Top 5 things we didn't know we should be afraid of - Part II

by Suzy Badaracco — President, Culinary Tides Inc

Researchers have found no consistent relationship between participants' driving distance to QSR joints and their weight over a 30-year span

California Tortilla marks 25-month sales streak

May 1, 2012

California Tortilla has announced their 25th consecutive month of sales growth. The record-setting streak measures month-to-month growth in sales across the…

Smashburger CEO David Prokupek's smashing success

by Valerie Killifer — senior editor, NetWorld Alliance

How Smashburger’s CEO and chairman is banking on better burgers.

Vendor Safe webinar to focus on PCI Compliance

May 1, 2012

A new webinar from FastCasual.com and VendorSafe Technologies will focus on the financial implications restaurant operators could face by not maintaining PCI…

You want to franchise your restaurant: Now what?

by Harold Kestenbaum — Partner, Gordon & Rees, LLP

In my last blog, we discussed why your restaurant should be franchised. I will assume that you have listened to what I said and you have now made the decision…

Canada's Big Smoke Burger expands into the U.S.

April 30, 2012

Big Smoke Burger, the Toronto-based gourmet burger chain, has hired Fransmart to ramp up expansion in North America and in select global markets. Fransmart is…

Three organizational challenges that hinder innovation (and the solutions to resolve them)

by Rob Connelly

There are three main challenges that hinder innovation: Playing catch up, ambiguity and underdevelopment of employees.

Restaurant industry turns in strongest post-recession quarter

April 30, 2012

Driven by solid same-store sales and traffic results and an increasingly bullish outlook among restaurant operators, the National Restaurant Association's…

UFood opens second Salt Lake City airport location

April 29, 2012

UFood Restaurant Group Inc. has announced that it has opened the second of two UFood Grill units at Utah's Salt Lake City International Airport. This follows…

Smashburger opens in Calgary

April 29, 2012

Smashburger has announced its May 2 opening in Calgary, Alberta, followed by a second location there slated to open in June.

Keep data in and hackers out: What every restaurant operator should know

The three areas that restaurant operators can address to help reduce their vulnerability and mitigate data compromise.

Buffalo Wild Wings reports strong Q1 results

April 26, 2012

Buffalo Wild Wings Inc. has announced its financial results for the first quarter ended March 25, 2012.

McAlister's Deli unveils new look

by Valerie Killifer — Editor, FastCasual.com

The chain's new store design includes a tea bar and has been unveiled at two new locations.

The one left off the list: hourly employees' influence on consumer decisions

by Amanda Richardson — Senior Vice President of Product and Marketing, Snagajob

While trend lists may not identify employees as a critical factor, the quality of a restaurant's front-line staff has a significant influence on the features…

Celiac awareness foundation now offers restaurant credentialing

April 26, 2012

The National Foundation for Celiac Awareness (NFCA), a non-profit organization dedicated to raising awareness of celiac disease and non-celiac gluten…

Blake Bailey named Zaxby's CFO

April 25, 2012

Zaxby’s has announced the appointment of Blake Bailey to chief financial officer (CFO) for Zaxby’s Franchising Inc. (ZFI). Bailey succeeds Tony Townley…

Cranking up catering sales in a multi-unit restaurant environment

by Erle Dardick — CEO, Monkeymedia

There are many thousands of proven sales systems that your brand can implement to help make your catering sales sing. But here’s the rub. Even proven sales…

NRA Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show sells out exhibit floor space

April 24, 2012

The National Restaurant Association has announced that exhibit space at its 2012 Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show is completely sold out. The newly redesigned…

Panera Bread reports Q1 comps, average check increases

April 24, 2012

Panera Bread Company released its earnings report for the first quarter ended March 27, 2012.

Starbucks listed on EPA's Top 50 green organizations

April 24, 2012

Starbucks (No. 8) is part of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) updated list of the Top 50 Green Power Partnership organizations voluntarily…