HuHot Mongolian Grills kicks off video contest

March 12, 2012

HuHot Mongolian Grills is inviting patrons to “Feed Your Inner Warrior,” through a video contest this March with cash prizes.

Zaxby's ranks No. 7 in customer satisfaction survey

March 12, 2012

Zaxby’s has been ranked number seven in the Top 10 Excellent Large Fast-Food Chains with 500 or more U.S. units in the recently published Quick-Track study…

Restaurant unit count drops in fall 2011

March 12, 2012

The total U.S. restaurant unit count dropped from 587,335 in Fall 2010 to 580,852 in Fall 2011, mostly due to independent restaurant closings. The data…

Tavistock Restaurants signs first FREEBIRDS area development deal

March 11, 2012

Tavistock Restaurants has signed its first area development agreement with FB Midwest Development LLC, which calls for the opening of 27 franchised FREEBIRDS…

Planet Smoothie warms up winter with tropical flavors

March 11, 2012

Planet Smoothie will launch its Flavors of the Tropics campaign March 19 that will promote Sambazon products including the limited-time Açaí smoothies and…

Einstein Noah Restaurant Group appoints chief restaurant officer

March 11, 2012

Einstein Noah Restaurant Group Inc. has announced the appointment of Brian L. Unger to chief restaurant officer, a newly created position at the company. Unger…

Buffalo Wild Wings to promote March Madness

March 8, 2012

Buffalo Wild Wings is launching its new multi-platform ad campaign during the month of March, one of its busiest times of the year.

Camille's Sidewalk Café launches smoothie line

March 8, 2012

Beautiful Brands International has announced the immediate roll out of its new menu of non-fat yogurt blends as well as a lineup of smoothie health enhancers…

Starbucks takes localization approach to Europe

by Valerie Killifer — senior editor, NetWorld Alliance

In 2009, Starbucks Corp. renovated several Seattle locations to better reflect the neighborhoods in which the coffeehouses were settled. The company is now…

NRA awards 18 Food and Beverage Product Innovations Awards

March 8, 2012

The National Restaurant Association has announced the recipients of the 2012 Food and Beverage Product Innovations Awards, which recognize consumable products…

Johnny Carros joins MOOYAH as franchise consultant

March 8, 2012

Restaurant-industry veteran Johnny Carros is joining MOOYAH as its new franchise business consultant, the company has announced.

Zoes Kitchen Facebook contest to give away "The Good Life"

March 7, 2012

Zoes Kitchen is launching a Facebook giveaway, Zoes Good Life, that will give one winner a huge grand prize. From March 6 – April 3, fans who "Like" Zoes…

Corner Bakery Cafe hires VP of franchise sales

March 7, 2012

On the heels of signing several multi-unit franchise deals in 2011, Corner Bakery Cafe has named hospitality industry veteran Jonathan Benjamin as vice…

Panera Bread to boost ad spend, cites fast casual competition

March 7, 2012

Panera Bread Co. has announced its plans to increase its media investment in 2012 by 26 percent, according to a story in The Wall Street Journal.

Pizza Fusion plans Vegas unit

March 7, 2012

Pizza Fusion will open a new restaurant in the Las Vegas area this spring.

The difference between social marketing and social operational insights

Operators can extract both marketing and operational insights from online feedback, but first they must understand the differences between the two.

Firehouse Subs posts strong same-store sales, unit growth in 2011

March 6, 2012

Firehouse Subs surpassed its company goals and industry averages in 2011, resulting in a record-breaking year. The brand grew by 79 restaurants for a total for…

Pinkberry names retail exec to board of directors

March 6, 2012

Pinkberry has announced that leading retail executive Betsy McLaughlin is joining the company’s board of directors.

NRA, LivingSocial form marketing-best-practices partnership

March 6, 2012

The National Restaurant Association and LivingSocial have announced a new partnership through which both organizations will work to educate and inform…

Gloves! The Controversy Continues - Part 3

by Paul Mcginnis — Vice President, Marketing, Ecolab Food Safety Specialties

If glove use is going to be effective, several factors should be considered when designing a disposable glove program. Size is vitally important to ensure the…