurant locations in Dunwoody, Georgia, and Charlotte, North Carolina, raising the total number of open franchises to nine throughout the Southeast. By the end of fall this year, 20 more restaurants will open, including locations in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and...

Read Full Story // read more about: Uncle Maddio's, Pizza, Social Media, Franchising, Growth, Fast Casual
Industry News
Captain D's Turns its Ship Around

It’s no secret to those in the quick-service industry that Captain D’s, a 520-unit seafood brand established in 1969, has been struggling for the better part of the last decade. Something not as well known: how hard the brand has worked to save its sinking ship. And it appears to be paying off.

Read Full Story // read more about: Captain D's, Design, Finance, Marketing, Menu Development, Operations, QSR 50, Social Media, Growth
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
Industry News
Whataburger Celebrates Burger Month with Contest

Whataburger Restaurants will celebrate National Burger Month by hosting an Instagram photo contest. Fans will be able to enter to win one of four weekly prizes including Whataburger for a Year – a free Whataburger each week for an entire year.

Read Full Story // read more about: Whataburger, Burgers, Social Media, Promotions
Industry News
Huddle House Opens Up Shop in Eagle Pass, TX

Huddle House, a 24-hour family-friendly restaurant chain, opened its newest restaurant in Eagle Pass, Texas, on April 29, 2013, featuring a refreshing new interior and exterior design.

The Huddle House of Eagle Pass will feature full-service dining and an all-encompassing menu of classic...

Read Full Story // read more about: Huddle House, Growth
Industry News
Mark Wahlberg, Taco Bell Team Up to Help Kids Graduate

The Taco Bell Foundation for Teens, in partnership with Get Schooled, announced the launch of Graduate for Mas, a program challenging teens to make a personal commitment to graduate high school.

Actor and philanthropist Mark Wahlberg, who did not finish high school himself, also announced...

Read Full Story // read more about: Taco Bell, Charitable Giving
Industry News
Unified Brands Welcomes New Director of Operations

Unified Brands announces the addition of Jim Palmer as director of operations for its Mississippi and Oklahoma manufacturing facilities. Palmer will be responsible for Mississippi and Oklahoma operations.

Read Full Story // read more about: Back Office, Operations
Industry News
Heinz Delivers More Sauce for Your Buck with New Dispenser

Heinz Foodservice introduces its Heinze DispenSaver Condiment, a new bottle-filling system designed for high-volume, back-of-house applications that offers up to 99 percent yield.

In addition to its increased efficiency, the DispenSaver system simplifies the process of filling condiment...

Read Full Story // read more about: Equipment, Food Safety, Sustainability
Industry News
Electro Freeze Intros Virtual Quality Management System

Electro Freeze, a division of H.C. Duke and Son LLC (Duke), announces the Genesis Series Soft Serve Freezers featuring their new VQM, Virtual Quality Management System.  

Read Full Story // read more about: Desserts, Equipment, Food Safety
Industry News
Capella Restaurant Intros Next-Level Customer Surveys

Maritz Research is marking its entry into the foodservice industry with the launch of Capella Restaurant, the newest addition to Maritz’ proven end-to-end customer experience management system that captures the voice of the customer and acts on it.

Capella Restaurant helps...

Read Full Story // read more about: Loyalty, Technology
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
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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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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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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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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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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Industry News
Fazoli's Cathy Hull Recognized as Top Marketing Exec in 2012

Cathy Hull, Fazoli’s chief marketing officer, has been selected by the ranking committee of ExecRank as a “Top Private Company Marketing Executive” for 2012.

The rankings are the result of two years of research and feedback from evaluation committees and top chief marketing officers that yielded an algorithm for how to rank marketing executives based on their performance in 24 key areas.

Read Full Story // read more about: Fazoli's, Marketing, Menu Development, Women in Foodservice, Outside Insights
Industry News
Katherine Schieffelin Joins NRAEF as SVP

The National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF) announced that Katherine Speyer Schieffelin has joined the foundation as senior vice president and chief development officer.

Schieffelin brings more than a decade of experience in management, fundraising, and campaign planning to the NRAEF and will aid in the foundation’s mission to enhance the industry’s service to the public through education, community engagement, and the promotion of career opportunities. 

Read Full Story // read more about: Operations, Women in Foodservice, Human Resources
Industry News
Industry Recruiting Co. Earns WBENC Accreditation

Patrice Rice, CEO and founder of Patrice & Associates Hospitality Recruiting—which helps thousands of managerial candidates find rewarding jobs in the restaurant and hospitality industry—announced that Patrice & Associates has earned accreditation from the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC).

Read Full Story // read more about: Women in Foodservice, Human Resources
Industry News
Maui Wowi Franchisee Raises $1,200 for Make-A-Wish

An Illinois franchisee of Maui Wowi Hawaiian Coffees & Smoothies recently donated more than $1200 to the Make-A-Wish Foundation as part of the Ultimate Gymnastics Tournament that was held November 30–December 2, 2012 at Harper College.

The 13th-annual Ultimate Wish Classic has raised more than $400,000 for the charitable foundation.

Read Full Story // read more about: Maui Wowi, Beverage, Charitable Giving, Women in Foodservice
Industry News
Maui Wowi Surfs into Southern California

Maui Wowi Hawaiian, a tropical island-themed franchise concept serving fresh Hawaiian-grown coffee and all-natural smoothies, embodies the Aloha spirit and laidback lifestyle that its newest franchise operator has lived and breathed all her life.

Maui Wowi welcomes Pa 'Akai Ventures, operated by Jenna Roberts, to join the company's growing West Coast presence as a new franchisee in El Cajon, California, near San Diego.

Read Full Story // read more about: Maui Wowi, Beverage, Women in Foodservice, Franchising, Growth
Industry News
NRA President Recognized for Healthy-Living Initiatives

National Restaurant Association (NRA) president and CEO Dawn Sweeney has been recognized by the Campaign to End Obesity for her work in helping inspire and guide the foodservice industry’s nutrition initiatives.

Sweeney, in recognition of her efforts, received the award at a December 6 awards gala at Discovery Channel Worldwide headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland. 

Read Full Story // read more about: Healthy Menus, Women in Foodservice
Industry News
Barberitos Makes its Way to Cary, North Carolina

Barberitos Franchising Inc. announces the opening of its 31st restaurant location in Cary, North Carolina. The new store will open in February 2013.

Read Full Story // read more about: Barberitos, Operations, Women in Foodservice, Franchising, Growth, Expansion
Industry News
Fish Consulting Expands its Team, Promotes Senior Leaders

Fish Consulting, a full-service national communications firm specializing in franchise marketing and public relations, announces it has promoted several senior leaders and added two new employees.

Read Full Story // read more about: Fish Consulting LLC, Marketing, Women in Foodservice, Human Resources