May 20, 2013
Industry News

The 2012 North American Effie Effectiveness Index rankings were revealed May 23 at the 44th annual Effie Awards Gala. Winning an Effie Award has become a global symbol of achievement since 1968, as Effie Worldwide honors marketing ideas that work. DDB Chicago and McDonald's won a Gold Effie for McDonald's Corporation’s...

Industry News

Chipotle Mexican Grill will donate $100,000 to support the California State Parks Foundation’s (CSPF) fundraising efforts following a $22 million budget cut to state parks, resulting in the scheduled closure of up to 70 California parks on July 1, 2012. On Saturday, June 30, 2012, Chipotle urges guests to take advantage of...

Industry News

Fog Cutter Capital Group Inc.'s Fatburger restaurant unit supported Sugar Ray Leonard's third annual charity boxing night to benefit the Sugar Ray Leonard Foundation. The May 22 “Big Fighters, Big Cause” event, held on the Santa Monica Pier in Santa Monica, California, raised funds for awareness...

Industry News

From May 18–20, Firehouse Subs hosted the annual Firehouse Subs Men’s Doubles Tennis Tournament, which featured hot subs, face painting and bounce houses for children, and tennis matches played by nationally ranked players. The tournament is an integral part of the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation, which was created...

Industry News

Restaurants are expected to add 450,000 jobs this summer season, a 4.6 percent increase over the March 2012 employment level, according to  National Restaurant Association  projections released today. This year shows the highest summer employment numbers since 1993.

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Executive Insights

Gaining insight into what makes their competitors tick can give quick-serve executives valuable strategic advantages. But while sharing competitive information might seem counterintuitive to the industry’s top CEOs, some companies have found that throwing open their doors and inviting rivals in can have its benefits. A...

Industry News

Villa Enterprises Management Ltd., Inc. (and its affiliates,  Villa Enterprises ), the global multi-concept restaurant franchisor, recently unveiled a new look for its flagship brand, Villa Fresh Italian Kitchen, with the opening of its new Great Northern Mall location in Olmsted, Ohio. 

Industry News

Robbie Davis, driving the #37 MINI of Charleston MINI Cooper, scored a pro series win at the New Jersey Motorsports Park GRAND-AM auto race, while Chip Howell, driving the #55 MINI Cooper Pioneer Racing car sponsored by QSR magazine, set the fastest lap and track record for the B-Spec car class.

Burger King's new coffee beverages position the brand to compete with McDonalds.
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...

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...

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...

Tin Drum Asia Cafe used equity firm investment to stay debt free in growth.
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...

Superfoods like whole grains and oatmeal offer healthy menu alternative.
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...

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...

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....

Secure quick serve restaurants improve sales and have high return on investment.
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...

 
Industry News

The National Restaurant Association (NRA) and the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF) announced they have elected officers to their Board of Directors and Board of Trustees, respectively.

The officers began their one-year terms on January 1, 2013, and recently led their first board meetings.

In addition, the Association and the Educational Foundation have named several industry leaders to join their respective boards.

Industry News

On Wednesday, February 20, 2013, the Women’s Foodservice Forum (WFF) brought over 30 women executives from the foodservice industry to the White House to forge a strategic alliance between key business leaders and White House initiatives.

Industry News

On February 20, 2013, Women’s Foodservice Forum (WFF) board chair Lorna Donatone and president and CEO Fritzi Woods led a delegation of more than 30 foodservice executives to Washington to participate in the organization’s first White House issues briefing. 

The visit marks WFF’s continued efforts to elevate the mission, purpose, and goals of the organization: to advance women leaders. 

Industry News

Liquid Nutrition is proud to announce the appointment of Anna Datri to the role of vice president marketing.

With more than 20 years of experience across various types of retailers, Datri brings a wide range of merchandising and marketing expertise to Liquid Nutrition.

Her track record includes developing innovative programs for various brands, such as Teaopia, Second Cup, and Laura Secord. 

Industry News

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 factor in the company’s growth, has worked in a variety of jobs during her 28-year career at the Atlanta-based concessionaire.

Industry News

Kathleen Wood, renowned restaurant industry consultant and co-owner of Suzy’s Swirl, has been invited to join a delegation from the Women’s Foodservice Forum (WFF) to participate in the organization’s first White House issues briefing. 

Industry News

Anchor Packaging,one of the largest thermoformers in North America, is pleased to announce the appointment of Marilyn Stapleton to the newly created position of director of corporate advertising and public relations.

Stapleton joins Anchor from Dart/Solo, where she served as product manager, take-out packaging since 2010.

Industry News

Doc Popcorn, the largest popcorn retailer in the world, announces that Renee Israel, co-founder and CMO of Doc Popcorn, has received the Enterprising Women of the Year Award for 2013 from Enterprising Women magazine.