Skyrocketing food and fuel costs have forced operators to take a cold, hard look at their purchasing habits. Lee Plotkin, founder of L.P. Enterprises Inc., works with growing restaurant companies to help them create or improve their purchasing or...
EMERYVILLE Calif. The parent to the Jamba Juice smoothie chain has outlined its strategic priorities for 2009 that include plans to eliminate about $25 million in store-level costs, test self-serve terminals, expand food options on the menu and...
Casual-dining bellwethers Brinker International Inc. and Darden Restaurants Inc. this week will provide outlooks for the year ahead amid a worsening picture for many chains in the segment. While the entire restaurant industry suffers...
DALLAS Chili’s Grill & Bar said Wednesday it has opened its first restaurant in El Salvador, which brings the number of countries with Chili's locations to 26. The new, 237-seat restaurant in Antiguo Cuscatlan, El Salvador, is operated by...
OGDEN Utah Taco Maker Inc., the franchisor of more than 185 quick-service restaurants, said it plans to open 25 more units this year in the United States and Puerto Rico. The largest Mexican quick-service brand in Puerto Rico, Taco Maker...
EDINA Minn. —Dairy Queen, looking for additional brand exposure, is selling a video game, “DQ Tycoon,” that mimics running one of its quick-service restaurants, chain sources said. Dairy Queen, best known for frozen...
BOCA RATON Fla. Sun Capital Partners Inc., just like the restaurant companies it owns, is feeling the sting of today’s economic climate. The private-equity firm, which owns 10 restaurant companies including Friendly Ice Cream Corp., Boston...
NEWPORT BEACH Calif. Industry veteran Donald W. Callender, founder of the Marie Callender’s Restaurant & Bakery chain, died Wednesday. He was 81. Callender was known through the restaurant world for his creative mind, attention to detail...
Like all restaurateurs, Dan McDonald wants to be sure he’s not wasting his marketing budget, especially in a year that looks as challenging as 2009 is projected to be.But tracking the return on investment for all his advertising, including for...