Fast-casual concepts attract the Washington lunch crowd

April 9, 2006

Washington Post: The Washington D.C. lunch crowd is patronizing fast-casual concepts more frequently than other concepts. They're eating at Cosi, Potbelly…

Wingstop posts 11th straight quarter of comps growth

April 6, 2006

DALLAS — Wingstop benefited from the Super Bowl and March Madness for a positive first quarter ended April 1.   According to a news release, comparable-store…

New report tracks menu trends

April 6, 2006

CHICAGO —The latest Trend Tracker report, a companion to the online, searchable Menu Monitor service offered by Technomic Information Services, offers a new…

Baja Fresh sales dip in Q1

April 5, 2006

DUBLIN, Ohio — Baja Fresh Mexican Grill's system same-store sales declined 3.6-3.8  percent. The restaurant's parent, Wendy's International Inc., announced…

CKE Restaurants selects Instill's Food Spend Management Solution

April 3, 2006

REDWOOD CITY, Calif. — Instill Corporation announced that restaurant chains Carl's Jr. and La Salsa Fresh Mexican Grill have selected Instill's Food Spend…

Boston Market changes with the times

April 2, 2006

Brand Week: Boston Market has had a bit of an identity crisis over the years. After filing for bankruptcy, after an out-of-control growth spate, and then…

Technomic studying impacts of Mad Cow and avian flu on foodservice

March 30, 2006

CHICAGO— As avian influenza (AI) and bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) trigger supply disruptions and volatile conditions for meat and poultry markets…

Restaurant industry continues growth

March 30, 2006

WASHINGTON D.C. — The outlook for the restaurant industry remained solid in February, as the National Restaurant Association's comprehensive index of…

The art of takeout packaging

March 30, 2006

Research shows that takeout packaging is just as important to consumers as the food. According to a recent Dixie Foodservice survey, 50 percent of consumers…

BBC interviews QSRweb.com and FastCasual.com

March 29, 2006

After McDonald's closed more than a dozen stores in London, the BBC interviewed QSRweb.com and Fast Casual Magazine editor Fred Minnick. He discussed…

March Madness by the wing

Buffalo Wild Wings, Wingstop and Wing Zone target sports fans. The three top wing chains are attempting to draw the March Madness crowd, young male…

Wendy's may sell Baja Fresh

March 2, 2006

Wendy's International Inc. said it would consider selling its Baja Fresh Mexican Grill chain and speed up the spinoff of its Tim Hortons coffee-and-doughnut…

McDonald's upscales coffee

February 28, 2006

McDonald's will roll out premium coffee at its 13,000 U.S. stores in 2006. The company said the premium coffee uses higher-quality beans — and is pricier for…

Buffalo Wild Wings adds ribs

February 28, 2006

MINNEAPOLIS — Buffalo Wild Wings is adding barbecue ribs to its predominately chicken-wing menu. According to a release, the ribs are pre-smoked, seasoned and…

NRA: 30 months of consecutive growth

February 28, 2006

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The outlook for the restaurant industry continued to improve in January, as the National Restaurant Association's comprehensive index of…

Chipotle's IPO success influences fast-casual growth

by Julie Sturgeon — independent journalist, CEOEditor, Inc.

Fast-casual restaurants as a whole are racking up impressive numbers, but are they enough to sustain Wall Street's appetite?

Investors question BK IPO move

February 26, 2006

Associated Press: The difference at Burger King since Greg Brenneman took over in 2004 is clear: profits are small but growing, the company and its…

Buffalo Wild Wings appoints new board member

February 23, 2006

MINNEAPOLIS— Buffalo Wild Wings Inc. appointed Michael Johnson to its board of directors. Johnson was also elected to be a member of the board's audit and…

Gift cards are big business

February 22, 2006

Using stored-value cards instead of cash is a growing trend among U.S. consumers. The Federal Reserve estimates about 20 million consumers will spend $7…

The morphing of the QSR

February 22, 2006

When the McDonald's Bistro Deli opened in New Castle, Del., the restaurant's manger saw a different crowd.   "We get people from all over because we…