Q1 comps rise 6.4% at California Pizza Kitchen

April 11, 2006

LOS ANGELES— California Pizza Kitchen reported its comparable-restaurant sales increased approximately 6.4 percent for the period ended April 2, versus an…

Making business sense of charities

Raving! Brands, Panda Express and Starbucks charities look good to the public and build brand awareness.

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…

Reinstein brothers push Fresh City

April 5, 2006

Boston Biz Journal: The basic ingredients are the same, but brothers Larry Reinstein and Bruce Reinstein are following a different recipe in building their…

Taco Del Mar selects Colorado master developers

April 5, 2006

SEATTLE — Gary Robison and Nick Kraft of El Grande Tacos were selected as Taco Del Mar master developers for Colorado, according to a news release. Kraft and…

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 Q1 revenues increase 35%

April 4, 2006

ST. LOUIS — Panera Bread Company reported that revenue for the first-quarter ended March 28 increased 35 percent to $194 million from $144 million in the…

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. …

Premium bread takes the sandwich to new heights

If anyone needs proof the Atkins scourge on bread is long gone, take a peek at the menu mix in most fast-casual concepts. You'll see that sandwiches rule.

Rumbi Island Grill opens in Arizona

April 2, 2006

AZcentral.com: A fast-casual restaurant that offers South Pacific, Caribbean and island food is preparing to debut its first Southeast Valley location in…

Nolan Ryan and 'the Rocket' invest in Earl of Sandwich

April 2, 2006

Houston Business Journal: A group of investors including Don Sanders, founder and chairman of Sanders Morris Harris, Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan and seven-time…

Boston Market begins Internet contest

March 30, 2006

DENVER — Boston Market wants to see what people would do with their extra time. The Web site MyExtraHour.com is an interactive site designed to invite…

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…

Panda Express considers new service models

March 30, 2006

No one has to tell Panda Express that Asian food is growing in popularity. With more than 800 locations throughout the United States, Puerto Rico and Japan…

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…

First Watch expands in Florida

March 29, 2006

BRADENTON, Fla. — First Watch Restaurants Inc. entered the southeast Florida market with its new Plantation location March 27.    First Watch serves…

Austin loves Freebirds

March 29, 2006

Austin360: Freebirds World Burrito has developed a unique relationship with its clientele. The 15-year-old company — not from Austin — relies on a few simple…

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…

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…

Taco Del Mar brings aboard Subway franchisee for Minnesota and North Dakota

March 28, 2006

SEATTLE—Barry Maring of Northland Restaurant Group Inc. was selected to develop Taco Del Mar restaurants in North Dakota, Minnesota and western Wisconsin.