Raving Brands contributes $2MM to charity

April 2, 2006

Raving Brands partnered with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children as the organization's largest single contributor with a $2 million…

Columnist writes about Atomic Burrito store design

March 30, 2006

The Hook: Atomic Burrito's layout lends itself to the easy flow of people in and out of the establishment. The design is flawless. I have tested it myself. I…

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…

Fast casuals attract mobile workers

March 30, 2006

Yesterday's luxury is today's expectation. Today's business traveler is all about the mobile office, and fast-casual restaurants are offering modern amenities…

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…

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…

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.

El Pollo Loco parent late filing annual report

March 27, 2006

IRVINE, Calif. — EPL Intermediate Inc., parent company of El Pollo Loco Inc., reported preliminary results for its fourth quarter and fiscal year ended Dec.

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."

Taco Del Mar inks Southern Cal. deal

March 21, 2006

SEATTLE — Taco Del Mar said it's signed a deal with Ranbir Singh of Kirpal Group to sell franchises and develop up to 40 franchises in San Bernardino and…

Chicago Tribune questions Chipotle stock

March 19, 2006

CHICAGO —  Chipotle's Mexican Grill Inc. became the target of a Chicago Tribune report March 18 that questioned the value of its share price following a week…

Chipotle shares jump 12%

March 14, 2006

Chipotle Mexican Grill shares jumped 12 percent March 14 just a day after the fast-casual restaurant chain unveiled strong quarterly results in the first…

Chipotle fourth-quarter revenues jump 36%

March 13, 2006

DENVER—Chipotle Mexican Grill, in its first public financial report, turned in a fourth-quarter profit to reverse last year's loss. The fast-casual chain said…

Chipotle opens 500th store

March 12, 2006

DENVER—The March 10 opening of a Chipotle Mexican Grill in Fairview Park, Ohio, marked the 500th restaurant for the Denver-based burrito chain. "When I…

El Pollo Loco places new Spanish commercials

March 6, 2006

IRVINE, Calif.— El Pollo Loco Inc. unveiled the first of four new Spanish television commercials from its Hispanic advertising agency of record, Los…

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…

Moe's rolls out new burrito

February 28, 2006

ATLANTA —Moe's Southwest Grill is adding ground beef  burrito March 1. A news release said the new menu item will be in 280 Moe's locations after a 90-day…

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…

Same-store sales increase 7.9% for Qdoba

February 21, 2006

Qdoba Mexican Grill reported first quarter system same-store sales increased 7.9 percent on top of a 12.5 percent increase in 2005. Qdoba opened 23 company…

Taco Del Mar keeps on growing and growing

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