Bruegger's expands into Phoenix

February 18, 2007

BURLINGTON, Vt. — Bruegger's Enterprises Inc. announced Feb. 16 it has secured an agreement to expand its bakery-cafe locations in Arizona.    Under the new…

Camille's Sidewalk Café continues expansion

February 18, 2007

TULSA, Okla. — Camille's Sidewalk Café has opened locations in Olathe, Kans., Rochester, Minn., Austin, Texas, and Lawrenceville, N.J., in the Mercer Mall…

Buffalo Wild Wings' earnings take off

February 15, 2007

Minneapolis — Same-store sales at Minneapolis-based Buffalo Wild Wings increased 13.2 percent for company-owned restaurants during the fourth quarter of 2006…

Chipotle 4Q net up 150 percent

February 15, 2007

DENVER — Same-store sales at Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc. restaurants open at least a year increased 10 percent during the fourth quarter of 2006, and 13.…

All 100 slots filled for '07 Pizza Pizzazz battle at NAPICS

February 15, 2007

COLUMBUS, Ohio — For the first time in its history, all 100 competitor slots for the 2007 North America Pizza Pizzazz Competition have been filled. The two-day…

Starbucks stepping up African coffee purchases

February 15, 2007

Seattle Post-Intelligencer: Starbucks is planning to double the amount of coffee it buys from East African countries over the next two years and fund aid…

Appeals court overturns ruling in Starbucks trademark case

February 15, 2007

NEW YORK — The 2nd Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals overturned a lower court ruling in a case filed by Seattle-based Starbucks Corp. against a New Hampshire…

California Pizza Kitchen comps, revenue increase

February 15, 2007

LOS ANGELES — Same-store sales at California Pizza Kitchen Inc. increased 6.9 percent for the 2006 fourth quarter ended Dec. 31. For fiscal year 2006, comps…

Caribou's net loss tops $9 million

February 15, 2007

Minneapolis — Caribou Coffee Co. Inc. reported a same-store sales increase of 2 percent for the fourth quarter ended Dec. 31. For the year, comps fell …

Earth Alive intros eco-friendly cleaning solution

February 15, 2007

MONTREAL, Quebec — Earth Alive has launched into the North American market a new patented microbial cleaning solution, RapidAll.   Formulated as an…

New York Burger Co. dubbed 'best burger'

February 14, 2007

New York — New York Burger Co. was voted "Best Burger" by AOL Cityguide's consumer voters. The fast-casual restaurant also won the title in 2005.   The…

Pizza Shuttle to receive '07 top indy op award at NAPICS

February 13, 2007

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — PizzaMarketplace.com will present Pizza Shuttle its Independent Operator of the Year Award for 2007, Feb. 25 at the North America Pizza…

Organic to Go goes public

February 13, 2007

SEATTLE — Organic Holding Company Inc., operator of 13 Organic To Go fast-casual cafes in Seattle and Los Angeles, has gone public following a reverse merger.

Bruegger's spreads the love

February 13, 2007

BURLINGTON, Vt. — Bruegger's is celebrating Valentine's Day by offering red, heart-shaped bagels throughout the day Feb. 14 at the company's 260 bakery-cafes.

Pei Wei comps decrease for year, 4Q

February 13, 2007

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Same-store sales at Pei Wei Asian Diner decreased for the year by 2 percent. For 4Q '06, comps fell .7 percent, reported the company's…

Moe's adds grilled tilapia

February 13, 2007

ATLANTA — Moe's Southwest Grill, a subsidiary of Atlanta-based Raving Brands Inc., is introducing grilled tilapia at the burrito chain's 334 nation-wide…

Brawling over breakfast

The fast-casual battle for breakfast is shaping up to be a bruiser.

Peet's Coffee & Tea launches grocery distribution

February 12, 2007

EMERYVILLE, Calif. — Specialty coffee marketer Peet's Coffee & Tea Inc. will begin offering its signature coffee within Stop & Shop Supermarkets in…

NRA issues statement on small business tax package

February 12, 2007

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The National Restaurant Association has issued a statement on the House of Representative's small business tax package. On Monday, the House…

Arizona wage hike cuts teenage employment

February 11, 2007

The Arizona Republic: An Arizona minimum-wage law that went into effect in January has subsequently impacted the state's teenage workforce. Some employers…