Panera president resigns

December 11, 2007

ST. LOUIS — Panera Bread Company has announced the resignation of president Neal Yanofsky, effective Jan. 4, 2008. Yanofsky is leaving the company to pursue…

Rubio's adds to real-estate team

December 10, 2007

CARLSBAD, Calif. — Rubio's Restaurants Inc. has announced the appointment of two restaurant industry veterans to its real-estate development team. Valerie L.

Kelly Roddy named Schlotzsky's brand president

December 9, 2007

ATLANTA — FOCUS Brands has announced that Kelly Roddy has been named brand president of Schlotzsky's, which operates approximately 365 locations nationwide. …

Panera same-store sales rise

December 6, 2007

Reuters: Same-store sales at Panera Bread company-owned locations rose 3.8 percent in the five weeks ended Nov. 27. Comps at franchise locations increased 2.…

Smoothie King: Free smoothies for cans

December 5, 2007

COVINGTON, La. — Smoothie King will give away a free 20-ounce smoothie to guests who donate five canned goods Dec. 8, 2007, at any participating location.…

Affiliate of Bruegger's parent buys Smokey Bones

December 5, 2007

Business First (Buffalo, N.Y.): Barbecue Integrated Inc., an affiliate of Sun Capital Partners Inc., parent company to the Bruegger's, Fazoli's and Boston…

Port City Java opens at NCSU

December 4, 2007

WILMINGTON, N.C. — Port City Java has announced it has opened a new café at North Carolina State University. The new café is on the main campus of the…

uWink unveils game credit software

December 4, 2007

LOS ANGELES — uWink Inc. has announced the introduction of its new proprietary game "credit" purchasing and redemption system. The new software is designed to…

El Pollo Loco Inc. loses trademark dispute

December 3, 2007

COSTA MESA, Calif. — El Pollo Loco Inc. has announced that a U.S. District Court in Texas entered a final judgment in the trademark dispute filed by El Pollo…

Surveillance integration

by Valerie Killifer — senior editor, NetWorld Alliance

New technologies are making it easier to mind your store and your revenue.

Nothing but Noodles closes multiunit deal

December 2, 2007

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Nothing but Noodles has announced its entrance into the northern New England states with a multiunit franchise deal in the territories of…

Panera to buy back stock

December 2, 2007

St. Louis Business Journal: Panera Bread Co.'s board of directors authorized the company to repurchase up to $75 million in shares from a broker by the end…

Moe's former parent sued by franchisees

November 28, 2007

The Associated Press: More than 50 franchisees and their financial backers are suing Moe's Southwest Grill and its former parent company Raving Brands over…

Vapiano celebrates five-year anniversary

November 28, 2007

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Vapiano is celebrating its five-year anniversary and the growth of the chain from a single unit to more than 25 open locations across the…

Smoothie King opens 500th location

November 27, 2007

NEW ORLEANS — Smoothie King has announced the Atlanta opening of its 500th location. To celebrate, Smoothie King will give a free 20-ounce smoothie to any…

Firehouse Subs promotes John Raulerson

November 25, 2007

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Firehouse Subs has announced the promotion of John L. Raulerson to director of technical services.    Raulerson, who has been with the…

Zaxby's on a roll

November 18, 2007

Atlanta Journal Constitution: The privately held Zaxby's, which owns about 70 of its own stores and anticipates sales of $560 million this year, will soon…

No-match reprieve could be short lived

Homeland Security rewriting regulation to ensure it passes muster.

Rapper E-40 to open Calif. Wingstop

November 15, 2007

DALLAS — Rap recording artist Earl Stevens, best known as E-40, has signed a franchise agreement with Wingstop Restaurants Inc. to open a restaurant in…

Chipotle CEO sells 200K shares

November 13, 2007

StreetInsider.com: Steve Ells, founder and CEO of Chipotle Mexican Grill, has sold 200,000 company shares since the beginning of November.   Read more