May 24, 2013

Women in Foodservice

Industry News
Captain D's Turns its Ship Around

It’s no secret to those in the quick-service industry that Captain D’s, a 520-unit seafood brand established in 1969, has been struggling for the better part of the last decade. Something not as well known: how hard the brand has worked to save its sinking ship. And it appears to be paying off.

Read Full Story // read more about: Captain D's, Design, Finance, Marketing, Menu Development, Operations, QSR 50, Social Media, Growth
Industry News
Ryan’s, HomeTown Buffet Offer Lent Season LTOs

Ryan’s, HomeTown Buffet, and Old Country Buffet are offering a sea of dishes for families observing the Lenten season. From seafood to pasta to home-style sides, there are plenty of options for guests. All 337 buffet restaurants are serving up seafood specials every Friday during dinner, plus other Lent-friendly offerings daily....

Read Full Story // read more about: HomeTown Buffet, Old Country Buffet, Ryan's, Menu Development, In the Store, Food & Beverage, Menu Innovations
Emerging Concepts
The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis

At the world’s largest children’s museum, healthy eating is on display. Spurred by the National Restaurant Association and Healthy Dining—an organization dedicated to helping people maintain healthier lifestyles—The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis became the globe’s first museum to embrace the Kids...

Read Full Story // read more about: Healthy Menus
Industry News
The Future of Food Trucks

Gone are the days when the conventional taco truck was the only show in town. Contemporary food trucks slinging gourmet cupcakes, Korean BBQ, and $20 lobster rolls now vie for their share of consumers’ dollars in nearly every city across the U.S.

Read Full Story // read more about: Luke's Lobster
Industry News
Server Products Debuts Large-Portion Dispensing Pumps

A new line of 2-ounce pumps specifically designed to dispense larger portions of condiments and ingredients has recently been introduced by Server Products. Ideal for back-of-house dispensing, these pumps deliver portions up to 2 ounces (60 milliliters) per stroke to help speed prep time and improve operational efficiency. They come...

Read Full Story // read more about: Equipment, Ingredients & Dayparts
Industry News
Jersey Mike's CEO Recognized as IFA Entrepreneur of the Year

Peter Cancro, founder and CEO of Jersey Mike’s Franchise Systems, has been named Entrepreneur of the Year, receiving the honor during International Franchise Association’s (IFA) 53 rd  Annual Convention, February 17–20, 2013. First presented in 1982, the Entrepreneur of the Year Award recognizes an individual who...

Read Full Story // read more about: Jersey Mike's, Charitable Giving, Sandwiches, Growth
Growth
Africa: The Final Frontier?

They knew it wouldn’t be easy. Being the first U.S. quick serve to enter a foreign country always comes with a share of challenges. But for Cinnabon’s executives, becoming the first U.S. franchise to open in Libya didn’t just include dealing with training and supply-chain difficulties. The brand also faced political...

Read Full Story // read more about: Cinnabon, KFC, McDonald's, Competition, Franchising
Industry News
Seafood Concept or Not, Brands Gear Up for Lenten Season

The Super Bowl hype may have fizzled weeks ago, but for seafood companies, their Super Bowl season is just beginning, thanks to the start of the Lenten season. With many customers abstaining from meat consumption, Lent can be a true goldmine for seafood brands and other chains that introduce seafood-focused LTOs and menu. At Captain...

Read Full Story // read more about: Arthur Treacher's Fish & Chips, Captain D's, Huddle House, Marketing, Menu Development, Promotions
Industry News
Oklahoma Sonic Unit Makes Ordering a Breeze for Truckers

Sonic Drive-In in Valliant, Oklahoma, wants people to know, “Truckers Welcome!”

This message scrolls across a large banner in front of the drive-in, and local franchisees, Tommy and Julie Dorries, have gone to great lengths to deliver a unique experience for truck drivers in a...

Read Full Story // read more about: Sonic, Beverage, Design, Digital Signage & Menuboards
Industry News
Dairy Queen Delivers Choco Peanut Butter Brownie

The Dairy Queen system is serving up a new, decadent Choco Peanut Butter Brownie as the featured Blizzard of the Month for May.

A smooth blend of peanut butter, choco chunks, and brownie pieces tumbled with DQsignature creamy vanilla soft serve, Choco Peanut Butter Brownieis available...

Read Full Story // read more about: Dairy Queen, Desserts, Menu Development
Industry News
Barberitos Franchising Grows to 48 Locations

Barberitos Franchising Inc. is excited to announce that it has signed five more locations in the Southeast. This brings the total number of franchised Barberitos locations to 48.

Read Full Story // read more about: Barberitos, Operations, Franchising, Growth
Industry News
Qdoba Goes Home as Winner of NRA Kids' Recipe Challenge

The National Restaurant Association (NRA) announced the winners of the Kids Recipe Challenge, a new initiative showcasing restaurants’ culinary ingenuity for creating healthful menu options for children.

Created with founding partner McCormick For Chefs, the Food Away From Home...

Read Full Story // read more about: Qdoba, Healthy Menus
Industry News
Grecian Delight Foods Grows With Help of New Execs

Grecian Delight Foods, a manufacturer, national marketer, and distributor of Mediterranean-inspired foods based in Elk Grove Village, Illinois, announced it is another step closer to surpassing aggressive growth goals with the hiring of three top-level executives.

Recently hired...

Read Full Story // read more about: Finance, Food & Beverage, Human Resources
Industry News
Chuck E. Cheese's Brings Family Fun to Panama

Every day, guests around the world gather at family entertainment leader Chuck E. Cheese’s stores to celebrate birthdays, special occasions, and family fun days with pizza, games, and prizes.

This year, families in Panama will get to experience the Chuck E. Cheese’s brand for...

Read Full Story // read more about: Chuck E. Cheese's, Franchising, Growth
Industry News
Zaxby’s Scores Big with Major College Sports Sponsorship

Zaxby’s announces it is “The Official Chicken of College Sports” and has collective intellectual property rights at 25 Division I colleges through a two-year deal with their football and basketball teams. The initiative gives Zaxby’s, a Southeast favorite for chicken...

Read Full Story // read more about: Zaxby's, Marketing, Operations
Industry News
Free Loaves for First 100 in New Boudin SF Location

Dave Wolfgram, CEO of Boudin Bakery, announced that Boudin SF will unveil its newest location in Encinitas on June 6. To welcome the local community, Boudin SF will reward the first 100 customers in line with a free loaf of its Original San Francisco Sourdough French Bread every day for one year...

Read Full Story // read more about: Boudin SF, Sandwiches, Promotions, Ingredients & Dayparts
Women leaders like Flatbread Grill's owners successfully launch new brands.
Back of House
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...

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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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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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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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Operators must protect their quick serve business from credit card fraud.
Point Of Sale
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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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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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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