Noodles & Co reports strong showing in Q3

November 6, 2013

Noodles & Company, which went public July 2, today announced financial results for the third quarter, including a 45-percent earnings growth and a…

Veggie Grill names new marketing VP

November 6, 2013

Veggie Grill has named Gantry Praw as VP of Marketing. His experience in developing cross-channel marketing and communications strategies will play a…

Fresh&co introduces NYC's 1st quinoa bar

November 6, 2013

Fresh&co, a New York City-based fast casual concept known for using fresh, local and seasonal ingredients, has created a Quinoa Bar — a healthy, warm and…

Cosi testing new menu

November 6, 2013

Cosi is testing a new menu in three Philadelphia locations. Michael Foley, Cosi's VP of brand strategy and innovation, served as primary architect of the new…

Melthouse Bistro launching mobile payments

November 6, 2013

Milwaukee-based Melthouse Bistro and Tali Payments have partnered to allow the grilled cheese chain's customers to order and pay for food and drinks from their…

Starbucks on mission to employ 10,000 vets

November 6, 2013

Starbucks Coffee Company announced this week that it is committed to hiring thousands of veterans, which will be possible with its new hiring platform for…

Fiesta Group reports strong Q3 results

November 6, 2013

Revenues are up for Fiesta Restaurant Group, parent company of Pollo Tropical and Taco Cabana. The chain reported that total revenues increased 9.8 percent to…

Menchie's to honor vets with free fro-yo

November 6, 2013

Menchie's is showing gratitude to veterans by offering free 6-ounce frozen yogurt cups to all veterans and active duty members of the military on Veterans Day…

Caribou Coffee, Bruegger's opening first co-branded stores

November 6, 2013

Caribou Coffee and Bruegger's Bagels have developed new co-branded locations to bring the best of both brands with greater convenience to Minnesota and…

Social Restaurant Podcast: Talking Italian with Carl Howard

by Nate Riggs — CEO / Owner, NR Media Group

In this week's episode of the Social Restaurant Podcast, I'm talking Italian with Carl Howard, CEO of Fazolis.  Carl is a restaurant 'lifer' and has held the…

Starbucks reports record-high EPS; big growth plans for 2014

by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com

'The fourth quarter of fiscal 2013 capped off by far the best year in Starbucks' 42-year history,' said CEO Howard Schultz.

Don't Bogart that sub

by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com

The CEO of Cheba Hut shares the brand's marketing techniques, growth plans and just what's in those Hemp Brownies.

Sales, traffic fall across restaurant industry in September

October 31, 2013

As a result of softer sales and traffic levels and restaurant operators' dampened outlook for the economy, the National Restaurant Association's Restaurant…

Oklahoma Garbanzo locations land local chef as operating partner

October 30, 2013

Oklahoma City restaurateur Chef Ryan Parrott has joined the Garbanzo Mediterranean Grill family as operating partner for franchise group GMG Oklahoma LLC…

Wingstop posts strong wrap to Q3

October 30, 2013

Wingstop has posted positive quarterly results from the brand's recent expansion. The chain opened 16 new locations and generated an 8.6-percent increase in…

GE Capital enhances digital business tool for restaurant owners

October 30, 2013

GE Capital, Franchise Finance will demonstrate enhancements to its SmartChart at the Restaurant Finance & Development Conference Nov. 4-6 in Las Vegas.

A look at a 'fast fine' concept

Pierre Panos talks about his Fresh 2 Order concept, which he calls "Fast Fine." The concept was founded seven years ago and now includes 10 units, with more on…

Freebirds World Burrito nabs Chipotle exec Bobby Shaw

October 29, 2013

Freebirds World Burrito, a fast casual burrito concept owned by Tavistock Restaurants, announced the addition of former Chipotle executive Bobby Shaw as SVP of…

Take care of your customers

Kelly Roddy, CEO of Schlotsky's, was part of the CEO panel during the recent Fast Casual Executive Summit in New Orleans. He said that operators are currently…

PeopleMatter secures funding to fuel expansion

October 28, 2013

PeopleMatter, a cloud-based workforce management platform designed specifically for the service industry, has announced that it has secured $16 million in…