Restaurant industry reports continued positive sales

June 29, 2012

The outlook for the restaurant industry remained positive for the months ahead, as the National Restaurant Association's Restaurant Performance Index (RPI…

I Dream of Falafel to host series of cooking classes

June 28, 2012

I Dream of Falafel has announced the launch of a cooking class with executive chef Henry Nuguid that will focus on Mediterranean and Middle Eastern-inspired…

Panera Bread takes a marketing stand

by Valerie Killifer — Editor, FastCasual.com

June 28, 2012

When Panera Bread became the first major advertiser on SheKnows.com, a popular website for women, the executive team was more than enthusiastic. However, their…

Smashburger celebrates five-year anniversary

June 27, 2012

Smashburger is celebrating the fifth anniversary of its first restaurant opening in Denver in December 2007. The company also announced the addition of six new…

NBA Forward Drew Gooden opens Wingstop in Florida

June 27, 2012

Former Orlando forward Drew Gooden, who is now with the Milwaukee Bucks, has opened his first Wingstop restaurant in Altamonte Springs, Fla.

Tossed promotes A. Michael Toroyan to COO

June 27, 2012

Tossed has announced the promotion of chief development officer A. Michael Toroyan (A.T.) to the additional position of chief operating officer. Toroyan, who…

Report: Online marketing boosts restaurant visits

June 26, 2012

In the first quarter of 2012, 6 percent of restaurant visits (926 million visits) were influenced by online marketing, reports market research company The NPD…

Boneheads announces new franchise opportunities

June 25, 2012

Boneheads has announced that franchise opportunities are now available in Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Louisiana, and Colorado. Boneheads is a grilled fish and…

Wingstop deal to expand Virginia presence

June 25, 2012

Neil Frank, a former strategic marketing manager/software engineer, has signed a deal with Wingstop to open three locations in Virginia. The first is slated to…

Council of Chain Restaurants launches health care law microsite

June 25, 2012

In an effort to consolidate and communicate the National Retail Federation and National Council of Chain Restaurants' position on the health care law, the two…

NRA partners with Canadian association to launch sustainability program

June 22, 2012

The National Restaurant Association has announced its partnership with the Canadian Restaurant and Foodservices Association (CRFA) to launch a Canadian version…

FreshBerry opens unit No. 40

June 21, 2012

Beautiful Brands International has announced the opening of its 40th FreshBerry Self-Serve Frozen Yogurt store. The new store, located in Charlotte, N.C., is…

Smashburger opens second Calgary location

June 21, 2012

Smashburger is opening its second location in Calgary, Canada, on June 27, following the May 2012 launch of its first-ever Canadian restaurant, also in Calgary.

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…

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…

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…