Only 2% of consumers will eat Thanksgiving at restaurants

November 16, 2006

CHICAGO — Technomic said consumers are evenly split on where they plan to eat Thanksgiving dinner this year.   According to a recent consumer study, 4…

Organic to Go expands, acquires capital

November 16, 2006

SEATTLE — Organic To Go (O To Go), the first certified organic fast-casual café, announced the purchase of Vinaigrettes Full Spectrum Catering of Los Angeles.

Boston Market to pay $3.75MM for wage dispute

November 15, 2006

Sign On San Diego: The Boston Market restaurant chain will pay a total of $3.75 million to more than 6,400 current and former employees to settle two…

Panera CEO: There is no such thing as fast casual

The CEO talks about what makes Panera special and why his bakery café should not be lumped into the fast-casual segment.

Cold Stone Creamery to open in China and Taiwan

November 15, 2006

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Cold Stone Creamery, a fast-casual ice cream concept, has reached an agreement with the President Chain Store Corp. to open 105 stores in…

Rumbi Island Grill store hosts 'Animal Lovers' luau

November 15, 2006

BOULDER, Colo. — Rumbi Island Grill, a tropical fast-casual restaurant, will be hosting the second "Animal Lovers' Luau" fundraiser to benefit the Longmont…

Au Bon Pain to open 200 units

November 15, 2006

BOSTON — Au Bon Pain said it will add 200 units to the chain through expansion into Kuwait and Thailand.   The company has signed master franchise agreements…

McAlister's Deli is the only link in E. coli cases, health dep. says

November 14, 2006

The past few days have not been easy for Phil Friedman, the chairman and chief executive of McAlister's Deli.   A McAlister's store in Orange County, N.C.…

Panera loses lawsuit to Qdoba over lease issue

November 14, 2006

A Massachusetts Panera Bread lost a suit to Qdoba Mexican Grill. The victory allows Qdoba to move into the same shopping mall as Panera.   For this store…

CORRECTION: Caribou Coffee's Wi-Fi usage increases 450% over one month

November 14, 2006

ATLANTA — Wandering WiFi, a wireless technology solutions provider, said Caribou Coffee has had phenomenal success implementing its wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi…

Fast Casual magazine selects Panera Bread as its brand of the year

November 14, 2006

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Fast Casual magazine announced Panera Bread has been selected No. 1 for the magazine's annual Top 100 Movers & Shakers' list.   Panera…

Wood Stone intros compact Bistro 4355 oven

November 13, 2006

BELLINGHAM, Wash. — Wood Stone Corp. has introduced the newest member of its Bistro line of ovens, the Bistro 4355.   According to a news release, the 4355 is…

Panera buys 51% of Paradise Bakery for $21.1MM

November 13, 2006

St. Louis Business Journal: Panera Bread has agreed to buy 51 percent of the outstanding stock in Paradise Bakery & Café Inc., a Southwest region…

Radio advertising draws fast-casual customers

Radio is cheaper and more targeted than TV.

Starbucks sued for tipping policies

November 13, 2006

Sign On San Diego: The estimated $26 billion in tips left in counter jars and on tables across the country every year has become the focus of a debate over…

Cold Stone teams up with U.S. Airways for gift card promotion

November 13, 2006

Phoenix Business Journal: Some 250,000 passengers on U.S. Airways Group Inc. flights from Nov. 13-21 will receive $1 gift cards that can be redeemed at Cold…

Cousin Subs rolls out gift cards

November 13, 2006

MENOMONEE FALLS, Wis. — Cousins Subs introduced gift cards system-wide Nov. 10.   The plastic gift cards are replacing the traditional paper certificates…

Einstein Bagels unveils holiday menu items

November 13, 2006

GOLDEN, Colo. — Einstein Bros. Bagels is introducing holiday season menu items.    According to a news release, the new foods include a candy cane bagel and…

E. Coli cases traced to McAlister's Deli in N.C.

November 13, 2006

Associated Press: Health officials confirmed that E. coli sickened seven people in Chapel Hill, six of them students at the University of North Carolina at…

Mazzio's Pizza launches fast-casual re-image

November 12, 2006

TulsaWorld.com: In a drive to meet shifting demographics and evolving customer needs, 169-unit Mazzio's Pizza is changing its concept to meet the growing…