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The top 10 (unmentioned) food industry trends
	The media has been focused on recapping the previous year as they do each January. I have never been clear if this is to point out the cleverness and accuracy of forecasters from the previous year or to ask, "What on earth were we all thinking …
YO!Sushi to open U.S. locations
London-based YO!Sushi signed its first U.S. franchisee in 2011 and plans to open its first two American locations this year in Washington, D.C., with leases signed for at least one additional location. The company also plans to sign two to three …
The Counter signs 33-unit international development deal
The Counter Custom Built Burgers and Americana Group, the Middle East's leading restaurant, food product distributor and retail company, have announced a development agreement to open and operate 33 new locations in the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait …
Digital signage used in pop-up Twitter cafe
At the Dublin Web Summit late last year, Irish utility Electric Ireland set up a Twitter powered pop-up Tweet cafe, allowing customers to tweet their orders and keep an eye on a digital signage display to keep track of their place in line. Using …
Starbucks named a top global brand, place to work
Based on financial performance and brand strength, Starbucks was listed on Intrabrand's top 100 global brands of 2011. The Seattle-based coffee chain was No. 96 on the list. Intrabrand, a global brand consulting firm, recognized Starbucks' new logo …
UFood Restaurant Group to open in British Columbia
UFood Restaurant Group Inc. has announced that it has granted a territorial franchise agreement to ASA Capital Alliance for the development of 10 UFood Grill units in British Columbia. The first unit is scheduled to open in Vancouver by April 2012 …
Maui Wowi extends Saudi Arabia presence
Maui Wowi Hawaiian, an international Hawaiian coffee and fresh fruit smoothie company, has announced further expansion in the Middle East, with the opening of their newest retail location in Riyadh City, Saudi Arabia, bringing the country's total to …
Quiznos expanding into the Philippines
Quiznos has announced a partnership with the ACA Group, the master franchise selected to launch the first Quiznos restaurants in the Philippines. The first location will open in Manila early this year, with plans for further expansion to more than …
NPD: Global restaurant visits weak in Q3
Low consumer confidence and the stressed global economy were reflected in weak foodservice traffic numbers in most countries around the world in the quarter ending September 2011, according to The NPD Group. The growing or more stable domestic …
Wendy's Japan fancies up the menu with foie gras
Now that Wendy's has returned to Japan after a two year hiatus, the chain plans on wooing customers with higher-end options, namely a Foie Gras Rossini Burger priced at about $16, and the Truffle and Porcini Grilled Chicken Sandwich, at almost $12 …