May 22, 2013
Franchising
Build Your Buzz Overseas

Takafumi Kawasaki opened his first Wetzel’s Pretzels unit in April 2012. Within two months, the fast-paced pretzel concept inside Tokyo’s Ario Kameari Mall became the brand’s No. 1 store. Now with four units in Tokyo, one in Hiroshima, and another in Kyoto, Kawasaki plans to open 100 Wetzel’s Pretzels units across...

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Denise Lee Yohn: QSR’s Marketing Guru
Taglines That Work

Q: I'm launching a new concept and trying to decide on a tagline. What makes a tagline work? A: Taglines are powerful communicators. The right tagline can attract attention to your concept, help position your brand, and make people remember you.

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In the Store
Can’t We All Just Get Along?

Customers are constantly complaining about employees bickering with one another, serve times and incorrect orders are growing every day, and three of your best employees have quit in the last month. All of these problems have one thing in common: They can be the result of a staff that isn’t working together as an effective team. ...

Read Full Story // read more about: Jamba Juice, Moe's Southwest Grill, Human Resources
In the Store
New Kind of Marketing

With marketing and advertising proving more challenging for quick-serve restaurants in the age of social and digital media, some brands are looking to a retail-based approach to get their name out: merchandising. “I think merchandise is an excellent idea,” says Jonathan Raduns, food-merchandising consultant at National...

Read Full Story // read more about: Dickey's, Freddy's, Jeni's, Sloan's, Marketing, Promotions
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...

Read Full Story // read more about: America's Taco Shop, Doc Popcorn, PBandU, In the Store, Human Resources
Alan Philips: Trends to Watch
Choose to Be Special

Over the past few weeks, I’ve been spending time in London taking in the local food scene. My last trip led me to the incredible Borough Market. For those of you who don’t know, this outdoor food bazaar offers a spectacular mélange of the best food in Europe. Local farmers and artisanal producers sell their products;...

Read Full Story // read more about: The Meatball Shop, Menu Development, Competition, In the Store, Growth
Industry News
CKE Puts Fried Aside with Charbroiled Fish Sandwich

Carl's Jr. and Hardee's announced the addition of the Charbroiled Atlantic Cod Fish Sandwich to their menus. The sister brands are the first national fast-food chains to offer a charbroiled fish sandwich, not battered and deep fried, on the menu. At only 420 calories, the new sandwich offers guests a healthier meal option. ...

Read Full Story // read more about: Carl's Jr., Hardee's, Marketing, Menu Development, Sandwiches
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
Togo's Hopes to Take Arizona By Storm

Togo’s, a “West Coast Original” since 1971 serving up big, made-to-order sandwiches stuffed with fresh ingredients, announced it is accelerating its growth plans for Arizona.

The San Jose, California–based sandwich chain aims to develop an additional 25 new...

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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
Bojangles' Plays Teacher's Pet For Teacher Appreciation Month

South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley joined South Carolina Superintendent of Education Mick Zais, South Carolina Future Minds, founding sponsor Bojangles’ and other supporters of public education to officially declare May as Teacher Appreciation Month in South Carolina.  

To...

Read Full Story // read more about: Bojangles', Charitable Giving, Promotions
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
Destroyed Freddy's Gets Back on Its Feet in Joplin, MO

Nearly two years after a devastating F5 tornado ravaged Freddy’s, the restaurant is returning to Joplin, Missouri.

The new, freestanding location is about one mile south of the former site. The official grand opening is Sunday, May 5, and the crew has been training for the past...

Read Full Story // read more about: Freddy's, Burgers, Growth
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
Industry News
3 Sustainable Seafood LTOs Join Rubio's Menu

As part of its continued efforts to offer guests high-quality coastal cuisine, Rubio’s Restaurants is introducing three new chef-crafted sustainable seafood items to its menu for a limited time. Today, Rubio’s fans and friends are invited to stop in and try the new Grilled...

Read Full Story // read more about: Rubio's, Menu Development, Sustainability, Fast Casual, Ingredients & Dayparts
Industry News
Cold Stone Keeps Int'l Momentum Going

The Cold Stone Creamery brand continues to pave its way internationally with its newest locations in Saudi Arabia and Pakistan.

The brand, which has spread to 20 countries, is teaming up with a variety of master partners in order to expand the ice cream concept into key strategic markets...

Read Full Story // read more about: Cold Stone Creamery, Desserts, Franchising, Growth
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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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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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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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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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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Secure quick serve restaurants improve sales and have high return on investment.
Back of House
Safety, Security, Sales

Traditionally, when quick serves plan security strategies, they address three main industry challenges: prevent shrinkage, guard against in-store and drive-thru robbery, and protect the company from fraudulent lawsuits. Operators need to carefully examine security solutions that will provide the...

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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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