McD's U.S. same-store sales slip in Jan.
OAK BROOK, Ill. (Feb. 9, 2010) — McDonald's Corp. reported positive global same-store sales in January as international results offset a slight sales decline in the United States. more...
Friday's names Saunders int'l president
CARROLLTON, Texas (Feb. 9, 2010) — T.G.I. Friday's has appointed Ian Saunders to the new post of president and chief operating officer of its international division. more...
Shakey's appoints two executives
ALHAMBRA, Calif. (Feb. 8, 2010) — Shakey’s USA has created two new management positions as part of an ongoing plan to grow the 56-year-old pizza chain. more...
Guide names 30 'most important' restaurants
NEW YORK (Feb. 8, 2010) — Thomas Keller's French Laundry and Per Se restaurants topped this year's list of the "30 Most Important Restaurants in the United States," according to online guide Opinionated About Dining. more...
Beard Foundation names America's Classics
NEW YORK (Feb. 8, 2010) — The James Beard Foundation has selected Mary & Tito’s Café in Albuquerque, N.M., and four other restaurants as this year’s America’s Classics honorees. more...
Elevation Burger to expand overseas
ARLINGTON, Va. (Feb. 8, 2010) — Elevation Burger, the five-unit chain specializing in organic burgers and fries cooked in olive oil, signed its first international franchise deal and plans to expand into the Middle East later this year. more...
A look at restaurants' Super Bowl ads
MIAMI (Feb. 8, 2010) — The Super Bowl is one of the most important advertising days of the year, and several restaurant companies, including Denny's and Taco Bell, paid as much as $3 million to air commercials during this year's game. An expert discusses the restaurant industry's hits and misses. more...
James Kent to lead U.S. Bocuse d'Or team
HYDE PARK, N.Y. (Feb. 7, 2010) — James Kent, sous chef of Eleven Madison Park in New York City, will represent the United States in the biennial Bocuse d’Or competition in Lyon, France, in January of 2011. more...
Kansas latest state to debate smoking ban
TOPEKA, Kan. (Feb. 7, 2010) — A proposed Kansas law that would ban smoking statewide in most enclosed public and work places, while exempting some restaurants and bars that pay for the privilege, won’t be battled by a major hospitality trade group but has some clean air advocates fuming. more...
Consumers responding to ‘fast-food diets’
(Feb. 7, 2010) — While the weight loss success stories touted in commercials for Taco Bell and Subway came from years of calorie counting, the restaurant companies responsible for these “fast-food diet” promotions have achieved their goal of new consumer recognition in a fraction of the time. more...
Jack in the Box debuts grilled sandwiches
SAN DIEGO (Feb. 5, 2010) — Jack in the Box will introduce new grilled sandwiches in an ad airing on Super Bowl Sunday. more...
Huddle House lowers franchise fees
ATLANTA (Feb. 5, 2010) — Huddle House Inc. has lowered its franchise fees and cut royalty rates to encourage potential and existing franchisees to develop more restaurants for the 400-unit family-dining chain. more...
Restaurants ready deals, ads for Super Bowl
(Feb. 5, 2010) — Through promotions, events, ad campaigns and deals, restaurants have laid a game plan to intercept their share of Super Bowl XLIV food sales. more...
Shaun Doty to open burger restaurant
ATLANTA (Feb. 5, 2010) — Shaun Doty plans to join the ranks of fine-dining chefs who also run burger joints. more...
CPK adds lower-priced small plates
LOS ANGELES (Feb. 5, 2010) — Following a growing trend in casual dining, California Pizza Kitchen has debuted a new “Small Cravings” menu featuring smaller dishes at a lower price range. more...
McGrath’s Fish House files for Ch. 11
SALEM, Ore. (Feb. 4, 2010) — McGrath’s Fish House Restaurants, owner of the namesake 20-unit casual-dining chain, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and plans to close four restaurants in the next week. more...
O’Charley’s posts positive guest counts
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Feb. 4, 2010) — While consumer pressures tied to the recession pushed fourth-quarter sales into negative territory at the three chains of O’Charley’s Inc., its namesake brand and Stoney River Legendary Steaks chain posted their first year-to-year traffic increases in more than three years. more...
Buffalo Wild Wings' Super Bowl game plan
MINNEAPOLIS (Feb. 4, 2010) — In preparation for the Super Bowl, Buffalo Wild Wings has been training for months, working with it suppliers and staff to get ready for its biggest sales day of the year. Judy Shoulak, vice president of operations, spoke to Nation’s Restaurant News about the importance of customer service and operations to succeeding during the Super Bowl, or on any given Sunday. more...
Boston Market looks to build lunch sales
GOLDEN, Colo. (Feb. 4, 2010) — Boston Market is aiming for bigger midday sales as it begins testing several lunch-focused menu items, including sandwiches, salads, fried foods and a “flavor bar” of different sauces and salsas. more...
Burger King's 2Q profit grows
MIAMI (Feb. 4, 2010) — Burger King Holdings Inc. said Thursday it expects to offer more value promotions like its controversial $1 double cheeseburger as it reported a 13.3-percent jump in second-quarter profit. more...
