Macaroni Grill adds 'fast casual format' lunch counter

November 4, 2014

Macaroni Grill announced the launch of Romano's Kitchen Counter, a fast casual format, at more than 130 locations nationwide.

Canadian concept not named Tim Hortons or Starbucks plans to be ‘coffee authority’

November 3, 2014

Canadian-based The Second Cup coffee concept has announced a three-year strategic plan that seems to put Starbucks, Tim Hortons and McDonald’s in the…

No traffic, no problem: Starbucks plans to take the coffee to the customer in 2015

October 31, 2014

Consumers are staying away from brick and mortar stores in favor of online shopping, slowing traffic growth in Starbucks' stores. Starbucks is navigating the…

Four reasons digital screens are more than menu boards

by Brenda Rick Smith — Editor, Networld Media Group

Engaging digital signage can be a key differentiator in the customer experience by educating guests about menu items, driving craving, reducing perceived wait…

NRA: Restaurant Performance Index showed moderate decline in September

October 31, 2014

Restaurant operators are unimpressed about the direction of the economy.

sweetFrog names new CMO

October 31, 2014

Matt Smith will lead planning, development, implementation and measurement of all sweetFrog marketing strategies, marketing communications, and public…

Sales up, margins down as Panera continues 2.0 transformation

by Brenda Rick Smith — Editor, Networld Media Group

October 30, 2014

Comps for company stores increased 2.1 percent and 0.7 percent for franchise stores while margins declined 2 percent due to food costs and costs related to…

Majority of middle market execs have positive business outlook

October 30, 2014

According to CIT Group’s newly-released and third annual Voice of the Middle Market study, a majority of middle market execs have a positive outlook for their…

Casio teams up with MicroSale for Android POS app

October 29, 2014

Casio America Inc. recently announced its partnership with MicroSale to create TabPOS, an app for its Android-based POS systems.

National Restaurant Association adds of SVP of Strategic Alliances

October 29, 2014

The National Restaurant Association today announced the hiring of Jeffrey Calore as senior vice president of Strategic Alliances.

ReadyTouch names new VP Sales & Marketing

October 28, 2014

Palo Alto, California software company ReadyTouch announced the appointment of Debbie Richards Novograd as vice president of Sales and Marketing.

People don’t just leave bad managers...They also leave bad schedules

by Nate DaPore — President and CEO, PeopleMatter

Mobile tools help your team plan ahead, and when the schedule finds its way to mobile phones, you can kiss the 'I didn’t know' excuse goodbye.

Delivery startups targeting fast food crowd

October 27, 2014

The quick-service marketplace continues to get more crowded. A growing number of online food companies are popping up, particularly in the San Francisco area…

HMSHost adds two execs to support development efforts

October 24, 2014

HMSHost has appointed Stephanie Havard as EVP of Restaurant Development, overseeing strategic investment, concept development and design and construction; and…

Consolidated Concepts adds two senior supply chain executives

October 24, 2014

Wade Winters is joining Consolidated Concepts as vice president of Supply Chain, and Joni Miller is joining as director of Supply Chain.

Int'l Franchise Association, Cyber Security Alliance caution franchisees about cybersecurity

October 24, 2014

International Franchise Association and the National Cyber Security Alliance will create materials to support a culture of cybersecurity.

Want to influence customers? Listen up, say marketing experts

by Brenda Rick Smith — Editor, Networld Media Group

Listening to customers can yield key insights into what customers like, what they don't like, what's working and what's not. Those insights yield actionable…

HR director provides tips for discrimination claims

October 23, 2014

Director of Human Resources David Peasall at FrankCrum, a professional employer organization, spoke out about why companies should prepare for the possibility…

'Discover Fresh' campaign includes new leadership hires, messaging

October 23, 2014

The campaign, which involves corporate and restaurant-level changes, supports Garden Fresh's commitment to farm-fresh food and made-from-scratch menu items.

Eliminate complacency to build a thriving enterprise

by Erle Dardick — CEO, Monkeymedia

People, products, markets, customers and processes are dynamic and must change in order to adapt and grow.