The year ahead

Seven take-to-the-bank predictions for 2009. 

Organic To Go expands catering operations

December 21, 2008

SEATTLE — Organic To Go has announced that it has expanded in the Washington, D.C., metro area. The company has launched a strategic expansion of its catering…

Research and Markets launches Panera Bread benchmark analysis

December 21, 2008

DUBLIN, Ireland — Research and Markets has announced the addition of Restaurant Research LLC's new report "RR LLC Panera Benchmark Analysis" to its offering. …

U-SWIRL expands to Las Vegas

December 17, 2008

HENDERSON, Nev. — U-SWIRL International Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Healthy Fast Food Inc., has announced the expansion of its U-SWIRL Frozen Yogurt…

Friendly's to test fast casual concept

December 16, 2008

MediaPost News: Friendly's Ice Cream Corp. will test up to four Friendly's Express restaurants in Boston, Springfield, Mass., and Providence, R.I., next year…

Fast casuals build catering business

Catering can be a stable addition to a restaurant's revenue stream.

Mintel forecasts 2009 restaurant trends

December 11, 2008

CHICAGO — Mintel Menu Insights, which tracks U.S. restaurant menus, expects five trends to influence foodservice in 2009. Restaurants will reinvent comfort…

Bread & Co. in the spotlight

December 11, 2008

WKRN-TV (Nashville, Tenn.): Bakery cafe chain Bread & Co. is in the spotlight thanks to their appearance on the Top 100 Movers & Shakers list.   Click…

Organic to Go laying off a third of staff

December 10, 2008

Puget Sound Business Journal: After the company announced a $7 million third-quarter loss, Organic to Go Food Corp. said it plans to cut its labor force by 3…

Coffee deficit of 8 million bags projected in 2009-10

December 9, 2008

Bloomberg: World coffee consumption may outstrip production by as much as 8 million bags in 2009-10 because of the smaller crop in Brazil, the top grower…

New Zoe's Kitchen CEO outlines expansion plans

December 9, 2008

The Birmingham News: Greg Dollarhyde, new CEO of Zoe's Kitchen, plans to double the size of the 21-unit chain within 18 to 24 months. He plans to focus on new…

Starbucks CEO talks about the economy

December 8, 2008

CBS News: Katie Couric speaks with Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz about the effect of the economy on the coffee giant. Sales at Starbucks have dropped 9 percent…

Cold Stone bosses visit franchisees

December 8, 2008

Chain Leader: Instead of holding a franchisee convention this year, Cold Stone officials hired a tour bus and visited stores in 16 cities. They are trying to…

uWink announces odd-lot tender offer

December 7, 2008

LOS ANGELES — uWink Inc. has announced that it will commence an "odd lot" tender offer to purchase all shares of its common stock held by persons owning 9…

Organic To Go schedules Q3 conference call

December 7, 2008

SEATTLE — Organic To Go chief executive Jason R. Brown will host a conference call on Dec. 10 at 1:30 p.m. Pacific time to discuss the company's third quarter…

Operators look harder at reducing waste, costs

December 7, 2008

The Courier-Journal (Louisville, Ky.): Restaurant owners are doing more to track food waste to cut costs in light of the recession.   Methods operators have…

Einstein Noah names new CEO

December 3, 2008

LAKEWOOD, Colo. — Einstein Noah Restaurant Group, which operates the Einstein Bros. Bagels, Noah's New York Bagels and Manhattan Bagel brands, has appointed…

Starbucks CEO tries to calm Wall Street

December 3, 2008

Associated Press: Starbucks chief Howard Schultz tried to calm Wall Street's fears about the company's sliding sales, profits and stock price during a…

Zoes Kitchen names new CEO

December 2, 2008

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Zoes Kitchen has named Greg Dollarhyde to the position of president and chief executive officer, the company announced.    Dollarhyde, who…

Fatburger opens first Dubai location

December 1, 2008

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Fog Cutter Capital Group Inc.'s Fatburger unit has opened its first Middle East restaurant at The Dubai Mall, the company…