Organic foods surge through restaurants

April 11, 2006

  NEW YORK — A new study shows the use of organic foods is growing in the foodservice market.   According to "Organic on the Menu: Healthy Eating Trends in…

Coffee Holding Co. enters joint venture with Generations Coffee

April 10, 2006

BROOKLYN, N.Y. — Coffee Holding Co. Inc. entered into a joint venture with Caruso's Coffee of Brecksville, Ohio. Generations Coffee Company LLC, a Delaware…

Caribou Coffee announce preliminary Q1 results

April 10, 2006

MINNEAPOLIS — Caribou Coffee reported preliminary first quarter for period ended April 2. According to a news release, comparable coffeehouse net sales were…

Everything Yogurt & Salad rolls out new salads

April 10, 2006

MORRISTOWN, NJ — Villa Enterprises announced the rollout of its three new Signature Salads for its Everything Yogurt & Salad Café and Green Leaf's…

Fast-casual concepts attract the Washington lunch crowd

April 9, 2006

Washington Post: The Washington D.C. lunch crowd is patronizing fast-casual concepts more frequently than other concepts. They're eating at Cosi, Potbelly…

Making business sense of charities

Raving! Brands, Panda Express and Starbucks charities look good to the public and build brand awareness.

Wingstop posts 11th straight quarter of comps growth

April 6, 2006

DALLAS — Wingstop benefited from the Super Bowl and March Madness for a positive first quarter ended April 1.   According to a news release, comparable-store…

New report tracks menu trends

April 6, 2006

CHICAGO —The latest Trend Tracker report, a companion to the online, searchable Menu Monitor service offered by Technomic Information Services, offers a new…

Baja Fresh sales dip in Q1

April 5, 2006

DUBLIN, Ohio — Baja Fresh Mexican Grill's system same-store sales declined 3.6-3.8  percent. The restaurant's parent, Wendy's International Inc., announced…

Reinstein brothers push Fresh City

April 5, 2006

Boston Biz Journal: The basic ingredients are the same, but brothers Larry Reinstein and Bruce Reinstein are following a different recipe in building their…

Taco Del Mar selects Colorado master developers

April 5, 2006

SEATTLE — Gary Robison and Nick Kraft of El Grande Tacos were selected as Taco Del Mar master developers for Colorado, according to a news release. Kraft and…

El Pollo Loco reports 2005 revenues

April 4, 2006

IRVINE, Calif. — EPL Intermediate Inc., parent company of El Pollo Loco Inc., reported final results for its fourth quarter and fiscal year ended Dec.

Caribou CEO earns $2.4MM while stock declines

April 4, 2006

Business Journal: Caribou Coffee Co. chief executive Michael Coles made $2.4 million in salary, bonuses and stock grants 2005, while his company went public…

Q1 comps slide 2% at Pei Wei

April 4, 2006

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — P.F. Chang's China Bistro Inc., the parent of fast-casual restaurant Pei Wei, reported consolidated revenues of $228.6 million for the…

Peet's Coffee & Tea celebrates 40 years

April 4, 2006

EMERYVILLE, Calif. — Peet's Coffee & Tea Inc. announced the launch of its 40th Anniversary celebration in its 113 company-owned stores and nationwide home…

Panera Bread Q1 revenues increase 35%

April 4, 2006

ST. LOUIS — Panera Bread Company reported that revenue for the first-quarter ended March 28 increased 35 percent to $194 million from $144 million in the…

Award-winning chef partners with Paradise Bakery

April 3, 2006

PHOENIX —Chef Gregory Casale, a James Beard Award nominee, has joined Paradise Bakery and Café as executive chef.    Chef Gregory Casale, a graduate of The…

Panera Bread changes at the top

April 3, 2006

ST LOUIS — Panera Bread Co. said it will replace chief financial officer Mark Hood with Jeff Kip, vice president of finance and planning, effective May 5. …

CKE Restaurants selects Instill's Food Spend Management Solution

April 3, 2006

REDWOOD CITY, Calif. — Instill Corporation announced that restaurant chains Carl's Jr. and La Salsa Fresh Mexican Grill have selected Instill's Food Spend…

Raving Brands contributes $2MM to charity

April 2, 2006

Raving Brands partnered with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children as the organization's largest single contributor with a $2 million…