Caribou Coffee prefers middle path to sales success

by Valerie Killifer — senior editor, NetWorld Alliance

Caribou Coffee's senior vice president of marketing and product development prefers a slow and steady pace when it comes to brand positioning.

Commentary: Is the restaurant industry overusing 'innovation?'

by Darrel Suderman — President, Food Technical Consulting

The term 'innovation' has been called 'a chameleon-like word to hide the lack of substance.'

Commentary: Does your brand image match its experience?

It is imperative that marketing and operations work hand in hand to produce a strong brand.

Eat or be eaten: Three steps to restaurant nirvana

To have a concept that resonates with customers, every aspect of its development must come together to create a clear, concise experience.

Jimmy John's founder a case study in risk-reward

by Alicia Kelso — Editor, QSRWeb.com

Jimmy John Liautaud offers some advice for franchising during NRA Show panel.

NRA Show 2012: A display of industry growth

by Alicia Kelso — Editor, QSRWeb.com

Social media, mobile and point-of-sale trends have evolved.

Small details keeps customers coming back

How small details can mean big returns for operators and their guests.

More restaurant chains aiming for green certification

by Alicia Kelso — Editor, QSRWeb.com

Since 2008, the number of Green Certified Restaurants has accelerated significantly.

Caribou Coffee uses social media to spearhead evolution

by Valerie Killifer — senior editor, NetWorld Alliance

Caribou Coffee underwent a brand relaunch in late 2009 and is using social media to ensure its evolution continues down the right path.

The difference between social marketing and social operational insights

Operators can extract both marketing and operational insights from online feedback, but first they must understand the differences between the two.

Cosi CEO Carin Stutz talks brand turnaround

by Valerie Killifer — senior editor, NetWorld Alliance

How Cosi's new CEO plans to rebrand, reimage and rebuild the chain.

Commentary: Pinterest offers restaurants another way to communicate with customers

Editor's note: This post was originally published on SmartBlog on Restaurants. For more foodservice news, sign up for Restaurant SmartBrief.

Commentary: Five key secrets of social loyalty

For restaurant operators, 2011 was a better year than 2010. But with continuing unemployment in the U.S. and Europe, and slow economic growth forecasts for…

Restaurant industry's 2012 trends shaped by demographics, nutrition

by Alicia Kelso — Editor, QSRWeb.com

NPD Group's research also expects retail competition to increase and commodity prices to affect menu offerings.

Fast Casual segment heads into Q1 with new store openings

by Valerie Killifer — Editor, FastCasual.com

Fast casual chains such as Baja Fresh, Fuddruckers and MOOYAH are among several concepts starting the New Year with new openings across the United States. The…

Commentary: What restaurant marketing trends will emerge in 2012?

Fast casual players are starting to look like two different groups, perhaps three, including "Fine Fast Casual," "Quick Fast Casual" and "Chain Fast Casual…

Highlights from the Fast Casual Executive Summit

by Valerie Killifer — senior editor, NetWorld Alliance

For three days in the later part of October, more than 200 fast casual executives and suppliers came together to discuss issues impacting the segment and the…

Commentary: Creating compelling content across digital marketing channels

Follow basic guidelines to get started and then, with time, you'll learn what timing, frequency and content works best for your customers in each channel.

NRA recaps recent victories at FCES 2011

by James Bickers

Nutrition, menu labeling, marketing to kids are areas in which the foodservice industry has gained ground.

Gatti's debuts fast casual concept

Gatti's Pizza has unveiled its new fast casual concept, Gatti's. The first unit opens today in Austin, Texas, with six more in the pipeline for the…