Culver's switches to zero grams trans-fat cooking oil

December 4, 2006

PRAIRIE du SAC, Wis. — Culver Franchising System, which operates more than 345 Culver's Frozen Custard and ButterBurger restaurants, announced will complete a…

Cold Stone names new president

December 3, 2006

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Cold Stone Creamery announced that Lee Knowlton has been promoted to president of international and new business development.    Prior to…

Bad Ass Coffee gives soldiers free coffee

December 3, 2006

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah — The Bad Ass Coffee Company, a fast-casual coffeehouse, is sending troops overseas bags of coffee.   According to a news release, the…

NRA research: Industry outlook positive despite slip in RPI

November 30, 2006

WASHINGTON D.C. — The outlook for the restaurant industry remained positive in October, despite a modest decline in the National Restaurant Association's…

Papa Gino's Holdings appoints veteran ops leaders

November 30, 2006

DEDHAM, Mass. — Papa Gino's Holdings Corp. (PGHC), parent company of Papa Gino's Pizza and D'Angelo Grilled Sandwiches, appointed two industry veterans to its…

Starbucks opens in Brazil

November 30, 2006

SAO PAULO, Brazil — Starbucks Coffee Company and Starbucks Brazil announced that its first two stores will open this week in the capital of São Paulo at…

Caribou Coffee selects software to help it track finances

November 30, 2006

FOSTER CITY, Calif. — Imperva, a data security and compliance solutions provider, announced that Caribou Coffee has deployed the SecureSphere Database…

Brands seek military veteran franchisees

November 30, 2006

Kita Business: VetFran, shorthand for the Veterans Transition Franchise Initiative, offers reduced-cost entry into the world of franchising. Originally, it…

Fast-casual customers eat alone

Appeal to single diners to make sales grow.

Intura Solutions joins Zebra's PartnersFirst program

November 29, 2006

ARLINGTON, Texas — Intura Solutions LP, a leading supplier of POS and business-management software for quick-service, fast-casual and delivery-restaurant…

Pollo Campero founder suing the company

November 29, 2006

MIAMI — Juan Arturo Gutierrez, founder of Pollo Campero, is suing the fresh-Mex chain and other related companies.     Last week a new action was filed in a…

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…