New food legislation to assist manufacturers

March 8, 2006

WASHINGTON — Legislation that would limit the ability of states to demand additional food warnings easily cleared the House Wednesday, marking a preliminary…

Panera system-wide sales up 7.9%

March 8, 2006

ST LOUIS — Panera Bread Co. reported Wednesday its system-wide bakery-café sales increased 7.9 percent for the five weeks ended Feb. 28.   The St.

Starbucks settles labor dispute

March 7, 2006

SAN FRANCISCO — Starbucks Corp. has entered into an informal settlement agreement with the National Labor Relations Board to resolve complaints filed by the…

uWink successfully completes $1.5 million private placement

March 6, 2006

LOS ANGELES — uWink Inc., a digital entertainment company, announced it has completed a $1.5 million private placement of 5 million shares of common stock…

Starbucks to serve breakfast sandwiches

March 5, 2006

SEATTLE — Starbucks announced its creating a breakfast menu. In its hometown cafes, Starbucks tested toasty egg and cheese sandwiches three years ago. …

Experts create the first virtual brand

Camp Out Grill is not real. For now, it's a virtual brand.

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…

Starbucks reports 8% same-store increase

March 2, 2006

SEATTLE — Starbucks reported an 8 percent jump in same-store sales for February amid an overall revenue bounce of 25 percent to $468 million. The cafe chain…

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…

Starbucks signs deal with East Coast grocer

February 22, 2006

Starbucks signed a five-year deal with Giant Food supermarkets. The grocery chain operates in the Baltimore and Washington, D.C.   According to a news…

New World's 2005 revenue increases 4.1%

February 22, 2006

GOLDEN, Colo.—New World Restaurant Group Inc. announced improved financial results for its 2005 fourth quarter and fiscal year ended Jan. 3, 2006.   Revenue…

Baker Bros expands in Texas

February 22, 2006

DALLAS— Baker Bros American Deli, a fast-casual concept headquartered here, has executed an area development agreement with Independence Franchising of Texas…

Gourmet food on the fast-casual menu

February 22, 2006

According to a Simmons Market Research Bureau report, nearly 20 percent of adults try to eat gourmet food when possible. One thing is sure: the gourmet…

Success story: Camille's Sidewalk Café

February 22, 2006

How many people can say they work in peace and harmony with their spouse day in and day out? In the restaurant business, where stress and "Type A…

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…

Einstein Brothers set up at Pearl Harbor

February 14, 2006

GAITHERSBURG, Md. — Sailors and their families will be saying 'Aloha' to bagels this spring when Sodexho opens an Einstein Brothers on the Navy base at…

2005 profits soar 35% at Panera Bread

February 9, 2006

Profits at Panera Bread rose a whopping 35 percent in 2005. For the 52 weeks ended Dec. 27, net income was $52.2 million versus $38.6 million for the…

Dunkin' Donuts introduces omelet

January 30, 2006

CANTON, Mass. — Dunkin' Donuts introduced the Supreme Omelet breakfast sandwich.   According to a news release, the Supreme Omelet is a mouthwatering…

Fast Casual's Top 100 Movers and Shakers

January 25, 2006

It wasn't long ago that you had to look up the definition of "fast casual" to understand the meaning of this unique restaurant concept that is a hybrid of the…