Baja Fresh opens second NYC location

September 21, 2009

Baja Fresh Mexican Grill has announced the grand opening of its second New York City location.   The store celebrated its opening Sept. 16 by selling $…

NPD: Lingering unemployment will delay restaurant industry recovery

September 21, 2009

Current economic indicators point to recovery, but persistent high unemployment will continue to plague the restaurant industry several months after the…

Togo's stands by pastrami sandwich with money-back guarantee

September 21, 2009

Togo's Eateries Inc., the California sandwich chain known for its made-to-order sandwiches, will announce the launch of an its Pastrami Guarantee with a new…

Panera Bread continues with Indianapolis expansion

September 21, 2009

Panera Bread Co. will open its most recent Indianapolis location Sept. 23. The new store is in downtown Indianapolis at Claypool Court and features an outdoor…

Restaurant Magic, Heartland Payment Systems partner

September 20, 2009

Payments processor Heartland Payment Systems has partnered with Restaurant Magic Software to provide regional and national chains with a variety of operational…

Garbanzo Mediterranean Grill opens fifth location

September 20, 2009

Centennial, Colo.-based Garbanzo Mediterranean Grill has opened in Englewood, Colo., marking the concept's fifth location.   The restaurant was founded in…

Steve Ells talks about Chipotle's success

September 20, 2009

Steve Ells was looking to launch a fine-dining restaurant when he opened his first Chipotle Mexican Grill. However, he found Chipotle's "food with integrity…

Boston Market launches 'two kids eat free' promo

September 20, 2009

Boston Market has launched a "Two Kids Eat Free" dining program where two children, ages 14 and younger, can receive a free kids' meal all day, every day with…

Part II: NRA outlines industry imperatives

The association's new strategic plan tackles issues from food safety to profitability and sustainability.

Charley's Grilled Subs adds Oreo cookies to kid's meals

September 17, 2009

Starting this month, Charley's Grilled Subs will team-up with Nabisco to add Oreo cookies to its kids' meals at participating locations worldwide. The addition…

Author explains how coffee giant lost its 'fidelity'

September 16, 2009

Author Ken Maney, who wrote "Trade-Off: Why Some Things Catch On, and Others Don't," outlines some of the reasons why Starbucks has struggled over the past few…

Web site helps operators pair grilled items with sides

September 16, 2009

A new Web site sponsored by Bush Brothers Inc., the company behind Bush's Best Baked Beans, helps foodservice operators search for recipe ideas to accompany…

Rumbi Island Grill makes California debut

September 16, 2009

Rumbi Island Grill opened its first California location this week in Mission Viejo, according to a story in the Orange County Register.   The company has…

Barone's goes fast casual

September 15, 2009

Father-and-son team Mike and Stephan Monteleone have acquired the rights to use the family recipes of Barone's Famous Italian Restaurant of Sherman Oaks…

Dunn Bros. appoints new president

September 15, 2009

Minneapolis-based Dunn Bros. Coffee Franchising Inc. has appointed chief financial officer Kim Plahn as president and CFO, the company has announced. In her…

Cosi taps ESW for ad services

September 15, 2009

Cosi Inc. has named Chicago-based ESW Partners its advertising agency of record following an extensive agency search.   ESW Partners will handle branding and…

Developer debuts Web-based loyalty club solution

September 15, 2009

Customer-retention solutions developer LoyaltySoft has introduced a new online solution designed to enable restaurants, coffee shops and other small businesses…

PJ's partners with the Saints

September 15, 2009

PJ's Coffee of New Orleans has committed to a two-year partnership with the New Orleans Saints football team which includes referring to PJ's as "the Preferred…

NRA outlines strategy for implementing imperatives

The organization seeks to strengthen communication and improve its core products.

Au Bon Pain deals with recession through strategic revision

by Valerie Killifer — senior editor, NetWorld Alliance

September 14, 2009

Au Bon Pain revised its brand mission and essence in order to cope with the economic recession that caused restaurants across the industry to revise their…