BBQ carves industry niche

Barbecue chains work to gain mainstream appeal. 

Organic To Go receives equity commitment

June 26, 2007

SEATTLE — Fast casual organic restaurant Organic To Go has received a $6.35 million equity commitment from institutional investors to help fund expansion for…

uWink files for stock offering

June 26, 2007

LOS ANGELES — Restaurant concept uWink Inc. has filed a registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission for a proposed offering of up to…

KnowFat changes name

June 26, 2007

Blue MauMau: The owners of healthy fast casual restaurant franchise KnowFat are changing the restaurant's name to UFood Grill and are updating the menu and…

Garden Fresh president resigns

June 25, 2007

SAN DIEGO — David Qualls, longtime president and chief financial officer of Garden Fresh Restaurant Corp., parent company of Souplantation/Sweet Tomatoes…

Starbucks intros salad line, new summer beverage

June 25, 2007

SEATTLE — Starbucks Corp. has launched a new line of salads and snacks, as well Raspberry Mocha beverages, available June 26.     Starbucks has paired the…

NRA sends message to move immigration debate forward

June 25, 2007

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The National Restaurant Association June 25 sent a letter to senators expressing the importance of quickly moving forward with the debate on…

Sandella's Flatbread to expand in California

June 24, 2007

REDDING, Conn. — Sandella's Flatbread recently closed a multi-unit franchising deal with Vahe and Harry Karamardian for the development of five new Southern…

uWink to expand in Canada

June 24, 2007

LOS ANGELES — uWink Inc., developer of digital media entertainment software and an interactive restaurant concept, has announced plans for the creation of…

The fresh factor

by Valerie Killifer — senior editor, NetWorld Alliance

June 24, 2007

Restaurants tout freshly prepared to add consumer appeal.

Panera Bread purchases 32 franchise locations

June 21, 2007

ST. LOUIS — Panera Bread Company announced June 22 that it has purchased 32 franchise-operated bakery-cafes and the area development rights for certain markets…

IDS completes menu board installation

June 21, 2007

HOLBROOK, N.Y. — IDS Menus has installed its digital menu-board system for the grand opening of a Salad Spinners location in Chicago. The restaurant is the…

Chicken chains expand in California

June 21, 2007

San Francisco Examiner: A franchise of El Pollo Loco will be opening five new stores in California's San Mateo County and four in San Francisco by the end of…

Starbucks, Ethiopia reach coffee-licensing agreement

June 20, 2007

International Herald Tribune: Starbucks Corp. and the Ethiopian government said June 20 they will work together to promote three of the African nation's…

Schlotzsky's launches first online contest

June 20, 2007

AUSTIN, Texas — Schlotzsky's is giving restaurant patrons a chance to win $25,000 a year for life through its new online Winning Combination Game.   Between…

Fatburger eyes China market

June 20, 2007

CattleNetwork: Fast casual chain Fatburger has plans to expand into China within the next year. Expansion plans for the California-based chain involve the…

Bakery café Zebu Forno launches franchise program

June 20, 2007

RED BANK, N.J. — Zebu Forno, a European-style bakery and café, has announced plans to expand through the sale of franchises in other parts of New Jersey and…

Salad Creations

June 20, 2007

The Florida-based chain is sprouting up all over.

Restaurants to miss July 1 calorie deadline

June 19, 2007

MSNBC: Fast food restaurants in New York are getting a temporary reprieve from a precedent-setting rule requiring them to put calorie information on their…

Noodles & Co. launch Good Balance initiative

June 19, 2007

BROOMFIELD, Colo. — Noodles & Company has announced the launch of its Good Balance educational program in all 150 restaurants and on the company's Web…