2013: The year of the pretzel2013: The year of the pretzel

A search for the word “pretzel” on NRN.com revealed 95 related stories in 2013 at press time. From Wendy’s Pretzel Bacon Cheeseburger to Sonic’s Cheezy Bacon Pretzel Dog, the bread form popped up repeatedly as buns, snacks and desserts, a tangible symbol of the year’s twists and turns.

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Concern over the payroll tax increases that started the year did not hinder restaurant sales as much as consumers’ concern in the fall over lawmaker gridlock and the shutdown in Washington that stalled government paychecks and depressed confidence.

But while restaurant operators lamented that spending and traffic continued to come in fits and spurts, they couldn’t feel bad about the public markets, which sailed to new highs and buoyed the fortunes of several companies. After Noodles & Company raised a cool $75 million in its initial public offering in May, other companies quickly followed suit, with many more announcing their similar intentions.

Private equity firms also acknowledged the potential in up-and-coming concepts through acquisitions that ranged in size from Catterton Partners’ investment in the six-unit Bruxië waffle brand in October to Roark Capital Group’s acquisition of a majority stake in Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s parent CKE Inc. in November.

Health was also top of mind. In February, the Hudson Institute released the first study showing that healthful menu items were driving restaurant sales and traffic, and before long, healthful concepts like 12-unit Protein Bar and 10-unit Snap Kitchen were also basking in the glow of private equity investment funds.

Health care reform also maintained its grip on the industry’s psyche. Although the rush to comply with the employer mandate was delayed for a year to Jan. 1, 2015, as regulators in July acknowledged the complexities of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, the Oct. 1 deadline for alerting employees to their health care options came and went — even if the website bearing the federal offerings failed to rise to the occasion.

Meanwhile, throughout the year, the protests that started in late 2012 continued, with support mounting to raise the federal hourly minimum wage from $7.25 to $15 per hour. Those demands culminated in a 100-city show of force in December.

In the next few pages, the editors of Nation’s Restaurant News recount the highs and the lows, the sweet and the salty, of what might fittingly be called the year of the pretzel.