Seattle's Best expands commuter concept in NY

June 21, 2012

Seattle's Best Coffee, part of Starbucks Corporation, has announced that its commuter-centric concept menu will be featured in a new Brooklyn, N.Y., franchise…

Retail vs. restaurant competition heats up

June 21, 2012

The daily mealtime competition between restaurants and retailers has become more intense in the past two years, as economic conditions have affected…

Burger King, Cosi franchisee implements PCI security solution

June 21, 2012

C.R. Restaurant Inc., a multi-unit franchisee in the quick-serve and fast casual market, has implemented SecureConnect managed security solutions in all 30 of…

Start spreading the beverage news

by Don Fox — CEO, Firehouse of America

The move by New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg to impose limitations on the size of sugar –based beverages permitted for sale in New York City (a 16-ounce limit…

Chicago gets fourth Panera Cares cafe

by Valerie Killifer — Editor, FastCasual.com

June 20, 2012

Chicago is joining Dearborn, Mich., Clayton, Mo., and Portland, Ore., as cities featuring a Panera Cares Community Cafe. The company is turning its Chicago…

Food allergies hit more city kids

by Betsy Craig — pres, menutrinfo.com

Food allergies and special dining needs are rising, so it's important for restaurants to learn how to cater to this growing demographic.

The next steps of a soon-to-franchise restaurant company

by Harold Kestenbaum — Partner, Gordon & Rees, LLP

In my last blog, I discussed what to do once you decide to franchise your restaurant. Now that you've taken those next steps, where do you go from here? The…

JJ's Red Hots plans first opening

June 19, 2012

JJ’s Red Hots will bring its handcrafted, chargrilled hot dogs and sausages to Charlotte, N.C.

Wingstop to fly into Oregon

June 19, 2012

Wingstop has announced that the 515-unit chain has signed a multi-unit development agreement to open 12 new restaurants throughout the state of Oregon.

Starbucks broadens Latin American presence

June 19, 2012

Starbucks Coffee Company has reaffirmed its commitment to Latin America with two major openings -- its first store in Costa Rica, and its first Farmer Support…

Worry maps

by Suzy Badaracco — President, Culinary Tides Inc

Eighty percent mistakenly believe the gluten-free diet is either "more healthful" or a weight loss solution, instead of a medically-indicated diet for the auto…

Chipotle to announce Q2 results

June 18, 2012

Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. will host a conference call to discuss its second quarter 2012 financial results July 19, 2012, at 4:30 p.m. Eastern time.

Franchise lending up 6 percent year over year

June 18, 2012

Lending to franchise businesses saw a drop of about 0.5 percent from April to May, according to the monthly Franchise Lending Index from the International…

Caribou Coffee prefers middle path to sales success

by Valerie Killifer — senior editor, NetWorld Alliance

Caribou Coffee's senior vice president of marketing and product development prefers a slow and steady pace when it comes to brand positioning.

Penn Station data breach grows in scope

by Valerie Killifer — senior editor, NetWorld Alliance

The number of Penn Station locations impacted by a data breach first reported in early June has grown from 43 locations to at least 80. Between March and the…

Restaurants serve up a path to success – Part 2

by Nate DaPore — President and CEO, PeopleMatter

Retaining your top talent will grow increasingly difficult as the economy continues to improve and the labor market tightens.

Poll: Hourly employers optimistic about hiring outlook

June 14, 2012

While private employers added a disappointing 82,000 jobs in May, employers that are part of hourly employment network Snagajob, are "optimistic" when asked…

Webinar to discuss efficiencies in hiring practices

June 13, 2012

FastCasual.com and Hot Schedules are hosting a joint webinar June 28 to discuss efficiencies in restaurant operators' hiring practices.

Employee hotline – Avoid passing in the no passing zone

Employee Hotlines encourage employees to report incidences when they observe unsafe conditions or inappropriate behavior, and promotes a culture of ethical…

Wingstop names former Pizza Inn leader as CEO

June 13, 2012

The Wingstop Board of Directors has announced that Charles Morrison has been named president and CEO of the company. Morrison replaces James Flynn who becomes…