Which Wich learns lessons from social media
Employing a variety of social media, the 105-unit Which Wich sandwich chain earlier this month pounced on a potentially negative situation — a customer actually getting injured eating a sandwich — and turned it into a light-hearted customer contest and branding opportunity.Breakfast competition perks up as sales slow
Even though breakfast traffic has not fully recovered from declines brought on by high unemployment, new research shows that the morning meal is still an important daypart for restaurants.
Denny's opens stand-alone express unit
Denny's has expanded its Fresh Express concept with the opening of the first stand-alone location on the campus of California State University in San Bernardino. The chain had been testing the express format as a grab-and-go counter in some of its full-service restaurants.
Maggiano's offers $40 meal for two
Maggiano’s Little Italy has launched a dinner-for-two promotion for $40 for a limited time.
Other buyers interested in CKE?
CKE Restaurants' $928 million buyout offer last month from a private-equity firm has sparked speculation that more suitors will line up for the Hardee's and Carl's Jr. parent, according to sources familiar with the restaurant M&A environment.
Landry’s posts 4Q net loss
Landry’s Restaurant Inc. said Thursday that interest expenses and debt-refinancing costs dragged the company to a fourth-quarter net loss.
Popeyes parent posts jump in 4Q profit
AFC Enterprises Inc. reported a jump in fourth-quarter profit on cost cutting and improved sales at its Popeyes chicken chain.
Domino's opens 9,000th store
Domino's Pizza celebrated hitting the 9,000-store milestone with the openings of two units on opposite sides of the world.
Lark Creek makes expansion plans
Saying now is the time to be “nimble” with expansion, Lark Creek Restaurant Group said it plans to open four new concepts by 2011, including the San-Francisco-based company's first in Los Angeles.
Panera to post calorie counts
Panera Bread Co. will post calorie information in all 585 of its company-owned bakery-cafes by April and expects similar disclosure at its 795 franchised branches by year-end, the company said Wednesday.
Restaurants shift blame to weather for sinking sales
As the latest same-store sales reports come in, the effects of the severe winter weather that hit most of the country in January and February are becoming clear, and in some cases it isn’t pretty. Some analysts have begun to question, however, whether the talk of weather is only an excuse from brands that were already suffering.
NYC wins Tavern on the Green name
New York City owns the rights to the Tavern on the Green name, a U.S. district judge ruled Wednesday. The decision ends a bitter dispute between the city and the restaurant's former operator, the LeRoy family, which lost its contract to run the iconic establishment last year.
