Panera marks trans-fat-free anniversary

January 22, 2007

RICHMOND HEIGHTS, Mo. — February marks the one-year anniversary of Panera Bread's voluntary removal of trans fat from its bakery-cafe menu on a national…

New World moves corporate headquarters

January 22, 2007

GOLDEN, Colo. — New World Restaurant Group Inc. announced Jan. 23 that it will relocate its corporate headquarters to Lakewood, Colo.   The move will take…

Starbucks sued over religious symbol

January 22, 2007

Religion News Service: A former Starbucks barista in Hillsboro, Ore., has sued the coffee giant, saying it discriminated against her based on her Wiccan…

Building brand loyalty

Fast casuals are looking to loyalty programs to boost revenue and increase repeat traffic.

Raving Brands, Coca-Cola NA sign long-term beverage deal

January 21, 2007

ATLANTA — Coca-Cola North America and Raving Brands have signed a long-term beverage marketing agreement for five Raving Brands concepts – Shane's Rib Shack…

Bruegger's announces California, South Carolina expansions

January 18, 2007

BURLINGTON, Vt. — Bruegger's Enterprises Inc. has signed new agreements with two new franchise groups to develop 15 Bruegger's bakery-cafés over the next…

Freebirds to collect for Habitat for Humanity

January 17, 2007

COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS — Freebirds World Burrito, the Texas-based fast casual known for its Monster burritos, announced a four-week fund-raising campaign to…

Starbucks switches to hormone-free milk

January 16, 2007

Seattle Post-Intelligencer: Starbucks Coffee Co. said Tuesday that it has stopped using dairy products with Recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone, or rBGH, in…

Starbucks to open India location

January 15, 2007

International Herald Tribune (India): Starbucks has plans to open its first location in India by the end of 2007. The Seattle-based coffee company will…

Franchisee files $12M suit against Atlanta Bread Company

January 14, 2007

Atlanta Business Journal: A year ago, Sean Lupton-Smith was one of the most successful franchisees of Atlanta Bread Company International Inc. Today…

Chipotle eyes 100-unit expansion

January 14, 2007

Denver Post: Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc. plans to accelerate its expansion this year, adding 95 to 105 restaurants after it improved training for employees who…

McDonald's to consider sale of Boston Market

January 11, 2007

The Chicago Tribune: McDonald's Corp. may be putting its Golden, Colo.-based Boston Market restaurant chain up for sale. Boston Market employees were told…

Restaurants urged to increase pickers' wages

January 11, 2007

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Rev. Clifton Kirkpatrick, stated clerk of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA), has challenged Burger King to work with the…

Salad Creations plans expansion

January 10, 2007

Detroit News: Anthony Ciotti and Luciano Gonzalez are looking for entrepreneurs willing to invest in Salad Creations, a Florida-based chain that recently…

Organic To Go 2006 sales reach $10MM

January 3, 2007

SEATTLE — Organic To Go, the nation's first fast-casual cafe certified as an organic retailer, ended 2006 with $10 million in sales.   The 13-unit company…

Fast Casual 2006: A year in review

Despite lawsuits and mergers, it was a good year for the fast-casual segment.

UPDATED: Taco John's reacts to lawsuit

December 21, 2006

In a lawsuit recently filed, a woman said she ate at a Taco John's in Waterloo, Iowa, and later became ill with E. coli, which would make four stores…

Popeyes creates fast-casual concept, Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen.

December 11, 2006

ATLANTA — Popeyes Chicken & Biscuits, a division of AFC Enterprises Inc., announced the opening of a fast-casual hybrid concept, Popeyes Louisiana…

Fast-casual customers eat alone

Appeal to single diners to make sales grow.

Trials and tribulations of a fast-casual independent operator

How one woman handles adversity and keeps her restaurant growing.