Dean Lindsay delivers Fast Casual Summit keynote

by Valerie Killifer — senior editor, NetWorld Alliance

September 13, 2009

The Fast Casual Executive Summit got its official start today at the Hotel Palomar in Dallas. The Summit, being held Sept. 14-15, launched with a luncheon…

Pinkberry lands at LA airport

September 10, 2009

Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) and HMSHost Corp. have opened Pinkberry at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). It is the first airport site for…

UFood launches new yogurt flavors, two new giveaway promos

September 10, 2009

Boston-based UFood Grill has announced new UBerry soft serve yogurt flavors at its Landmark Center/Fenway location. The flavors, vanilla and chocolate, are…

Starbucks withdraws closure of 30 locations

September 9, 2009

Starbucks' chief financial officer Troy Alstead said Wednesday the company will not close 30 locations it had scheduled to shutter because of improved…

Fast Casual, QSRweb form strategic partnership with People Report

September 7, 2009

FastCasual.com and its sister site QSRweb.com have formed a strategic partnership with People Report, the leading intelligence company in the field of human…

Starbucks fills key leadership spots

September 3, 2009

Starbucks Coffee Co. has announced the appointment of Annie Young-Scrivner to global chief marketing officer. She will be responsible for the global marketing…

Great American Dine Out hopes to surpass last year's success

September 3, 2009

Share Our Strength, the leading organization working to end childhood hunger in America, will hold its second annual Great American Dine Out on Sept. 20-26 in…

Buffalo Wild Wings taps Trey Wingo for fantasy football commissioner

September 2, 2009

Buffalo Wild Wings has announced that pro football studio host Trey Wingo will serve as commissioner for the 2009 fantasy football season. The chicken wing…

Genghis Grill signs Phoenix franchise deal

September 2, 2009

The Mongolian stir fry concept Genghis Grill has signed a six-store franchise deal for Phoenix and the surrounding cities with Chris Carroll, CEO and president…

Red Mango signs Houston area development agreements

September 1, 2009

Red Mango has awarded two franchise development agreements to open a total of six stores in the Houston area.   Jay Randle of The Woodlands, Texas, has signed…

Qdoba Mexican Grill opens 500th restaurant

September 1, 2009

To celebrate the opening of Qdoba Mexican Grill's 500th restaurant in Centennial, Colo., Qdoba will give away free entrees to the first 500 people who enter…

Garden Fresh Club Veg reaches 1 million members

September 1, 2009

Souplantation and Sweet Tomatoes restaurants have celebrated a Club Veg milestone. The company's e-mail/online loyalty program has reached 1 million members.

Starbucks acquires operating control of Starbucks Coffee France

August 31, 2009

Starbucks Coffee Co. has announced that its subsidiaries, Starbucks Coffee EMEA and Starbucks Coffee International Inc., have entered into an agreement with…

Fast Casual Alliance gives Western Foodservice Expo presentation

August 31, 2009

Members of the Fast Casual Alliance (FCA) spoke to an audience of Western Foodservice & Hospitality Expo attendees Aug. 31 about the trends shaping the…

NRA's industry outlook posts slight gain

August 30, 2009

The outlook for the restaurant industry improved somewhat in July, as the National Restaurant Association's comprehensive index of restaurant activity…

Beautiful Brands signs another concept to its franchise roster

August 25, 2009

Beautiful Brands International has signed Tulsa-based restaurant Cafe Olé to its portfolio of restaurants to market and franchise worldwide. The agreement…

Bruegger's to re-enter Seattle market

August 24, 2009

Breugger's once had 22 stores in the Seattle area in the mid-1990s. But the company was sold, and new owners closed the local shops, according to a story in…

Chipotle ordering app now available

August 24, 2009

Chipotle Mexican Grill has made its new ordering application available on the Apple App Store. The mobile ordering app gives iPhone and iPod touch users the…

UFood closes Salt Lake City restaurant

August 23, 2009

UFood Restaurant Group Inc. has announced today that its Salt Lake City franchisee has terminated the operation of the UFood Grill Restaurant in the city, as a…

Dallas sees growth in fast casuals

August 20, 2009

Although restaurant growth in Dallas has slowed in the past few years, industry experts see the area as a growth opportunity, according to the Dallas Morning…