May 18, 2013

Women in Foodservice

Industry News
Concessions Int'l Names New VP of Business Development

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...

Read Full Story // read more about: Women in Foodservice, Human Resources
Industry News
McDonald's Wraps Up Newest Permanent Menu Item

McDonald's is adding a new chicken offering to its menu, the new Premium McWrap, which will roll out to restaurants nationwide. The new tortilla-wrapped entree features fresh vegetables, grilled or crispy chicken breast, and signature sauces like seasoned rice vinegar, sweet chili, or creamy garlic. The wrap is served in a handheld...

Read Full Story // read more about: McDonald's, Menu Development
Promotions
Buzzwords, Defined

In the last several years, as consumers have become savvier and more educated about the food they eat, words like fresh , local , and artisanal have become the norm in the foodservice industry. But with many companies throwing these terms around seemingly at will to try to differentiate their brand and resonate with customers,...

Read Full Story // read more about: Charley's, Chipotle, Subway, Marketing, Competition, Consumer Trends
Health
Healthy Is Hip

The spotlight on healthy eating is growing brighter, and now even the youngest eaters are taking notice. A recent study by children’s research firm KidSay and The Marketing Store Worldwide (TMSW) showed the majority of children ages 5–11 think they are healthy eaters, with more than 80 percent of kids saying healthy eating...

Read Full Story // read more about: Subway, Healthy Menus, Promotions
Alan Philips: Trends to Watch
The Great Juice Rush of 2013

There is gold in them fruits. Once upon a time long ago, in 1996, Doug Green happened upon a storefront in New York’s East Village. He was young, passionate, spiritual, and committed to his dreams of owning a super-high-quality juice bar. That year he opened Liquiteria and became the original “juice-apreneur,” a...

Read Full Story // read more about: Liquiteria, Organic Avenue, Beverage, Menu Innovations, Ingredients & Dayparts
Industry News
Tropical Smoothie Café Gets 'Tanked' on Animal Planet

Tropical Smoothie Café in Tampa, Florida, will be the backdrop for Animal Planet’s hit reality television program, "Tanked," as the show returns with new episodes beginning Friday, March 22, at 9 p.m. ET/PT. "Tanked," an Animal Planet original series, highlights the most outrageous builds each week for those...

Read Full Story // read more about: Tropical Smoothie Cafe, Entertainment, In the Store
Industry News
Mushroom Chicken Sandwich Gets in The Loop

The Loop Pizza Grill is starting the spring season off with a fresh start with a flavorful new sandwich, the Mushroom Swiss Grilled Chicken Sandwich. The Loop's new offering will be available starting April 1.  The chicken is marinated for 24 hours in a homemade buttermilk recipe, then char-grilled. "There is something...

Read Full Story // read more about: The Loop, Menu Development, Sandwiches
Industry News
Baskin-Robbins Welcomes Spring with New Chick Cake

Spring has arrived at Baskin-Robbins as the world’s largest chain of ice cream specialty shops announces the newest addition to its innovative selection of ice cream cakes – the Chick Cake. Also available this spring is the Chick Individual Treat, which is the perfect single serving partner to accompany Baskin-Robbins’...

Read Full Story // read more about: Baskin-Robbins, Menu Development, Food & Beverage, Menu Innovations
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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Read Full Story // read more about: Cosi, Competition, Growth
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...

Read Full Story // read more about: Healthy Menus
McAlisters Deli franchisee says casual dining experience helps in quick service.
Franchising
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....

Read Full Story // read more about: McAlister's Deli, Sandwiches, Competition, In the Store, Consumer Trends
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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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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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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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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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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