Health and wellness consumer drivers

by Suzy Badaracco — President, Culinary Tides Inc

Consumer drivers, health trends, consumer disconnects and flavor trends lead to a focused health and wellness strategy development.

Why servant leadership is crucial for a successful restaurant catering program

by Erle Dardick — CEO, Monkeymedia

Without the support structure in place at the highest level of your organization, mid-level managers and front-line employees will have a hard time carrying…

Sbarro's new pizza promo yields 100K new Facebook fans

November 13, 2012

Sbarro introduced its new Neapolitan-style pizza recipe by giving away more than 35,000 free slices throughout October. The slices were delivered nationwide…

Smoothie King adds chai to lean smoothie line

November 13, 2012

Smoothie King Franchises is now featuring a new member of its Lean1 family of high protein, nutritious smoothies. The Lean1 Chai is a blend of cinnamon, cloves…

Burger 21 expanding in greater Washington D.C. area

November 13, 2012

Burger 21, a new fast casual concept founded by the owners of The Melting Pot Restaurants Inc., announced today that it has signed a franchise deal to open a…

Capriotti's makes Massachusetts debut

November 13, 2012

Capriotti's Sandwich Shop will open its newest restaurant by the end of the year at Patriot Place in Foxborough, Mass., home of the New England Patriots…

la Madeleine launches holiday menu

November 13, 2012

In the spirit of holiday traditions, la Madeleine Country French Café has brought back its holiday menu, featuring turkey risotto, the turkey cranberry melt…

Corner Bakery Café expanding Northeastern presence

November 13, 2012

Corner Bakery Café has signed a franchise agreement to open its first restaurants in Nassau County and Long Island N.Y., in 2013. Earlier this year, Corner…

Commentary: What merchants want from mobile commerce

The Merchant Customer Exchange is leveraging technology to create a mobile-commerce solution.

Top 100: No. 49 Cosi Sandwich Bar

November 13, 2012

Deerfield, Ill. / No. of units: 143

Top 100: No. 50: I Dream of Falafel

November 13, 2012

Chicago / No. of units: 3

Chains itching to cook from scrach: Part 1

by Betsy Craig — pres, menutrinfo.com

About a year ago, in its annual predictions of the hottest hospitality trends, international restaurant consultants Baum + Whiteman warned that the "misuse of…

Top 100: No. 48: OinkADoodle Moo

November 12, 2012

Dayton, Ohio / No. of units: 4

Top 100: No. 45: Boudin Bakery

November 12, 2012

San Francisco / No. of units: 7

Top 100: No. 46: Pei Wei Asian Diner

November 12, 2012

Scottsdale, Ariz. / No. of units: 170

Top 100: No. 47: Epic Burger

November 12, 2012

Chicago / No of units: 6

Top 100: No. 44: XOCO

November 12, 2012

Chicago / No. of units: 1

It's OK to fire 'bad' customers

by Ed Zimmerman — President, pizza.com

In my days as a wholesale baker, I had a customer in Washington, D.C., who ran five high-volume delis. To obtain his business, I had to cut my margin to the…

Pie Five now franchising

November 12, 2012

Pie Five Pizza has awarded its first two franchise development agreements and will introduce its fast-casual custom pizza concept in Utah and North Carolina.

Cowboy Chicken serving wood-fire turkeys

November 12, 2012

Cowboy Chicken has brought back its holiday Wood Fire Rotisserie Turkey for a limited time. Similar to the way the chain cooks its wood-fire rotisserie…