Friendly's to test fast casual concept
December 16, 2008
MediaPost News:Friendly's Ice Cream Corp.will test up to four Friendly's Express restaurants in Boston, Springfield, Mass., and Providence, R.I., next year and hopes to begin opening as many as 50 of the fast-casual formats each year within three to five years.New president/CEO Ned R. Lidvall, formerly president/CEO of Rock Bottom Restaurants, compared the Friendly's express concept to that of Panera Bread.