Quiznos terminates franchisees on heels of suicide

The sub chain reacts swiftly following the Web-posting of a franchisee's alleged note.

Health officials unable to pinpoint source of E. coli in McAlister's Deli case

December 10, 2006

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — Local health officials are still unable to pinpoint a specific source of the E. coli bacteria that sickened nine people last month.

Subway rolls out electronic Cash Cards

December 4, 2006

MILFORD, Conn. — SUBWAY is rolling out its SUBWAY Cash Card, which can be used just like a gift or personal spending card.   According to a news release…

Taco Bell and McAlister's: Damage control done well

These brands have successfully handled E. coli outbreaks... . So far. 

Strategic Restaurant Acquisitions invests in Bear Rock Café

November 28, 2006

CARY, N.C. — Strategic Restaurant Acquisitions Corp., a fast-food company focused on franchise development and acquisition, has invested in Bear Rock Cafe.

McDonald's attempts to patent its sandwich apparatus

November 28, 2006

FOX News: McDonald's has submitted patent applications in the United States and Europe for the "method and apparatus for making a sandwich."   The restaurant…

Fast-casual wannabes

Casual-dining restaurants and QSRs create fast-casual concepts to meet customer demand.

McAlister's Deli franchisee donates tips to Crime Stoppers

November 21, 2006

WCPO: Several months ago, a television anchor made a challenge to everyone to give $100 to Crime Stoppers during a phone-a-thon event. A McAlister's Deli…

Focus Brands buys Schlotzsky's

November 20, 2006

Roark Capital Group, an Atlanta-based private equity firm, announced it acquired Schlotzsky's for an undisclosed amount Nov. 20.   The sandwich chain has…

Quiznos to face several major franchisee lawsuits

November 20, 2006

The Toasted Subs Association, made up of Quiznos franchisees, will be suing its franchisor in district courts across the country, the association's president…

Trials and tribulations of a fast-casual independent operator

How one woman handles adversity and keeps her restaurant growing.

Offerdahl's Café Grill selects RTIconnect back-office system

November 19, 2006

ATLANTA — Offerdahl's Café Grill, a fast-casual restaurant, has selected RTI (Restaurant Technology Inc.), a leading provider of Web-based restaurant…

McAlister's Deli is the only link in E. coli cases, health dep. says

November 14, 2006

The past few days have not been easy for Phil Friedman, the chairman and chief executive of McAlister's Deli.   A McAlister's store in Orange County, N.C.…

Cousin Subs rolls out gift cards

November 13, 2006

MENOMONEE FALLS, Wis. — Cousins Subs introduced gift cards system-wide Nov. 10.   The plastic gift cards are replacing the traditional paper certificates…

E. Coli cases traced to McAlister's Deli in N.C.

November 13, 2006

Associated Press: Health officials confirmed that E. coli sickened seven people in Chapel Hill, six of them students at the University of North Carolina at…

Cosi says it will open 80 stores in 2007

November 8, 2006

Editor's note: Cosi reported third-quarter same-store sales dropped 4.2 percent.   Globe News: Though Cosi Inc. reported a loss of almost $2 million in its…

Penn Station is steadily growing

November 5, 2006

Cincinnati Enquirer: The president of Penn Station Inc. says his fast-casual restaurant group will never seek growth for the sake of growth.   "The faster you…

McAlister's workers donate tips to charity

October 30, 2006

Times News: Several McAlister's Deli workers – made up of mostly high school students – are donating their tips to make sure kids have clothes this winter. …

Spicy Pickle files for IPO

October 26, 2006

Spicy Pickle soon may become the smallest publicly traded company in the restaurant industry.   The 15-unit fast casual filed with the U.S. Securities and…

Fast-casual franchising: Is your chain ready?

You don't want to franchise too quickly.  Most experts say to wait at least five years before announcing franchising plans.