June 19, 2013
Industry News

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Read Full Story // read more about: QSR 50, Growth
Industry News

Owners who stake their restaurant brands on natural ingredients are now matching their beverages with their mission statements. Built on values such as sustainability and local sourcing, craft soda—the nonalcoholic sibling of craft beer—has stepped up in recent years as an alternative to mass-marketed soda. Owners say these...

Outside Insights

Customer service encompasses a multitude of factors. A smiling face and good manners can go a long way to creating a positive impression for any consumer-facing brand, including drive-thru restaurants. But there’s more to it than that.

Industry News

Espresso beans and grapes are not a prevalent snack combination, but the growing trend toward coffee and wine bars proves they are indeed palatable as beverage complements. Coffee and wine bars are spreading nationwide, from Bean & Bottle in the lobby of the Sonoma Resort in California to the Great Lakes Coffee Shop in Michigan and...

Industry News

Noodles & Company, the restaurant brand that features a collection of dishes from around the world, announced today the opening of its 300 th system-wide restaurant. The 300 th restaurant is located in Waterloo, Iowa, on Crossroads Boulevard.  To commemorate the landmark event, Noodles & Company invited hundreds of loyal...

Industry News

Yum! Brands Asian markets continue to surge, fueled by red-hot growth, said CEO David C. Novak during the company’s second-quarter earnings call on July 19th. Taco Bell, with a 13 percent increase in same-store sales, continues to be the most profitable brand for the company’s U.S. market.

Industry News

Two foodservice producers ditched the supply-chain middleman and opened their own quick-serve concepts earlier this month. Smithfield Foods, synonymous with Virginia ham and pork, and yogurt company Dannon defied the traditional supply chain and started carting product from their manufacturing facilities to proprietary quick-service...

Industry News

Some people just have what it takes to turn a brand around. And Phil Friedman, former CEO and president of McAlister’s Corporation, is one of those people. After his Mississippi Restaurant Group purchased Salsarita’s—a fresh cantina that offers a bright and colorful atmosphere featuring signature burritos, Mexican...

The Low Down on High Chair Cleanliness

The high chairs you keep on hand for your youngest customers are a welcome convenience for their moms and dads. But ensuring that high chair surfaces are cleaned and sanitized is often overlooked even in quick-service restaurants that employ the most disciplined hygiene procedures.

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....

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”...

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.

Superfoods like blueberries offer nutritional and flavorful menu potential.
Wonder Food

Look, up on the table! It’s a burdock. It’s a plantain. It’s … superfood!

Although there’s nothing really super-heroic about eating nutrition-rich fruits and vegetables, the foods give customers an opportunity to pursue healthier options at a time when many...

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...

Ensure Ice Safety by Cleaning Frequently, Handling Properly

When it comes to ice, the Food and Drug Administration is crystal clear: Ice is considered a food—and it must be as safe as drinking water. The rule applies whether the ice is to be consumed or placed in contact with food or beverages to cool them.

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...