TAMPA Fla. After several setbacks and speculation the deal might never close, OSI Restaurant Partners, Inc. today announced the completion of its $3.5 billion acquisition by an investor consortium. The group consists of private equity firms Bain...

Restaurateurs’ vulnerability to produce contamination was underscored during the session by David Parsley’s recount of what happened at Applebee’s after E. coli O157:H7 was found in fresh, bagged “ready to eat” spinach last September. ...

OVERLAND PARK Kan. Applebee's is asking consumers to develop the chain's next burger in a contest similar to the one launched last week by Wendy's. Applebee's "Big Burger Showdown" will award $5,000 to the grand-prize winner, whose burger...

GREENWOOD VILLAGE Colo. Michael Snyder, the former CEO of Red Robin Gourmet Burger Inc., has agreed to pay a $250,000 civil penalty and never serve again as an officer or director of a public company to settle charges by the Securities and...

LEAWOOD Kan. Houlihan's Restaurants Inc. received more than $68 million from two outside sources to fund expansion and remodeling of the 92-unit chain, the company said late last month. Minneapolis-based private-equity firm Goldner Hawn...

TAMPA Fla. Despite shareholder criticism and a delay of the vote for almost a month, Outback Steakhouse parent OSI Restaurant Partners Inc. won stockholders' approval today of a $3.2-billion buyout of the casual-dining giant by an investment...

LOUISVILLE Ky. Chili's franchisee ERJ Dining of Louisville, Ky., has agreed to buy 76 additional units from franchisor Brinker International Inc. and develop 49 locations in the Midwest. Terms were not disclosed. With the agreement, Dallas...