Mr. Pita enters Charlotte, N.C., market

November 18, 2008

COMMERCE TOWNSHIP, Mich. — Mr. Pita has opened its first restaurant in North Carolina, the company announced.    The 2,200 square-foot unit is located at 752…

Submarina names two to executive posts

November 18, 2008

SAN MARCOS, Calif. — Submarina California Subs has hired Kirk Thompson as executive vice president of area development and Vicki Finley as the company's…

Finagle Bakery Café rolls out new prototype

November 18, 2008

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — In an effort to broaden its customer base and fuel sales growth, Boston-based Finagle A Bagel has repositioned its brand and launched a new…

Pinkberry announces Northern California expansion

November 18, 2008

LOS ANGELES — Frozen yogurt concept Pinkberry plans to expand throughout Northern California beginning with the opening of a new store in San Jose next month…

Jamba records loss for Q3

November 17, 2008

EMERYVILLE, Calif. — Comparable-store sales at Jamba Inc. restaurants fell 10.3 percent in the third quarter ended Oct. 7, the company announced. Jamba had…

Fast casuals find cash in compost

Recycling organic material helps operators reduce waste-hauling costs.

National menu labeling may be gaining steam

November 16, 2008

Reuters: As more communities adopt menu labeling legislation, a nationwide system requiring quick-serve chains to list calories on their menus could be gaining…

More Panera Breads feature drive-thrus

November 13, 2008

CLARKSVILLE, Ind. — Panera Bread has installed its latest drive-thru in a store located in Clarksville, Ind. While drive-thrus are almost essential to the…

Quiznos manager serves up credit card numbers

November 13, 2008

KOB.com (via BlueMaumau.org): More than a dozen customers at an Albuquerque Quiznos received a shock when they checked their credit card statements recently. A…

NEXTEP to display Casino Express at G2E

November 13, 2008

LAS VEGAS — NEXTEP Systems will demonstrate the Casino Express self service food and beverage ordering system at G2E: Global Gaming Expo, to be held Nov. 18-2…

Diversified Restaurant Holdings begins trading

November 12, 2008

SOUTHFIELD, Mich. — Diversified Restaurant Holdings Inc., a franchisee of Buffalo Wild Wings and creator and owner of the Bagger Dave's Legendary Burgers and…

Restaurants on the Run acquires delivery company

November 11, 2008

ALISO VIEJO, Calif. — Restaurants on the Run has acquired Corona, Calif.-based food delivery service Dine Out-In, the company announced. This is Restaurants on…

Focus Brands names Russ Umphenour as president, CEO

November 10, 2008

ATLANTA — Focus Brands Inc. has named Russ Umphenour president and chief executive officer, the company announced. Former CEO Steve Romaniello has been named…

Starbucks net off 97 percent

November 10, 2008

SEATTLE — Revenues at coffeehouse operator Starbucks were $2.5 billion for the company's fourth quarter ended Sept. 28, up slightly compared with revenues of…

Fast casuals market to millennials

by Julie Sturgeon — independent journalist, CEOEditor, Inc.

Advertising approach, atmosphere need tweaking to reach younger demographic.

Burgerville names new COO

November 9, 2008

VANCOUVER, Wash. — Fast casual chain Burgerville has appointed Janice Williams to the position of chief operations officer, the company announced. Williams…

Raising Canes signs lease for Dallas support office

November 9, 2008

BATON ROUGE, La. — Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers has signed a lease to open its Dallas Restaurant Support Office at Legacy Business Park at 5800 Tennyson…

Cosi posts loss for Q3

November 9, 2008

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Comparable-store sales at company-owned Cosi Inc. locations increased 0.1 percent for the third quarter ended Sept. 29, the company…

Farmer Boys launches breakfast all day

November 6, 2008

RIVERSIDE, Calif. — Farmer Boys restaurants are now serving breakfast all day, every day, the company announced.   Among Farmer Boys' most popular breakfast…

El Pollo Loco revenue up 4 percent

November 6, 2008

COSTA MESA, Calif.— Comparable-store sales at EPL Intermediate Inc., parent company of El Pollo Loco Inc., were flat for the company's third quarter ended…