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Restaurant news to know: June 10, 2014

NRN editors select top industry stories from around the web

CKE CEO: 'Why young people can’t find work' (The Wall Street Journal)
Andrew Puzder, chief executive of Carpinteria, Calif.-based CKE Inc., wrote an op-ed in Tuesday’s Wall Street Journal about the reduced number of entry-level jobs in the United States, and warned of negative impacts if the federal minimum wage is raised to $10.10 an hour from the current $7.25. The CEO of the parent to the Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s chains also said the Affordable Care Act is increasing the cost of hiring inexperienced workers. “The bottom line on labor: Make something less expensive and businesses will use more of it. Make something more expensive and businesses will use less of it,” he wrote.
 
—Ron Ruggless

Dunkin' Donuts plots California expansion (Los Angeles Times)
The quick-service chain revealed the first locations for its long-planned push to open 1,000 units in California. Five traditional units will open by year’s end in cities including Santa Monica, Long Beach, Whittier, Downey and Modesto.

—Lisa Jennings

Waffle House policy on large tips scrutinized (Raleigh News Observer)
A customer at a Waffle House in Raleigh, N.C., left a server a $1,000 tip, but the company denied it. Kelly Thrasher, a Waffle House spokeswoman, told the newspaper that “large tips are refunded to patrons as a regular procedure. Generous tippers are asked to tip again by cash or check.” That is in case a customer decides to dispute the gratuity or seek a refund, she said. Columnist Josh Shaffer wrote: “You don’t make it hard for people to be nice, or they’ll give up trying. And more than anything, you don’t dump on your own people as a matter of policy.”

—Ron Ruggless

Argentina bests U.S. in McDonald's World Cup promo (BusinessWire)
For the past month, the 800 McDonald’s locations in Brazil have pitched a battle of national pride ahead of the 2014 FIFA World Cup, selling burgers to represent seven of the nations competing in the worldwide soccer championship, with Argentina beating the United States. The McArgentina, which tops an Angus beef patty with chimichurri mayonnaise, lettuce, tomato, bacon and Cheddar, thus far has outsold the McUSA, also an Angus burger which sports barbecue sauce, crispy onions, pickles, lettuce, bacon and Cheddar. The chain’s largest franchisee, Arcos Dorados, will offer at its Brazilian locations through June 25 all seven promotional sandwiches, which also include the McBrazil, McSpain, McGermany, McItaly and McFrance.

—Mark Brandau

FDA ruling threatens small cheese makers (Forbes)
A seemingly arbitrary decision by an FDA official to disallow the use of wood boards to age cheese threatens a practice that has been in place for centuries.

—Bret Thorn

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