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…

Starbucks VP quits

March 1, 2006

Starbucks Corp. vice president Don MacKinnon resigned for personal reasons March 2, the company said. MacKinnon joined the company in 1999 after Starbucks…

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…

Chipotle's IPO success influences fast-casual growth

by Julie Sturgeon — independent journalist, CEOEditor, Inc.

Fast-casual restaurants as a whole are racking up impressive numbers, but are they enough to sustain Wall Street's appetite?

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…

Panera Bread to add 5 metro stores in Denver

February 22, 2006

DENVER — Panera Bread plans to open five more restaurants in metro Denver in 2006.   Ken Rosenthal of the Denver area owns Breads of the World. He also helped…

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…

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…

The truth behind organic and all-natural foods

Organic foods are a growing trend, but USDA fines restaurants up to $10,000 for misuse of the regulated term.

FC restaurant receives organic certification

February 14, 2006

LOS ANGELES — Organic to Go, an all-natural and organic cafe and corporate meal delivery service, is the first fast-casual restaurant and retailer to receive…

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…

Starbucks serves in China's 2nd-tier cities

February 13, 2006

HONG KONG — Starbucks Corp. is pinning its future growth strategy on an aggressive expansion into China's lesser-known cities, according to chairman Howard…

Taco Del Mar keeps on growing and growing

In 2005, Taco Del Mar grew from 111 restaurants to 189.

Panera Bread inks southeast Texas development deal

February 5, 2006

Panera Bread announced a new agreement with John and Randal Oudt and Bob Stewart to develop bakery-cafes in the San Antonio and Austin markets in Texas.   The…

Kahala Corp. announces 10-unit development agreement

February 2, 2006

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Kahala Corp, the Scottsdale-based franchisor of Frullati Café & Bakery, announced the signing of an area representative agreement with…

uWink: a new FC concept in L.A.

February 1, 2006

uWink announced the opening of a new Los Angeles restaurant with at-the-table touchscreens, which customers will use for ordering food. uWink will offer…

Knowfat adds menu items

January 30, 2006

BOSTON — KnowFat! Lifestyle Grille, the Massachusetts-based chain of fast-casual restaurant, introduced five new salads and two new burgers to its menu. The…

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…

Bennigan's introduces express concept in Mexico

January 24, 2006

PLANO, Texas — Bennigan's Grill and Tavern has opened its first Bennigan's Express restaurant in the Diversia Fun Center in Monterrey, Mexico. The express…