May 22, 2013
Industry News
16 Handles Promises a Pick-Me-Up with Tiramisu Flavor

Frozen-yogurt brand 16 Handles announced the release of its newest flavor: Tiramisu. Tiramisu pairs the rich flavor of espresso-soaked ladyfinger cookies with hits of vanilla and cinnamon. The new flavor pairs well with a variety of 16 Handles’ toppings, including graham cracker crumbs, bananas, and caramel or chocolate sauce. ...

Read Full Story // read more about: 16 Handles, Desserts, Menu Development
Industry News
Portland Int'l Airport Donates Food to Local Residents

Portland International Airport (PDX) concessionaries, Port of Portland and St. Vincent de Paul (SVdP), are partnering to fight hunger in the Portland metro area by donating extra food to local residents. The new food donation program at PDX collects and distributes unsold, ready-to-eat food products such as sandwiches, salads, parfaits,...

Read Full Story // read more about: Charitable Giving
Health
The Extra Mile

There’s been no shortage of foodservice professionals who are striving to do right by their customers in the health department. Whether it’s brands offering healthier menu items or executives practicing what they preach about nutrition, the industry is coming together to bring real change to the way Americans eat and live.

Read Full Story // read more about: Freebirds, Fresh D'Lite, Garbanzo, Sharky's Woodfired Mexican Grill, Healthy Menus, Competition, Consumer Trends, Menu Innovations, Promotions
Women in Foodservice
R&D Finds Its Feminine Side

Though research and development used to be an old boys’ club in the limited-service industry, the tables are slowly starting to turn. As quick serves and fast casuals expand their gender horizons both in the C-suite and beyond, more women are leading R&D efforts and bringing their unique viewpoint to the menu-creation process....

Read Full Story // read more about: Noodles & Company, Popeyes, Zaxby's, Menu Development, Consumer Trends, Menu Innovations
Industry News
Burger King Shakes Up Senior Management Team

Burger King Worldwide (BKW) announced an evolution of its senior management team as CEO Bernardo Hees and chief financial officer Daniel Schwartz assume new roles within the company. With a succession plan firmly in place, additional changes to BKW’s senior management team are a testament to the depth and breadth of the...

Read Full Story // read more about: Burger King, Burgers, Finance, Operations, Growth, Human Resources
Industry News
Not a Fan of Spicy Chicken? Bojangles' Has an Item for You

Bojangles’ has added a milder, Southern-flavored, 100 percent white meat boneless chicken product to its menu called Homestyle Tenders.  The new tenderloin filets have a one-of-a-kind flavor for fans looking for a milder option at Bojangles’.  Homestyle Tenders are now available for purchase at all company...

Read Full Story // read more about: Bojangles', Menu Development
Industry News
In a Search for Foodies, Ritter's Creates Unique Flavors

Inspired by consumers’ ever-increasing obsession with the story of their food and everything Food Network–related, Ritter’s Frozen Custard realized last summer that the time had come to spice up its menu and capture this growing market. And the chain wasn’t afraid to go outside of its comfort zone. Developing a...

Read Full Story // read more about: Ritter's, Desserts, Menu Development, Social Media
Industry News
A Quick-Serve Rebound?

In a sign that the economic landscape might finally be rebounding for quick serves, early results from Technomic’s upcoming “Top 500 Restaurant Chain” report reveal that the fastest-growing limited-service restaurant chains in the U.S. realized average sales increases of 22.3 percent between 2011 and 2012.

Read Full Story // read more about: Chipotle, Dickey's, Firehouse Subs
Industry News
Finalists Announced in Star of the Bar Competition

In a nationwide search of professional mixologists to show off their most creative cocktail talents, five of the six semi-finalists were selected by an International Wine, Spirits & Beer Event (IWSB) judges panel.

The sixth was picked by the general public as the “people’s...

Read Full Story // read more about: Beverage
Industry News
Covina Burger Rolls Out MEDIAPRO's Menu Boards

MEDIAPRO Inc., a leader in digital menu boards and global leader in digital retail signage was selected by Covina Burger to roll out Dynamic Digital Signage Menu Boards for their full-service QSR restaurant in Covina, California.

Read Full Story // read more about: Covina Burger, Equipment, Ordering
Industry News
Whataburger Crowns Champions in Competition

After six months of intense competition among more than 700 Whataburger restaurants, Whataburger crowned its three “WhataGames” victors in a ceremony last night. Whataburger #790 from San Antonio emerged as the WhataGames 2013 Champion, while Whataburger #669 from Laredo, Texas, took...

Read Full Story // read more about: Whataburger, Operations, Promotions
Industry News
LevelUp, Merchant Warehouse Create $1M Development Fund

Merchant Warehouse and LevelUp announced a $1 million co-sponsored development fund, which will support the creation of custom-branded mobile payment apps running on the LevelUp White-Label platform for merchants around the country.

Qualifying merchants will be able to tap into the...

Read Full Story // read more about: Loyalty, Technology
Industry News
MOOYAH Celebrates Burgers with 2 for $14 Offer

To celebrate National Hamburger Month and National Hamburger Day on May 28, MOOYAH, a fast-casual, better-burger, fries, and shakes chain, launched “2 for $14,” allowing guests to choose two MOOYAH burgers, two small french fries, and two regular drinks for $14.

With no coupon...

Read Full Story // read more about: Mooyah, Burgers, Promotions
Industry News
Lipton Offers Tea Makeover to Boost Beverage Sales

Iced tea is one of the most profitable items on menus, and Lipton has made it easier than ever for restaurants to sell more tea by offering a Tea Makeover to chain operators and small independent operators.

Read Full Story // read more about: Beverage, Food & Beverage, Promotions
Industry News
NRAEF Selects Winners of National ProStart Invitational

The National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF) announced the winners of its 12th annual National ProStart Invitational, which took place in Baltimore April 19–22.

More than 350 top ProStart students from 43 states, territories, and Department of...

Read Full Story // read more about: Training
Industry News
Firehouse Subs Awards Pointsmith a 3-Year Contract

Nationwide restaurant chain, Firehouse Subs, has awarded Pointsmith a three-year in-store marketing management contract. Under the new agreement, Pointsmith will manage all of Firehouse Subs’ in-store marketing processes, which includes strategic management services, the development of a...

Read Full Story // read more about: Firehouse Subs, Marketing, In the Store
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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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Roy Bergold: Tales from McDonald’s
The Kids’ Meal Compromise

Recently I was talking with Barry Klein, an old friend of mine who was one of the original advertising guys at McDonald’s. He is a marketing consultant now with a large interest in kids marketing. We were discussing the kids’ meal situation and the critics who claim these meals are responsible for our childhood obesity problems.

Barry has a heated position that I would like to share with you, and then I’ll share my comments as well.

Barry: Restaurant operators, which way will you go?

Read Full Story // read more about: McDonald's, Healthy Menus, Women in Foodservice, Promotions, Ingredients & Dayparts