May 19, 2013
Human Resources
The Perfect Match

Finding a great employee—much like finding a significant other—isn’t always easy. That’s why some operators are turning to online tools like Shiftgig for help seeking out the most compatible workers on the market. While many hiring platforms, such as PeopleMatter HIRE, assist with interview screening, onboarding,...

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Industry News
Foodstart.com Lets Customers Get Restaurants Off the Ground

Foodstart.com, the first crowd-funding site designed just for the food and beverage industry, opened its virtual doors. Restaurant and food truck owners now can raise capital online in small increments from their extended community of friends, family, and future customers. Only instead of a cash return, backers receive perks and rewards...

Read Full Story // read more about: Finance, Loyalty
Industry News
New Menus, Ads Usher In Del Taco's Next Growth Phase

Having been in refresh mode for more than year, Del Taco is ready to enter the final phase of a major brand upgrade that has so far included new store and branding designs, as well as operational tweaks at the corporate office. This week, the Lake Forest, California­–based brand launched two new menus, Buck & Under and New...

Read Full Story // read more about: Del Taco, Marketing, Competition, In the Store, Menu Innovations, Promotions, Growth
Industry News
Have a Food Safety Question? Ask Shelly

Cambro, a supplier of foodservice equipment, continues its steadfast commitment to food safety and launches its "Ask Shelly" campaign that offers foodservice operators a chance to submit questions for advice from accredited health inspector and food safety educator Shelly Wallingford, an MS, REHS, Credentialing Coordinator with...

Read Full Story // read more about: Back of House, Kitchen, Training
Industry News
Maui Wowi Takes Its Show on the Road with New Food Truck

Maui Wowi Hawaiian is hitting the streets of Dallas-Fort Worth with a new mobile food truck to bring the party to the people. Franchise Owner Jason Sorrells is one of the first to embark on the new business model and has pulled out all the stops to turn his truck into a party on wheels. It will offer the company’s all-natural,...

Read Full Story // read more about: Maui Wowi, Beverage, Design
Industry News
Chipotle’s Margarita Makeover

Move over, rice and salsa; Chipotle will soon have agave nectar, lemon-lime juice, and Patron Silver tequila on its assembly line. The brand plans to bring premium margaritas to all locations with a liquor license—about 900 of them—beginning April 29. QSR got a sneak peak at the new margaritas last week during...

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Industry News
Fans Go on Staycation with New Krispy Kreme Doughnuts

Summer sweetness is now in season with two new sun-kissed and handpicked Key Lime treats from Krispy Kreme. Key Lime Cake and Key Lime Cheesecake Doughnuts are available through June 23, 2013, at participating Krispy Kreme U.S. and Canadian locations. Guests can enter for a chance to win a Krispy Kreme Key Lime Staycation Prize Pack at...

Read Full Story // read more about: Krispy Kreme, Desserts, Menu Development, Promotions
Industry News
Specific Ingredients Don't Influence Customer Choices

The latest research from The NPD Group shows specific food or beverage ingredients do not significantly influence consumer choices of restaurant and menu items , although consumers express the desire for more nutritional information. According to the study, consumers are making a conscious effort to live a healthier lifestyle and are...

Read Full Story // read more about: Healthy Menus, Consumer Trends, Outside Insights
Small portions give customers control over health, values, and variety.
Menu Innovations
Small Portions a Big Idea

Small portions are very big these days.

Many 2013 trend predictions determined that small plates and snacking are expected to be popular among chefs and restaurant operators this year. While diners are still eating during the traditional meal times—breakfast, lunch, and dinner...

Read Full Story // read more about: Pei Wei, Qdoba, Starbucks, Taco Bell, Wendy's, White Castle, Wow Bao, Menu Development, Consumer Trends, Health, Ingredients & Dayparts
Restaurant operators learn valuable tips at restaurant industry's largest show.
Industry News
2013 NRA Show Guide
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Industry News
8 Lessons from WFF's Annual Leadership Conference

For the first time, QSR had the honor of attending the Women’s Foodservice Forum’s Annual Leadership Development Conference, held this year on April 14–17 in Orlando, Florida.

Read Full Story // read more about: Marketing, Operations, Executive Insights, Women in Foodservice, Outside Insights
NRA CEO Dawn Sweeney helps protect restaurant operators interests.
Executive Insights
The Advocate

The most powerful woman in the restaurant industry isn’t intimidating, nor is she larger than life. She isn’t cold, tight-lipped, terse, or abrasive. She doesn’t talk down to you. She doesn’t double-book you and cancel at the last second.

Certainly one might expect...

Read Full Story // read more about: Healthy Menus, Competition, Women in Foodservice, Growth
Industry News
At Chick-fil-A, Old Salads Just Don't Cut It

Chick-fil-A isn’t one to back down from a challenge—even one that’s self-imposed. That’s why, despite the fact that customers weren’t complaining about current salad offerings, the chicken chain decided to scrap its salad lineup in favor of three brand new options...

Read Full Story // read more about: Chick-fil-A, Digital Signage & Menuboards, Healthy Menus, Menu Development, Operations
Industry News
Registration Now Open for Share Our Strength's Program

More than 16 million children in America struggle with hunger, according to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). This September, thousands of restaurants and chefs nationwide will band together to bring attention to this plight, and raise money to fund solutions, through Share Our...

Read Full Story // read more about: Charitable Giving, In the Store, Operations
Health
The Truth About HFCS, Trans Fats, & Sodium

Dr. Ruth Kava isn’t concerned with the hype or hyperbole, emotion or ideology. She’s after one result: scientific accuracy.

A senior nutrition fellow with the American Council on Science and Health (ACSH), a New York–based organization that highlights peer-reviewed...

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Food production systems like hydroponics help restaurants use more local goods.
Ingredients & Dayparts
Can Quick Serves Save the World?

No longer is local sourcing just a utopian ideal. It’s a practice coming to life and continually gaining momentum in foodservice, with the number of local ingredients on menus growing by 73 percent over the last four years, according to market research firm Mintel.

But, at its most...

Read Full Story // read more about: Chipotle, Mad Greens, Sloco, Green, In the Store, Consumer Trends, Menu Innovations
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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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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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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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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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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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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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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