June 19, 2013
Growth

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...

Industry News

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...

Industry News

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.

Industry News

When Taco Bell launched Doritos Locos Tacos in 2012, it quickly became the company’s most successful product launch ever, selling more than 350 million in less than a year. While Taco Bell lovers couldn’t get enough of the Doritos Nacho Cheese taco shell combined with the company’s classic crunchy taco ingredients, it...

Industry News

Forget chocolate and roses: This year, lovebirds are celebrating with pizza—or that’s what several pizza brands are banking on. And instead of making it a couple-centric dining opportunity, chains like Papa Murphy’s are trying to transform Valentine’s Day into a family-friendly occasion.

Industry News

Just in time for the Lenten season, Back Yard Burgers is adding a meat-free option for its guests, the Bold and Crunchy Fish Sandwich, available through March 31, 2013, at all of Back Yard Burgers’ 83 locations. 

Industry News

A recent report by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that the food and hospitality industry is the second-highest occupation group in the U.S. hampered by smoking. But Joe Bastianich, renowned restaurateur and judge on FOX’s hit show “Master Chef,” has made it his mission to help foodservice...

Industry News

The 2012 National Foodservice Beef Backer Award winners were unveiled at the 2013 Cattle Industry Annual Convention in Tampa, Florida. Each year, the Beef Checkoff Program recognizes three foodservice establishments for their efforts in menuing and marketing beef. The 2012 national winners include Webster’s Prime in the...

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McAlisters Deli franchisee says casual dining experience helps in quick service.
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....

A new tool from GS1 U.S. will help operators protect their food safety.
Cracking the Food Safety Code

For years, barcode technology has been commonplace in the retail sector, where it’s used to gather information about products, sales, and even consumer trends at various transaction points. But now, due to a major standardization initiative and broadening food-safety concerns, the same...

The Boston Fire Department was treated to free meals at Firehouse Subs.
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...

Fast casual brands attract customers with alcoholic beverage programs
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...

Operators must protect their quick serve business from credit card fraud.
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...

Five to Seven will invest in healthy and sustainble fast food brands globally.
Good Food for All

Five to Seven, a new restaurant funding initiative launched in May by foodservice industry veterans Brad Blum and John Vincent, has goodness at its core and as its goal. “Good food for the planet” is the initiative’s tagline, as Blum and Vincent want “good food”...

New fast food brands like Live Basil first start as innovative business ideas.
Birth of a Brand

It always starts with a simple idea.

For Brian Bailey at Ichor Restaurant Group, it began with the idea that Ohioans needed better barbecue. Six years after that idea initially took hold, Old Carolina Barbecue opened the doors to its first unit, in Canton, Ohio. The company later opened...

A Wing Zone franchisee changed his cooking equipment to get better results.
The Transformational Franchisee

Army and Air Force foodservice provider The Exchange has been serving U.S. military families since 1895 with meals in cafeteria lines and snack bars. It wasn’t until 1985, however, that it first signed a license agreement with a name-brand food franchisee—at the time, Burger King.

Corner Bakery's new menu items use fresh ingredients to offer premium quality.
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...