All hail the diehards: Limited-service chains open Christmas

by S.A. Whitehead — Food Editor, Net World Media Group

News reporters, convenience and retail store employees, first responders and medical personnel are among that committed group of people who rarely get holidays…

Blaze opens 4 multi-national locations Thursday

December 13, 2016

Blaze Fast-Fire'd Pizza is opening three U.S. locations and one in Canada this week, according to a news release. All four sites open Thursday, including: • …

Fully automated Eatsa opens 1st New York City restaurant

December 13, 2016

Eatsa, a fully automated lunch spot that provides healthy meals at the  touch of a button, has opened a restaurant in Midtown, Manhattan, according to Eater…

Captain D's brings back health-conscious menu

December 12, 2016

Captain D's is reintroducing its Captain's D-Lites menu with a number of under-500 calorie offerings, such as the wild Alaskan salmon and the blackend tilapia.

Fazoli's signs Alabama franchise deal

December 12, 2016

Fazoli's has signed an agreement to develop a restaurant in Huntsville, Alabama. The news comes on the heels of another month of strong sales results for the…

Indian fast casual concept rolling across New York

December 12, 2016

The Kati Roll Company has opened in the heart of the East Village, 28 East Second Ave., in New York, and hopes to have 40 others by 2020. The chain, which has…

El Pollo Loco opens 1st Grand Prairie location

December 12, 2016

Citrus-marinated chicken cooked over an open flame grill debuted in Grand Prairie, Texas for the first time, thanks to El Pollo Loco's newest location…

Vapiano opens arms to Disney Paris visitors

December 12, 2016

Much like the fanned-out arms of an old tree at the center of  Vapiano's newest location, the chain itself is on a growth spurt throughout Europe. The most…

Kiosks killing jobs? Current events beg the question, but the facts say otherwise

by Elliot Maras — Editor, Automatic Merchandiser

Several restaurant chains are using kiosks and other technology that allow orders to be placed more rapidly and efficiently. Kiosks are fostering fears about…

Slim Chickens opening in Middle East

December 12, 2016

Slim Chickens will continue the expansion of its fresh chicken concept for the first time outside of the United States through a partnership with Alghanim…

How the election could (and should) change the way restaurants do business

By Mike Lukianoff, Chief Analytics Officer/Fishbowl

Steve Ells named sole CEO of Chipotle

December 12, 2016

Despite a couple of Chipotle board members trying to oust Steve Ells last month from his chair position, the founder of the chain isn’t going anywhere. In…

Restaurant incubator ready for new chef class

December 9, 2016

Smallman Galley, which bills itself as "the nation's first restaurant incubator," has announced that it is accepting applications through the end of the month…

Storm brewing: Appointment of Hardee's CEO as labor secretary spawns debate

December 9, 2016

While several labor organizations have come out against Thursday's appointment of CKE Restaurants Holdings CEO Andy Puzder as President-elect Donald Trump's…

Why your mobile app can't be your mobile strategy

Instead of simply launching a mobile app and expecting it to meet the needs of consumers, marketers need to craft a mobile strategy that stretches across all…

Kiosks killing jobs? Current events beg the question, but the facts say otherwise

by Elliot Maras — Editor, Automatic Merchandiser

Several restaurant chains are using kiosks and other technology that allow orders to be placed more rapidly and efficiently. Kiosks are fostering fears about…

Slapfish swimming into South Korea

December 9, 2016

Slapfish is planting a flag next year in Seoul, South Korea, with plans to open 10 restaurants across the country over the next three years, according to a…

Nashville's Hattie B's Hot Chicken expanding to Atlanta

December 9, 2016

Nashville-based Hattie B's Hot Chicken will open its first Atlanta location late next year, according to a press release from Dallas-based Falcon Realty…

Panera promotes Blaine Hurst to president

December 9, 2016

Panera Bread has named company veteran Blaine Hurst as its president effective Dec. 12, following the resignation of Drew Madsen for personal reasons…

Native American franchisee signs master franchise agreement to expand Rex's Chicken

December 8, 2016

Beautiful Brands International signed an agreement with the Muscogee Creek Nation's Muscogee Nation Business Enterprise division to open as many as 500 Rex's…