Fast Casual Executive Summit to address new operating landscape

by Valerie Killifer — senior editor, NetWorld Alliance

September 8, 2010

It has taken the fast casual segment more than 20 years to establish itself as a restaurant category leader. Now that it has, operators are continuing to…

Jamba Juice to sell 13 Fla. locations

September 7, 2010

Jamba Juice has signed a purchase agreement for 13 stores in Florida with Arturo Zindel, Jordi Zindel, Guillermo Perez Vargas, and Angel Herrera, principals of…

Red Mango to expand So. Fla. presence

September 7, 2010

Red Mango opened its first Florida location earlier this year in Gainesville to record turnout. Now the company is poised to add 12 more locations throughout…

Newk’s Express Café to open 10 N.C. locations

September 1, 2010

Newk's Express Café has signed an area development agreement with a new franchise group to bring 10 locations to the North Carolina markets of Winston-Salem…

Genghis Grill reaches 50 locations

September 1, 2010

Genghis Grill – The Mongolian Stir Fry, will open its 50th location September 4 in Houston.

Roti Mediterranean Grill to open sixth location

September 1, 2010

Roti Mediterranean Grill will open its sixth location this November on North Dearborn Street, the third unit in downtown Chicago.

UFood Grill continues airport expansion with five new locations

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August 30, 2010

UFood Restaurant Group Inc. has signed an area development agreement with the Robinson Hill Hospitality Group of Chicago for additional UFood Grill units…

Smashburger targets South Korea for 2011 growth

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August 30, 2010

Smashburger has partnered with Bridging Culture Worldwide, a professional consulting, strategic planning and cross-cultural management service, to lead its…

Firehouse Subs to open in Louisville, Ky.

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August 29, 2010

Firehouse Subs has announced the Aug. 31 grand opening of its first location in Louisville, Ky., to be opened by franchisee George Scherzer.

Mama Fu’s signs Pittsburgh development deal

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August 29, 2010

Mama Fu's has signed a three-unit area development agreement for its first locations in Pittsburgh, Pa. The first Mama Fu's location is slated to open during…

Report reveals fast casual obstacles to growth

August 26, 2010

Mintel's recent foodservice survey and report on fast casual concludes what many in the limited service segment already know – the enduring growth of the…

Saladworks expands in Orange County

August 25, 2010

Saladworks has announced an agreement with a multi-unit developer for three locations in Northern Orange County, Calif. 

Are we missing something?

by Janet Eden-Harris — CMO & SVP Strategy, Market Force

Recently Market Force ran a series of studies with over 4,00 consumers to investigate their attitudes and behaviors around fast casual and family restaurants…

Behind The Melting Pot's new "Peel"

Mark Johnston is the president of Melting Pot Restaurants Inc., the casual-upscale fondue chain with more than 135 units in the United States and Canada. Its…

Cali smoothie chain signs 500 unit deal in Japan

August 24, 2010

Manhattan Beach, Calif.-based Robeks Corporation has announced that it signed a multi-year master franchise agreement with Tokyo-based Clarence Corporation to…

U-Swirl moves to Boise metropolitan market

August 24, 2010

Healthy Fast Food Inc., parent to U-SWIRL International Inc., has announced that Regents Management LLC will immediately commence construction on its first of…

Central Florida readies for another Buffalo Wild Wings

August 23, 2010

Clermont will be the location for the seventh Buffalo Wild Wings Florida location, set to open Aug. 27. Sunshine Restaurant Corp. is the Central Florida…

Mama Fu's targets Pittsburgh

August 23, 2010

Mama Fu's Pan-Asian concept has announced the first signing of a three-unit area development agreement for Mama Fu’s first locations in Pittsburgh.

Vermont mobile burger joint franchises

August 22, 2010

ZooHoo’s Eatery, a Wilmington, Vt.-based mobile food concept, recently completed both its grand opening and franchise development program. Now the company…

Smashburger finds sweet spot in Nebraska

August 22, 2010

Smashburger, a fast-casual "better burger" restaurant, will open its third location in the Omaha metro-area on Sept. 8. The restaurant will open at 3811 Twin…