Jody Maroni's intros gourmet pizza toppings

November 28, 2006

VENICE, Calif. — Sausage maker Jody Maroni's now is providing pizza toppings such as crumbled chicken and pork sausages in exotic flavors.   "We have seen how…

zpizza to open five units in Virginia Beach, Norfolk

November 28, 2006

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. — zpizza has signed a multiunit franchise agreement with Linda Tran to open five units in southeast Virginia. According to a news…

Strategic Restaurant Acquisitions invests in Bear Rock Café

November 28, 2006

CARY, N.C. — Strategic Restaurant Acquisitions Corp., a fast-food company focused on franchise development and acquisition, has invested in Bear Rock Cafe.

Gold Kist becomes key supplier of Panda's orange chicken

November 28, 2006

ATLANTA — Gold Kist Inc., the nation's third largest chicken processor, has become a key supplier of Panda Express's most popular entree, Orange Chicken. …

McDonald's attempts to patent its sandwich apparatus

November 28, 2006

FOX News: McDonald's has submitted patent applications in the United States and Europe for the "method and apparatus for making a sandwich."   The restaurant…

Noodles & Company customers can pay with cell phones

November 28, 2006

BOULDER, Colo. — Noodles & Company has become the first national chain to adopt a new mobile commerce and marketing system that allows customers to pay…

Tijuana Flats shuts down Louisville stores

November 27, 2006

Courier Journal: All three Tijuana Flats restaurants in Louisville, Ky., have closed their doors. Darrell Current, the franchisee and majority investor in the…

Wood Stone expands oven-manufacturing operations

November 27, 2006

BELLINGHAM, Wash. — Wood Stone Corp. said in a news release it is constructing a new 57,500 square-foot building to be erected adjacent to its current 60,00…

Wendy's completes Baja Fresh sale

November 27, 2006

Wendy's International Inc. announced the completion of the Baja Fresh Mexican Grill sale for approximately $31 million.   Four years ago it paid $275 million…

Fast-casual wannabes

Casual-dining restaurants and QSRs create fast-casual concepts to meet customer demand.

First Watch settles sexual discrimination suit

November 26, 2006

Bradenton Herald: First Watch Restaurants Inc., the breakfast-lunch restaurant specialty chain, will pay $230,000 to settle a sexual discrimination lawsuit…

Raving Brands selects first woman to join senior management

November 26, 2006

ATLANTA — Raving Brands promoted Colleen Lex to vice president of partner development. With the promotion, Lex becomes the first woman to join the senior…

Qdoba's 2006 comps rise 5.9%

November 21, 2006

SAN DIEGO — Qdoba Mexican Grill said system same-store sales increased 4.5 percent for the fourth quarter ended Oct. 1, 2006. For the year, comps were up 5.…

McAlister's Deli franchisee donates tips to Crime Stoppers

November 21, 2006

WCPO: Several months ago, a television anchor made a challenge to everyone to give $100 to Crime Stoppers during a phone-a-thon event. A McAlister's Deli…

Go Roma Italian Kitchen opens first Indiana location

November 21, 2006

MERRILLVILLE, Ind. — Go Roma Italian Kitchen, owned by Forklift Brands, opened its first Indiana store Nov. 21.   "We are very excited to bring Go Roma, our…

Updated: Chipotle contest receives 17.3 million YouTube views

November 21, 2006

Correction: This story originally stated Chipotle received 173 million views on YouTube. Chipotle actually received 17.3 million views.   Chipotle Mexican…

Taco Del Mar rolls out platters

November 21, 2006

SEATTLE — Taco Del Mar is introducing $5.99 made-to-order platters. Among them:   Enchilada/Taco: One enchilada topped with sauce and cheese, plus one soft…

Focus Brands buys Schlotzsky's

November 20, 2006

Roark Capital Group, an Atlanta-based private equity firm, announced it acquired Schlotzsky's for an undisclosed amount Nov. 20.   The sandwich chain has…

Earth Alive Resources introduces all-natural RapidAll cleaner

November 20, 2006

WATERLOO, Quebec — Earth Alive Resources is introducing RapidAll, an all-in-one janitorial and sanitation cleaner that does not harm humans, animals or the…

Restaurant gift card sales poised to exceed $18 billion

November 20, 2006

NEEDHAM, Mass. — With the holidays fast approaching, 'tis the season for gift cards. This relatively new segment of the U.S. payments industry continues to…