JAB acquires Pret a Manger

May 29, 2018

JAB, the global investment firm that purchased Panera Bread in 2017, is adding the UK's Pret A Manger to its portfolio. Pret, which has a strong presence in…

Vegas Capriotti's changes logo for Stanley Cup final

May 29, 2018

Vegas-based sandwich shop Capriotti's has changed its name to Knightriotti's and altered its logo with no capital letters to support the Vegas Golden Knights…

Tiki Taco brings Hawaiian islands to DC

May 29, 2018

Chef Ryan Fichter has opened the first Tiki Tacos at 2010 P St., N.W. in Washington. Tiki Tacos' menu is inspired by his years of island culinary experience…

Tony Packo's launches rebrand

May 29, 2018

Tony Packo's, the iconic restaurant chain known for its link to the TV show M*A*S*H, has reinvented itself since its fallout in 2011, due to a family conflict…

Toast partners with Jamba Juice to change ordering experience

May 29, 2018

In order to reduce wait times and provide guests with better experiences, Jamba Juice is launching ToastGo within its locations, according to a company press…

Blaze pops up in Cranberry, Pennsylvania

May 29, 2018

Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania, will be the latest recipient of a new Blaze Fast Fire'd Pizza location when the brand opens Thursday a 1,800-square-foot open…

Dickey's Barbecue Pit to open in Gulf Breeze

May 25, 2018

Franchisee Wendy Williams is bringing two Dickey's Barbecue Pit locations to Florida, with the first location opening this fall in Gulf Breeze, Florida. The…

Coconut's Fish Cafe open in Los Angeles

May 25, 2018

Coconut's Fish Cafe, known for its fish tacos, salads and sandwiches, took its first step into Southern California, opening a unit at 809 S Hill St.,…

Firenza Pizza to open second Charlotte unit

May 25, 2018

Although Firenza Pizza already has one location in Charlotte, North Carolina, the Virginia-based franchise is looking to expand its footprint even further with…

Survey: Consumers spending less at restaurants

May 25, 2018

Americans are looking to not only spend less during restaurant visits, but also hope to dine out less frequently this year, according to a survey by…

Rapid Fired Pizza introduces Chicago-style pizza

May 24, 2018

For the month of May, Rapid Fired Pizza has launched a Chicago style pizza topped with garlic butter, sausage crumbles, provolone cheese and a swirl of classic…

Freshii VP gives acceptance speech at Fast Casual Top 100 gala

Freshii Vice President of Marketing Melissa Gallagher gives the acceptance speech on behalf of Freshii, which took the top spot on the 2018 Fast Casual Top 10…

Jimmy John's hires CMO, CDO

May 24, 2018

Jimmy John's has added two members to its team, John Shea and Stephen Piacentini, according to a company press release.    Shea, who worked as a marketer for…

How self-pour beer technology is helping casual dining brands keep up with fast casuals

by Elliot Maras — Editor, Kiosk Marketplace & Vending Times

Self-pour technology enables restaurants to maximize revenue by offering more variety, including more premium-priced offerings, and it significantly reduces…

Apex, Little Caesars develop self-service pick-up station

May 24, 2018

Apex Hot-Holding Device, a heated order pick-up station using self-serve automation technology, is now available to help restaurant employees focus on order…

Peet's Coffee increases loyalty members by 350%

May 24, 2018

After Peet's Coffee relaunched its Peetnik loyalty rewards program using the Paytronix platform, the coffee chain saw a 350 percent increase in just 6 months…

Gloria Jean's first store in Kenya open

May 24, 2018

Gloria Jean's Coffees opened its first unit in Kenya, Africa, and is looking for franchise partners to further expand throughout the continent..    "We want…

Heritage Eats to open on Stanford campus

May 24, 2018

Napa, California-based Heritage Eats, which ranked No. 66 on the 2018 Fast Casual Top 100 list, is making its way onto the Stanford campus Friday, according to…

Tech innovations leaving restaurateurs wondering how to upgrade without starting over

by Elliot Maras — Editor, Kiosk Marketplace & Vending Times

Technology innovations dominated much of the show floor this week at the National Restaurant Association Show in Chicago, and while interesting, they also…

Survey: Employers hiring more summer help than previous year

May 23, 2018

Nearly all employers — 95 percent — said in a recent survey that they are adding more shifts this summer compared to last year.