Top Denise Lee Yohn: QSR’s Marketing Guru News

Fiesta Names Tony Dinkins SVP of Human Resources

Fiesta Restaurant Group, Inc., parent company of the Pollo Tropical and Taco Cabana fast casual restaurant brands, announced that Anthony “Tony” Dinkins has joined the company as Senior Vice President of Human Resources effective September 26. Fiesta President and Chief Executive Officer Richard Stockinger says, “We are thrilled that Tony is joining our leadership team. […]

Branding Lessons from Three Top Quick Serves

Marketing consultant and QSR columnist Denise Lee Yohn says that when it comes down to the nuts and bolts, brands are about what companies do and how they do it. In Yohn’s new e-book, Extraordinary Experiences: What Great Retail and Restaurant Brands Do, she considers different companies that illustrate seven core principles. Of the seven, […]

Start to Finish: Gigi Butler

I never saw myself baking full-time. It was always in my family—my great-grandmother, my great-aunts, grandmother, my own mother, etc. I was taught at an early age how to bake a cake, and it became a part of our family’s culture. Outside of the home kitchen growing up, I had little exposure to a professional […]

Lawsuit Against McDonald’s Tests New Franchising Law

McDonald’s Corp. employees in Virginia are filing a civil rights lawsuit against the company, alleging racial discrimination, sexual harassment, and wrongful termination.   The suit comes after the U.S. National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) decided last month that corporations can be held responsible for the actions of their franchisees.   Filed by a group comprised […]

The Counter to Take Build-Your-Own Burgers to Mexico

The Counter Custom Built Burgers announced a new deal with Restaurantes de Marcas Gastronomicas to become the first build-your-own-burger concept in Mexico, with the first unit slated to open in the fall. In addition to offering more than a million possible burger combinations—a burger for every lifestyle—The Counter also serves a wide selection of signature […]

Russo’s New York Pizzeria Opens Doors to New Houston Unit

Russo’s New York Pizzeria, a fast-casual Italian restaurant, recently opened in Houston, just south of the Woodlands at Spring Marketplace at 24230 Kuykendahl Road, Suite 200. Local resident Guillermo Medellin, an experienced Russo’s franchisee who already owns two Russo’s Restaurants in the Woodlands and Conroe, is opening Spring’s newest eatery at the intersection of Kuykendahl […]

New Deal Takes Del Taco to Northeast

Del Taco announced that it will enter into the Northeast region with the signing of two development agreements in New Jersey. The restaurants are slated to open in 2016. With 550 restaurants in 16 states, this latest expansion supports the company’s strategic growth initiatives to bring Del Taco’s fresh, made-to-order Mexican and American favorites to […]

Second Houston Opening In a Month For Pie Five

Pie Five Pizza prepares to open its second restaurant in Houston, Texas on Friday, January 23. The opening comes just one month after Pie Five’s market debut. Renowned for its personalized pizzas, the “five” in Pie Five means it all happens in five minutes or less. “Pizza lovers across the nation are relishing in the freedom of creating […]

Fatburger Adds 30 Stores In Home State

Fatburger has announced a major domestic development agreement in Southern California for 30 new stores in San Diego, San Bernardino and Riverside counties including the Coachella Valley with franchise group Landmark Foodmaster Inc. The franchise group also owns and operates over 55 gas stations with many brands such as AMPM and Beyond Food Mart stores, […]

Multi-Unit Deals Spread Togo’s Through West Coast

Togo’s Eateries Inc., a “West Coast Original” since 1971, announced 2014 achievements with the opening of 18 restaurants throughout the West, including its first franchised restaurants in Idaho and a return to Colorado and Utah. The company also signed 19 new franchise agreements to develop new restaurants in both existing and emerging markets, including a […]

DC Travelers Now Find Taylor’s Hoagies In Reagan National

Concessions International (CI), one of the leading concessionaires in the U.S., announced the opening of Taylor Gourmet Handcrafted Hoagies restaurant in Washington, D.C.’s Reagan National Airport. The Philadelphia-style hoagie shop is located in Terminal B/C near gate 25. The airport sandwich shop is a joint venture between CI and MBC Concessions, an Airport Concessions Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (ACDBE) […]

Uncle Maddio’s Sets Up Shop In NC’s Triangle Area

In honor of the grand opening of its first Triangle–area restaurant, Uncle Maddio’s Pizza Joint, the popular fast-casual, create-your-own pizza brand, is giving away a free 9 inch, any three-topping pizza to guests from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. January 24 at its new 7157 O'Kelly Chapel Rd, Cary, North Carolina location. The Parkside Town Commons restaurant […]

Fatburger, Buffalo’s Express Open New Store In Home State

Fatburger and its sister brand Buffalo’s Express have opened a new location in The Streets of Brentwood shopping center. “The Streets of Brentwood is the perfect location for our sister brands to continue to grow in Northern California,” said Andy Wiederhorn, CEO of Fatburger and Buffalo’s Cafe. “As a bustling shopping destination in the area, we know that hungry shoppers will […]

Multiunit Expansion Deal to Bring PizzaRev to Boston

PizzaRev announced today an agreement with restaurateurs Marc Phaneuf, Jr. and Marc Phaneuf, Sr., to bring Los Angeles' build-your-own pizza concept to Boston. The freshly inked deal calls for at least 10 PizzaRev locations to open throughout Boston in the next four years. This is the 14th franchise group PizzaRev has partnered with to expand the fast-casual pizza concept […]

Brooklyn Water Bagel Continues “Brooklynization” of Florida

Known for its authentic New York bagels, The Original Brooklyn Water Bagel Co. is kicking off the New Year with an official announcement of plans for further expansion in South Florida, including the “Brooklynization” of Coral Springs and Downtown Fort Lauderdale in 2015. Founded in Delray Beach, Florida, The Original Brooklyn Water Bagel Co. currently has […]

Pieology Continues Oregon Expansion

Pieology Pizzeria today announced the opening of its Grant Park, Oregon, location on Friday, January 23. Pieology currently has Oregon locations in Tigard, Tualatin and Happy Valley, with plans to open a fifth next month. “Pieology is a unique concept that allows our guests to express their culinary creativity in a fun and interactive environment,” says […]