Ron Ruggless

Southwest Bureau Chief
Nation's Restaurant News

Phone: 214.366.4391

Follow on LinkedIn

Ron Ruggless covers the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas.

He joined NRN in 1992 after working 10 years in various roles at the Dallas Times Herald newspaper, including restaurant critic, assistant business editor, food editor and lifestyle editor. He also edited several printings of the Zagat Dining Guide for Dallas-Fort Worth, and his articles have appeared in Food & Wine and Self magazines.

Articles by Ron Ruggless
Tim Baker and Alissa Blate
How restaurants can leverage social media
NRA Show panelists share best practices for incorporating popular digital platforms
A look at the new Seattle's Best drive-thru units
Seattle’s Best Coffee will open 10 drive-thru units in unison on May 20.
NRN on scene as 2013 NRA Show opens
More than 60,000 restaurant industry professionals are expected to attend
Tijuana Flats
Tijuana Flats names Brad Kaemmer CEO
Kaemmer replaces founder Brian Wheeler, who will remain involved with the brand
Applebee's franchisee files for Ch. 11 bankruptcy
AppleIllinois plans to close at least eight units in the Chicago area
Growth Chains: Mi Cocina 
Upscale Tex-Mex chain Mi Cocina is planning gradual expansion on the East Coast
Cheddar's Citrus Miso Glazed Salmon
Cheddar’s introduces Lighter Side menu
Chain also crowd-sourced email-club members to develop two new burgers
McDonald’s removes Angus burger from U.S. menu
Analyst says item was an expensive product with low margins
Fiesta logo
Fiesta Restaurant Group 1Q profit, sales rise
Taco Cabana, Pollo Tropical parent ends its first year as a stand-alone public company with a profit increase
Ignite Restaurant Group: 1Q sales 'disappointing'
Systemwide same-store sales fell 2 percent at Joe's Crab Shack
Chuy's outlook positive after 1Q growth
Executives expect positive sales and unit-growth trends for 2013
Pizza Hut franchisee NPC's 1Q profit rises 46%
Cost savings in operations, commodities helped boost profit despite sales declines
Twin Peaks names new president, COO
The casual-dining chain appoints Patrick Droesch to the roles
Co-branded Olive Garden and Red Lobster
Concepts maximize efficiencies with co-location 
Restaurants are increasingly co-locating or developing new brands within existing ones to use space efficiently and cut costs
Burger King tweaks menu, message after 1Q sales decline
Sales accelerated in March after slipping in the first half of the quarter
Free eNewsletters! 
Want the latest in the world of foodservice news & trends? 
Check out our e-newsletters