Cutino picked as ’07 inductee to MenuMasters Hall of Fame

Jan 15, 2007

Ago —Nation’s Restaurant News kicked off the 10th year of its celebrated MenuMasters Awards program by selecting renowned chef Bert Cutino as the 2007 inductee into its MenuMasters Hall of Fame. ...

Planet Smoothie to hit the road for the good of the globe

Jan 15, 2007

ATLANTA Planet Smoothie is preparing to put the nation’s ecology in the spotlight with the launch of a promotion encouraging eco-friendly behavior and healthful practices. — ...

Planet Smoothie to hit the road for the good of the globe

Jan 15, 2007

ATLANTA —Planet Smoothie is preparing to put the nation’s ecology in the spotlight with the launch of a promotion encouraging eco-friendly behavior and healthful practices. Although a number of chains ranging from...

Kids actively enjoy R-Gym at McDonald’s

Jan 15, 2007

Kids are lining up to ride the stationary bikes at Richard Ruby’s McDonald’s restaurant in Whittier, Calif. They also are shooting hoops on his mini-basketball court and playing on a “dance pad.” The equipment is part of a new...

Kids actively enjoy R-Gym at McDonald’s

Jan 15, 2007

Kids are lining up to ride the stationary bikes at Richard Ruby’s McDonald’s restaurant in Whittier, Calif. They also are shooting hoops on his mini-basketball court and playing on a “dance pad.” The equipment is part of a new...

Big flavors, small bites of Spanish cuisine could occupy larger portion of American chain menus

Jan 15, 2007

Spanish cookery will likely never threaten the primacy of the big three ethnic cuisines: Chinese, Italian and Mexican. There’s been no major wave of supporting immigration, and Spanish-Americans are simply not as numerous as other hyphenates like...

Darden airs acquisition check list, and ‘franchisor’ could be on it

Jan 12, 2007

ORLANDO Darden Restaurants Inc. might be shopping soon for a restaurant chain in the 100-unit range, and the company has not ruled out candidates that franchise, according to analyst and press reports on the Red Lobster and Olive Garden parent’s...

Heartland brew-pub chain sells 49% stake to employees

Jan 10, 2007

NEW YORK The co-owners of the five-unit Heartland Brewery brew-pub chain have sold a 49 percent stake in the company to its employees through an Employee Stock Ownership Plan. Jon Bloostein, Heartland’s founder, CEO, and leader of the...

Regional chains give mall developers brand diversity, increased local appeal

Jan 08, 2007

Big-name national dinnerhouse chains are not the only players able to land choice locations in new and refurbished regional retail malls. While mall developers have learned that chains like The Cheesecake Factory, P.F. Chang’s China...

Regional chains give mall developers brand diversity, increased local appeal

Jan 08, 2007

Big-name national dinnerhouse chains are not the only players able to land choice locations in new and refurbished regional retail malls. While mall developers have learned that chains like The Cheesecake Factory, P.F. Chang’s China...