Dickey's asks franchisees to seek charity partnerships

by Valerie Killifer — senior editor, NetWorld Alliance

June 28, 2010

As new locations open from New York to California, Dickey's is incorporating local charities and organizations in the company's grand opening events. Dickey's…

Big Boy to open fast casual concept

June 28, 2010

The Big Boy burger chain is looking to open a fast casual version - trendily dubbed @burger - in mid-July, according to BurgerBusiness.com.

FoodCALC shows restaurants how to monetize nutritional info

June 28, 2010

Nutrition analysis provider FoodCALC and The Kentucky Restaurant Association are offering a webinar to help restaurant operators market the results of…

Groupon testing B2B deals

June 27, 2010

Groupon helps restaurateurs acquire new customers through its online couponing deals, but could it soon help operators get discounts from other businesses? "We…

Smashburger heads to Louisiana with localized menu

June 27, 2010

"Better burger" chain Smashburger will open its first Shreveport, La., location on July 14, with a localized menu that features Cajun flavors. The restaurant…

Cicerone program aims to burnish chain beer service

June 27, 2010

As artisan drinks – microdistilled spirits and craft beers – propagate, consumers have been catching on. At last week’s Technomic conference in Chicagoland…

Specialty drinks pump up fast casual menus

Upscale lemonades, iced coffees and fruit-infused beverages are making their way onto restaurant menus.

The CEO apology: A new kind of brand booster?

How CEO apologies suit the tenor of the times and satisfy consumers' desire for connection with a company.

Magic Brands receives court approval to sell assets to Luby's

June 24, 2010

Magic Brands LLC and Fuddruckers Inc. have obtained bankruptcy court approval for the sale of a substantial amount of its assets to Luby's Inc.

Chipotle to provide cafeteria meals through junk e-mail campaign

June 24, 2010

Through its "No Junk" campaign, Chipotle Mexican Grill is encouraging Americans to forward their junk e-mails to nojunk@chipotlejunk.com, where each forwarded…

Geo-based marketing essential to restaurant growth

Modern restaurants must incorporate geo-location and geo-targeting into multiple communications channels to grow revenue and boost loyalty.

Fast casual sales reached $17.5 billion in 2009

June 24, 2010

Though the recession took a toll on most restaurant sectors in 2009, fast casual chains benefited from consumers trading down from fullservice restaurants. A…

Chipotle to provide cafeteria meals through junk e-mail campaign

by

June 24, 2010

Through its "No Junk" campaign, Chipotle Mexican Grill is encouraging Americans to forward their junk e-mails to nojunk@chipotlejunk.com, where each forwarded…

Magic Brands receives court approval to sell assets to Luby's

by

June 24, 2010

Magic Brands LLC, and Fuddruckers Inc. has obtained bankruptcy court approval for the sale of a substantial amount of its assets to Luby's Inc.   "The…

Fast casual sales reached $17.5 billion in 2009

by

June 24, 2010

Though the recession took a toll on most restaurant sectors in 2009, fast casual chains benefited from consumers trading down from fullservice restaurants. A…

Geo-based marketing essential to restaurant growth

Modern restaurants must incorporate geo-location and geo-targeting into multiple communications channels to grow revenue and boost loyalty.

So You Want to be a Franchisor?

by Don Fox — CEO, Firehouse of America

I wish I had a franchise fee for every time the owner of a fledgling restaurant concept stopped to ask me whether or not they should put their concept out on…

Food & Beverage Forecasting: Resetting the Stage through Chaos

by Suzy Badaracco — President, Culinary Tides Inc

I had the interesting experience of having an invitation to my 8-year-old's sleepover party rejected by a mother who suggested we wait until next school year…

Please, No More Tacos!

by Paul Mcginnis — Vice President, Marketing, Ecolab Food Safety Specialties

Taco Sunday. Just typing the phrase brings back a flood of memories involving lots of ground beef and hungry teenagers. Some of you may not remember this…

Economic Outlook Shifting for Restaurants & Workers

by Michael Harms — Sr. Business Analyst, People Report - Black Box Intelligence

As unemployment has risen over the past couple of years, we've seen turnover fall to record lows. This really should come as no surprise-it's basic economics…