Selecting a restaurant consultant

The right consultant can improve your restaurant, but the wrong one can cost you money.   

Planet Smoothie launches new flavors

April 16, 2006

ATLANTA — Planet Smoothie has launched three new flavors in a limited-time offer: Groovy Granny Apple, Way Out Watermelon and Outa Sight Orange.   The…

The state of the London coffeehouse

Traditional cafés stave off Starbucks. In fact, Starbucks may have actually helped the once-dying London coffeehouse.

Camille's opens 100th store

April 13, 2006

TULSA, Okla. — Camille's Sidewalk Café will open its 100th café this month on Tulsa's historic and exclusive Cherry Street.   According to a news release…

Organic foods surge through restaurants

April 11, 2006

  NEW YORK — A new study shows the use of organic foods is growing in the foodservice market.   According to "Organic on the Menu: Healthy Eating Trends in…

Coffee Holding Co. enters joint venture with Generations Coffee

April 10, 2006

BROOKLYN, N.Y. — Coffee Holding Co. Inc. entered into a joint venture with Caruso's Coffee of Brecksville, Ohio. Generations Coffee Company LLC, a Delaware…

Caribou Coffee announce preliminary Q1 results

April 10, 2006

MINNEAPOLIS — Caribou Coffee reported preliminary first quarter for period ended April 2. According to a news release, comparable coffeehouse net sales were…

Everything Yogurt & Salad rolls out new salads

April 10, 2006

MORRISTOWN, NJ — Villa Enterprises announced the rollout of its three new Signature Salads for its Everything Yogurt & Salad Café and Green Leaf's…

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…

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…

Caribou CEO earns $2.4MM while stock declines

April 4, 2006

Business Journal: Caribou Coffee Co. chief executive Michael Coles made $2.4 million in salary, bonuses and stock grants 2005, while his company went public…

Panera Bread changes at the top

April 3, 2006

ST LOUIS — Panera Bread Co. said it will replace chief financial officer Mark Hood with Jeff Kip, vice president of finance and planning, effective May 5. …

Cold Stone, Monster Garage build ultimate ice cream truck

April 2, 2006

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Cold Stone Creamery and the Monster Garage teamed up to construct the ultimate ice cream truck. The construction of the truck will air on…

Starbucks upgrades tea offerings

March 30, 2006

SEATTLE— Inspired by green tea matcha used in ancient Japanese tea rituals, Starbucks will add two new green tea beverages made with real Japanese matcha…

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…

Video: Generation Y workforce

March 29, 2006

Bahama Breeze treats Generation Y workers. This year, Bahama Breeze restaurants sent top employees from each of its 32 restaurants to Puerto Rico as a reward…

Blogs surface in fast casual

Consumers are writing about your operation. The Burrito Blog writes: "My biggest complaint about Baja is their pre-fabricated menu items."

Mocafe to offer organic frappes

March 23, 2006

ALISO VIEJO, Calif. -- Innovative Beverage Concepts Inc., the parent company of Mocafe, has launched USDA organic certified frappes and Fair Trade Certified…

Shareholders approve Jamba Juice merger

March 22, 2006

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Jamba Juice shareholders approved a merger with Services Acquisition Corp. International (SVI) March 22.   According to a news…