Steve Romaniello, managing director at Roark Capital Group and chairman of Focus Brands, is eager to get a center-of-the-plate concept into the private-equity firm’s portfolio.After securing $1 billion for Roark’s second institutional fund last...

CYPRESS Calif. Baja Fresh Mexican Grill chief executive David Kim, along with a group of investors, has acquired Atlanta-based better-burger concept Canyons Burger Company, with plans to franchise the two-unit chain, officials are expected to...

Dan Stone, director of franchise sales at The Melting Pot, a 140-unit-plus casual-dining chain, had spent months courting national lender CIT Group to garner preferential treatment for the fondue chain’s franchisees. He wrote...

Moe’s Southwest Grill franchisee Neil Solomon was tired of being ripped off by customers redeeming counterfeit paper loyalty cards at his Altamonte Springs, Fla., outlet. So, in an effort to address the problem, he turned to a program built around...

ORLANDO Fla. Burger King Corp.’s new Whopper Bar brand extension, which opened at Universal CityWalk here March 10, provides a smaller footprint and more limited menu than traditional units, a cost-effective package that the company hopes will...

Restaurant site selection methodologies are changing and technology is playing a key role in the evolution. “The old way was to go out in the field with a map from AAA with sticky dots,” said Andy Verostek, market planning analyst for...

The following story is part of this week's special NRN 50 issue, Opportunities knocking: Open the door to bold thinking and unlock your profit potential. Non-subscribers and those who wish to purchase this single issue in its...