Knowing your customer

Before you start a marketing plan, you better know your target audience. It's not that difficult to conduct a demographics study.

Starbucks partners with NAACP

May 29, 2006

SEATTLE — Starbucks Coffee Company announced a five-year, $2.5 million commitment, through cash and in-kind donation, for the National Association for the…

Private equity firms eye fast-casual franchises

May 29, 2006

Area Developer: Big money, in the form of private equity, is finding a home in franchising and bringing big promise to area developers and multi-unit…

Senate passes immigration reform

May 25, 2006

WASHINGTON — The National Restaurant Association praised the U.S. Senate for passage of S. 2611, the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2006, to overhaul…

Tijuana Flats receives ADDY award

May 25, 2006

ORLANDO, Fla. — Tijuana Flats and their agency of record, PUSH, will be awarded a Gold ADDY for creative excellence at the 2006 National ADDY Awards June 11.

Gas prices' negative impact on restaurants is widening, Technomic says

May 24, 2006

CHICAGO—Researchers at Technomic point to growing evidence that gas prices are taking a bigger cut out of some restaurants' business.

Woman slams car into N.Y. Panera Bread

May 24, 2006

Capital News: An Albany, N.Y., woman hit a parked car and sent it through the plate glass window of a Panera Bread store. The restaurant did not have any…

Starbucks to sell audiobooks

May 24, 2006

Bloomberg: Starbucks Corp. will market "The Velveteen Rabbit" and "The Night Before Christmas" audiobooks under an agreement with Random House Inc. as the…

2006 restaurant show wraps up

The 2006 National Restaurant Hotel & Motel Show offered big-time speakers and trendsetting technologies. Even if you attended, you probably didn't see…

Donatos Pizza franchisee revamping 15 stores with modern look

May 23, 2006

Dayton Business Journal: Todd Rogers, president of Viking Group, the country's largest Donatos Pizza franchise operation, will spend between $75,000 and…

Subway rolls out 'Fit' Meals

May 22, 2006

MILFORD, Conn. — Subway is introducing new "fit" menu items and "California Fit Fresh Value Meals" on May 22 in 1,700 franchisees across the state of…

National Restaurant Association board elects new officers, directors

May 22, 2006

CHICAGO — The National Restaurant Association Board of Directors elected Edward R. Tinsley III, FMP, chairman of the board.    Tinsley is the president and…

Dell launches new POS

May 22, 2006

CHICAGO — Dell announced a point-of-sale (POS) system using Restaurant Pro Express software that allows restaurants to simplify ordertaking and easily track…

Chipotle Mexican Grill announces pricing of secondary offering

May 22, 2006

DENVER — Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc. announced that McDonald's Ventures LLC and other stockholders have agreed to sell 4,197,331 shares of its class A common…

President Bush speaks at NRA Show

President George Bush was greeted warmly when he spoke at the the National Restaurant Association Hotel & Motel Show on May 22. As expected, he touched on the…

Sharp Electronic launches new cash register

May 21, 2006

MAHWAH, N.J. — Sharp is unveiling a new electronic cash register with enhanced capabilities, a news release said.   The ER-A242 is a solution for businesses…

Edward Don and RP partner to enhance services

May 21, 2006

NORTH RIVERSIDE, Ill. — Edward Don & Company and RP & Associates announced at the National Restaurant Association Show that they have entered a new…

MICROS and VeriFone form alliance

May 18, 2006

CHICAGO -- MICROS Systems Inc. and VeriFone Holdings announced a strategic alliance to arm the North American restaurant industry with an integrated…

Taco Del Mar signs Hawaii master developer

May 18, 2006

SEATTLE -- Taco Del Mar, a West Coast chain, is expanding to Hawaii. The restaurant recently signed Ken Nascimento as master developer for Hawaii, Saipan and…

Must-see events / products at the NRA Show

As you enter the show, aromas of mouthwatering food, sounds of equipment demonstrations and an expansive panorama of colorful exhibits envelop you.