Pret a Manger 1st US chain to issue humane commitment for chickens

December 15, 2016

Pret A Manger is the first U.S. national restaurant chain to commit to improvements for the welfare of the chickens raised for its food operations, according…

Blast & Brew taps into allure of personal choice

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

The new Blast & Brew pizza and beer franchise gives customers creative choice regarding what's on their plates and how they most prefer to wash it down. Here…

Delivery data: Mac and cheese, oxtail soup top 2016 at-home orders

December 15, 2016

The market for home-meal delivery grew substantially over the past year, and Grubhub, a mobile food-ordering company, has used data about those deliveries to…

Johnny Rockets tests self-order kiosks in moving to a QSR format

by Elliot Maras — Editor, Kiosk Marketplace & Vending Times

Self-order kiosks play an important role in moving to more of a quick-serve format for Johnny Rockets as the 30-year-old iconic brand seeks to refresh itself.

2 studies yield 2016 and 2017 chain winners and losers

December 13, 2016

As the year that was 2016 heads into the history books, year-end awards and year-beginning trend predictions have begun in earnest. For instance, Technomic has…

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…

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…

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

By Mike Lukianoff, Chief Analytics Officer/Fishbowl

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…

Automated food safety compliance platform hits market

December 7, 2016

VeriSolutions and AT&T have created an automated system to help restaurant brands comply with food-safety guidelines. VeriSolutions' platform features a…

PizzaRev expands in Colorado

December 6, 2016

PizzaRev is now moving into Ft. Collins, Colorado, including the Loveland and Greeley communities, according to a news release. The new locations will fall…

Vapiano opens 5th Hungarian location

December 1, 2016

Pizza- and pasta-focused chain Vapiano opened its fifth Hungarian location this week in Gyor. It is the first Hungarian location outside the capital city of…

Dickey's blankets the nation in barbecue

December 1, 2016

Dickey's Barbecue Pit is spanning the nation with new locations in Amherst, New York and Phoenix, Arizona. Both sites open this Thursday and offer weeks of…

Menu Labeling: Recent clarification means law goes into effect as planned

by Betsy Craig — pres, menutrinfo.com

Yesterday when the U.S. Food and Drug Administration sent out its Clarified Statement on Compliance Date, regarding the activation on Dec. 1 of the new menu…

Fast Casual Summit: 4 questions restaurant brands must answer

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

At last month's Fast Casual Executive Summit outside Los Angeles, restaurant marketing consultant Gerry O’Brion said the difference between winners and losers…

Technomic downgrades restaurant growth projections

November 29, 2016

The company said its May results released for the two-year period were overly optimistic and that declining traffic across food service has prompted the…

Fast Casual Summit: 5 lessons learned from m-commerce innovators

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

Why restaurants must "adapt to mobile commerce or die."

Last-minute federal injunction halts OT rules

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

Less than a week before the overtime regulations were to kick in, a federal judge in Texas has blocked the rule that would have made an estimated 4 million…

Is it time for restaurateurs to really talk turkey?

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

Thanksgiving, when you think about it, is the celebration of eating out with friends. Why then, doesn't the restaurant industry claim it and give restaurateurs…