Panera Bread to roll out fall menu

September 2, 2009

Panera Bread is debuting a variety of new menu items for the fall season, the company has announced.   To enhance its salad menu, Panera Bread is introducing…

NRA chairman to give Fast Casual Summit lunch address

September 2, 2009

Michael Kaufman, chairman of the National Restaurant Association and co-president and owner of Enovo Restaurant Ventures LLC, has signed on to give the lunch…

Red Mango signs Houston area development agreements

September 1, 2009

Red Mango has awarded two franchise development agreements to open a total of six stores in the Houston area.   Jay Randle of The Woodlands, Texas, has signed…

Qdoba Mexican Grill opens 500th restaurant

September 1, 2009

To celebrate the opening of Qdoba Mexican Grill's 500th restaurant in Centennial, Colo., Qdoba will give away free entrees to the first 500 people who enter…

Garden Fresh Club Veg reaches 1 million members

September 1, 2009

Souplantation and Sweet Tomatoes restaurants have celebrated a Club Veg milestone. The company's e-mail/online loyalty program has reached 1 million members.

Mintel highlights global consumer trends

September 1, 2009

Even as the economy drags people down financially and emotionally, Mintel sees a continued focus on enjoyment and life fulfillment. While people around the…

Western Expo exhibitors offer cost-saving solutions

August 31, 2009

Exhibitors at the Western Foodservice & Hospitality Expo in San Diego, which concludes Sept. 1, continued to focus on ways to help restaurant operators cut…

Starbucks acquires operating control of Starbucks Coffee France

August 31, 2009

Starbucks Coffee Co. has announced that its subsidiaries, Starbucks Coffee EMEA and Starbucks Coffee International Inc., have entered into an agreement with…

Fast Casual Alliance gives Western Foodservice Expo presentation

August 31, 2009

Members of the Fast Casual Alliance (FCA) spoke to an audience of Western Foodservice & Hospitality Expo attendees Aug. 31 about the trends shaping the…

NRA forms customer engagement strategic alliance with Loyalty 360

August 30, 2009

The National Restaurant Association (NRA) has formed a strategic partnership with Loyalty 360, the Loyalty Marketer's Association, to conduct operator and…

Mintel report finds energy drinks not getting healthier

August 30, 2009

A new report from the Mintel Global New Products Database (GNPD) reveals that the latest energy drink launches aren't getting healthier. Despite this, the…

NRA's industry outlook posts slight gain

August 30, 2009

The outlook for the restaurant industry improved somewhat in July, as the National Restaurant Association's comprehensive index of restaurant activity…

Pizza Fusion appoints Larry Feldman to board

August 27, 2009

Organic pizza chain Pizza Fusion has appointed Larry Feldman to its board of directors, the company has announced. Feldman owns exclusive Subway development…

Rumbi Island Grill to open in California

August 27, 2009

Rumbi Island Grill will open its first California restaurant Sept. 21 in Mission Viejo, the company has announced. Rumbi Island Grill currently operates 2…

Beef recall questioned

August 27, 2009

According to an article in Capital Press, the federal Food Safety and Inspection Service insists that it is staying on top of potential contamination at meat…

Wingstop adds boneless wings

August 26, 2009

Wingstop has introduced boneless wings in restaurants nationwide, made from 100 percent all-white meat, battered and breaded in Wingstop's proprietary recipe.

Tasti-D-Lite to open in Mexico City

by Valerie Killifer — senior editor, NetWorld Alliance

August 26, 2009

Tasti D-Lite is getting ready to enter the Mexico market with its first master franchise agreement for Mexico City. The agreement between Samuel Tarrab and…

Tropical Smoothie to let kids eat free

August 25, 2009

Tropical Smoothie Café is celebrating the introduction of its new Kids Combo Meals by offering kids 12 and younger a chance to enjoy the meals for free on…

Smashburger inks Las Vegas, Southwest Utah franchise deal

August 25, 2009

Smashburger has signed an agreement with SB Las Vegas LLC to operate 20 restaurants in the Las Vegas metro area, as well as in St. George and Cedar City, Utah.

Beautiful Brands signs another concept to its franchise roster

August 25, 2009

Beautiful Brands International has signed Tulsa-based restaurant Cafe Olé to its portfolio of restaurants to market and franchise worldwide. The agreement…