Unilever Food Solutions' latest World Menu Report, "Sustainable Kitchens: Reducing Food Waste" demonstrates the issue of food waste hits a nerve with U.S. consumers who eat out at least once a week. Nearly 80 percent of U.S. diners surveyed express concern about the amount of food thrown away every day in restaurants, cafeterias, and other […]
Three-quarters of American adults say they would be more likely to choose a restaurant that participates in a charitable program that supports U.S. military personnel, veterans, and their families when dining out this Veterans Day, according to new National Restaurant Association research. National Restaurant Association (NRA) analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data shows that nearly […]
Customer satisfaction with Full Service Restaurants dropped from 83 to 78 on a scale of 0 to 100 – an all-time low for restaurants, and the largest decline for any industry since 2008. Smaller restaurants and local establishments shouldered most of the loss. In a fragile economy, price plays a greater role than it […]
Energy Kitchen, the healthy, fast-casual eatery founded in New York and financially backed and strategically led by Mike Repole, co-founder of Vitaminwater and major stakeholder of Pirate’s Booty all-natural snacks, is poised to open 40 new restaurants throughout the United States in the next two years and a total of 1,000 stores over the next […]
Look out, comfort food. Things just got a lot tastier thanks to the winners of the 2011 National Culinary Contest at Pizza Inn, Inc. The annual event that invites recipes from Pizza Inn franchise owners and employees is celebrating two new items to the lineup: the Grilled Cheese Pizza and the Buttered Cinnasugar Pizzert. "Our […]
The sluggish economy and rising household expenses are casting a chill over consumer confidence, but not enough to bring back the ghost of recessions past, according to Deloitte’s 26th annual survey of holiday spending intentions and trends. While two-thirds (67 percent) of consumers expect the economy to stay the same or weaken next year, nearly […]
A new national study of eating out and income shows that fast-food dining becomes more common as earnings increase from low to middle incomes, weakening the popular notion that fast-food should be blamed for higher rates of obesity among the poor. "There is a correlation between obesity and lower income, but it cannot be solely […]
NASCAR driver David Gilliland was on the fast track to share the Yum! Brands, Inc. World Hunger Relief message last weekend at Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama. Gilliland’s No. 34 Ford Fusion sported the World Hunger Relief logos and decals from Yum! Brands, Inc., KFC, Pizza Hut, and Taco Bell, as he got behind the wheel […]
Mid-Atlantic fast-casual restaurant chain California Tortilla has declared Oct. 26 “Occupy Cal Tort Day.” In reference to the Occupy movement around the globe, California Tortilla will donate 1 percent of gross sales from Oct. 26 to local food banks. In addition, all customers who support the “Occupy Cal Tort” movement will get free chips and […]
Tasti D-Lite, the great-tasting, better-for-you frozen treat chain, achieved unprecedented growth in the first half of 2011. The chain has signed new development agreements for Tampa, Florida, for several counties in New York and Connecticut, and for a network of non-traditional sites across the country, totaling 104 locations. Additionally, Tasti D-Lite recently opened its first […]
Wishing your flavor won the Baskin-Robbins flavor creation contest last year? Don't despair, Baskin-Robbins today announced its 2nd Annual Online Flavor Creation Contest, providing guests with the opportunity to tap into their inner chef to create a winning new flavor. From now through October 31, ice cream fans can enter the contest online by […]
LYFE Kitchen announced the launch of the world-class LYFE Kitchen Wellness and Health Advisory Panel, composed of some of the foremost authorities in wellness and healthy lifestyles. Members of the blue ribbon panel will lend their voices and recommendations on issues relating to wellness, health, and lifestyle to the transformational, socially-responsible "lyfestyle" brand that will […]
Battling with low operator and consumer confidence, rising food costs, and a lack of corporate support, independent restaurants can be especially hard hit during poor economic times. However, recent Mintel research reveals that indies may have some advantages over their competition, as 43 percent of American consumers who have visited one in the past month […]
The recession may have put a crimp in consumer spending, but most Americans are still letting the good times roll in restaurants, according to the results of the first LivingSocial “Dining Out” survey of consumer behavior. The survey, conducted last month among 4,000 online Americans by Mandala Research, discovered some surprising facts about eating habits, […]
Research proves that as unemployment rises, so does coupon use. But for operators who think slapping a coupon on Facebook counts as social media, Erika Brookes and Jason Poinsette, panelists at this year’s Dine America conference, have a few tips to enhance their game. Brookes is vice president of marketing at Vitrue and Poinsette is […]
Is America ready for montaditos? The specially baked rolls filled with 100 ingredients fuel the success of 100 Montaditos, a chain of 207 cafes throughout Spain. And now they’re open in the U.S. and primed to expand: One outlet opened in Miami in January 2011, a second is due there in September, and three are […]
Quaker Oats hit the quick-serve market Monday with Burger King’s addition of Quaker Oatmeal to its breakfast menu. The whole grain oatmeal is available nationally in all Burger King stores in two flavors. The timing of the announcement is prudent. Competition has soared in 2011, as McDonald’s launched its breakfast oatmeal at the beginning of […]
Black Box Intelligence LLC (BBI), Consumer Edge Research LLC (CER), GuestMetrics LLC (GM), and People Report announced the formation of a joint venture that will capture the combined product offerings of the four companies and provide revolutionary foodservice industry data and analytics. Together the four firms track the financial, consumer, and human capital metrics of […]
PowerDirect Marketing today announced increased client demand for its innovative front-door marketing capabilities in engaging the culturally-diverse Hispanic marketplace. Recent Hispanic front-door marketing campaigns have been deployed by PowerDirect for clients including Clorox, Hillshire Farms, and Fingerhut. Front-door marketing represents an uncluttered, highly-visible avenue for message placement – and provides a vast and largely untapped […]
