Beautiful Brands adds to growing portfolio

January 4, 2011

Beautiful Brands International has announced the addition of Kansas City-based cupcakery, Smallcakes, to its portfolio of restaurants to market and franchise…

Cereal Bowl pouring on digital menu boards

January 2, 2011

The Cereal Bowl restaurant chain recently announced that it has opened its first all-digital restaurant in New Brunswick, N.J. Its digital signage is comprised…

Potbelly rolls out Alteryx BI platform

January 2, 2011

Potbelly Sandwich Shop has implemented the Alteryx Geographic Business Intelligence technology platform to manage its sales processes and expansion strategy as…

Procedure relevancy - the army way

In our training classes, we often discuss customer service. It is ALWAYS about listening to the customer and then delivering more than they expect. Another…

Endurance, determination & training

by Paul Mcginnis — Vice President, Marketing, Ecolab Food Safety Specialties

It was my junior year in high school. I had always wanted to play basketball but due to a variety of circumstances did not have the chance… until now. I…

Private equity firm takes Noodles & Co. control

December 28, 2010

Broomfield, Colo.-based Noodles & Co. has sold a controlling stake in the chain to private-equity firm Catterton Partners.

Where do we go in 2011?

by Don Fox — CEO, Firehouse of America

This week, all across America, there are countless restaurant executives taking stock of how they and their companies performed in 2010. Even the casual…

Saladworks inks another Pennsylvania agreement

December 22, 2010

Saladworks has signed two new agreements with franchisees to further develop the Pennsylvania market.

2010: Fast Casual year in review

by Valerie Killifer — senior editor, NetWorld Alliance

Healthcare reform, bankruptcy protection and brand overhauls highlight a year full of the quintessential highs and lows.  

Einstein Noah completes multiyear deleveraging

December 21, 2010

Einstein Noah Restaurant Group Inc. announced that it has completed a multiyear period of deleveraging its balance sheet and will now re-allocate its available…

Pick Up Stix rings in 2011 with new owner

December 20, 2010

Carlson Restaurant Inc. has sold its 74-unit chain Pick Up Stix to Lorne Goldberg, principal of West Coast Capital.

2011 U.K. foodservice trends predicted

December 20, 2010

The United Kingdom has welcomed many American brands to its soil. Chains such as KFC, McDonald’s, Burger King, Chipotle, Starbucks, Domino’s, Papa John’s and…

Food cost control – Playing the G.A.M.E.

By Libby Libhart

Boston Market enters final phase of nationwide upgrade

December 15, 2010

As Boston Market enters the final stage in its nationwide rollout of upgrades, the restaurant chain has announced the launch of changes and new menu items in…

Shane’s Rib Shack completes 2010 with nine openings

December 15, 2010

Shane’s Rib Shack is ending the year with new franchise agreements totaling more than 50 units, including 25 new stores in Alabama and 20 new stores in Central…

Wegman's to open fast casual offshoot

December 14, 2010

The Wegman's supermarket chain is entering the restaurant business with the launch of The Food Bar, a fast casual/casual dining hybrid opened Dec. 10. The…

Oh, Canada! Foodservice industry up north outpacing U.S.

December 14, 2010

Restaurant chains are spreading throughout Canada faster than they are in the U.S. According to a study by Technomic, the Canadian restaurant industry has…

To buy or to build: A very good question

If you're planning to open a restaurant, the option of buying or building each have their own set of pros and cons. Here's what you should consider.

Food and drink tickets more expensive in 2010

December 13, 2010

Although Americans' wallets may feel thinner because of the recession, consumers are apparently willing to spend almost a dollar more on lunch. New research…

The Counter says aloha to Hawaii

December 12, 2010

The Counter has announced its buyback of The Counter Honolulu from co-owner DK Kodama.