May 25, 2013
Alan Philips: Trends to Watch

My idea of “inclusive exclusivity” started in a boardroom many years ago in Atlantic City, New Jersey. I was making a presentation to a group of executives at the Borgata Hotel, Casino, & Spa to explain how they could import the feel of New York’s hottest nightclubs and restaurants to the Jersey Shore. Although this...

Human Resources

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,...

Industry News

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

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...

Industry News

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...

Industry News

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

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...

Industry News

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...

Women leaders like Flatbread Grill's owners successfully launch new brands.
Cleared for Launch

Starting any business can be a difficult prospect, but in an industry where men have historically outnumbered women, the roadblocks to doing so can be even more challenging when you’re female.

For many female foodservice entrepreneurs, being taken seriously as a business owner is...

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...

Innovations like the Marinara Tower were featured on the NRA Show floor.
Recapping the NRA Show

As the lights went out on the National Restaurant Association’s Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show (NRA Show) in Chicago on Tuesday, there was plenty to consider about the future of the industry.

The show featured no shortage of technological advancements, not just in computing hardware...

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...

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...

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...

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...

 
Industry News

Global restaurateur HMSHosthas been selected as a finalist for the National Restaurant Association’s (NRA) 2013 Operator Innovations Awards.

HMSHost is one of three finalists in both the food safety and the menu development categories vying for a chance at being named the top innovator in each category, and potentially the overall Innovator of the Year.

The NRA is the leading restaurant industry organization in the United States, and this is the second consecutive year for the Operator Innovations Awards.

Industry News

The foodservice industry is expected to have its fourth straight year of growth, reaching sales in excess of $660 billion, according to the NRA Industry Forecast. The results of this growth are seen every day in headlines—the pressure for innovation, mergers and acquisitions, the struggle for talent recruitment and retention. These forces are what Women’s Foodservice Forum (WFF), a leadership development organization, attributes to its unprecedented demand and what provides the basis of its latest campaign.

Industry News

Atlanta-based Concessions International (CI), a leading foodservice concessionaire with operations in airports across the United States,announced the promotion of LeMonica Hakeem to vice president of business development.

Hakeem has worked in a variety of roles within CI and sister company HJ Russell & Company over the past 12 years, most recently as interim director of business development.

She was instrumental in CI being awarded its Atlanta airport contract and three additional locations in its Denver and Dallas/Fort Worth operations.

Industry News

Women’s Foodservice Forum (WFF) returns to the White House to honor extraordinary women veterans who are making a difference in communities across the country. The event is part of the White House Champions of Change, which brings individuals to the White House to share their ideas for winning the future. 

Industry News

Starbucks Coffee Company announced it has appointed Sharon Rothstein as global chief marketing officer.

Rothstein was previously senior vice president of marketing at innovative specialty beauty retailer Sephora.

Industry News

Cintas Corporation, a leader in fire-protection services, announced that Annaji Sailer, a Cintas employee-partner, has received the prestigious “Vendor of the Year” award from the Restaurant Facility Management Association (RFMA).

Sailer works for Dunnwell, a division of Cintas Fire Protection, and has been a RFMA member for nearly five years, dedicating herself to advancing the restaurant facility management profession and women within the industry.

Women in Foodservice

More women enter the foodservice industry every year, and they’re being met with a growing wealth of experience and support from which they can draw. A number of networking and leadership development groups have taken on the task of providing stronger gender diversity at all levels of the industry, and are ensuring that more growth opportunities exist for women.