Compass’ international division debuts whistle-blower program

Mar 19, 2007

LONDON —In a move observers said was an effort to offset the residue of a United Nations contract scandal, foodservice giant Compass Group PLC took a chapter from its U.S. division’s operations...

BD’s Mongolian Barbeque honored for work with Asian unit

Mar 19, 2007

FERNDALE, MICH. —The Asian outpost of BD’s Mongolian Barbeque, the 31-unit casual-dinnerhouse chain based here, has been named the Mongolian Tourism Association’s Restaurant of the Year. The 150-seat restaurant opened May 2005...

BK franchisee extends holdings to 112 stores with another acquisition

Mar 19, 2007

BURNSVILLE Minn. Burger King franchisee Duke and King Acquisition Corp. has purchased 24 units from Swisshelm Group in Springfield, Mo., boosting the buyer's tally to 112 BK stores and making it one of the system's largest franchisees. The...

Companies mine academia for culinary lessons, operations solutions from the heads of the class

Mar 19, 2007

MINNEAPOLIS —To enhance the menus in the restaurants of its 161 domestic Radisson Hotels & Resorts, Carlson Hotels Worldwide, based here, went back to school. Because there is no...

Reader: Franchisee strategies often include succession plans

Mar 19, 2007

Editor, NRN: I read with interest your story on franchisee succession planning, “Unclear exit strategies cloud chains’ outlooks,” Jan. 8. It is an under-appreciated business challenge and your coverage of it was thoughtful. ...

Leaders weigh menu pressures from regulators, diners

Mar 19, 2007

Special ReportHot Concepts! panelists discuss ways to tackle challengesORLANDO, FLA. —Challenges to business, including regulators’ efforts to affect nutritional disclosures, and concerned consumers’ influence on menu trends were among...

Posados tailors growth plan to fit in markets of many sizes

Mar 19, 2007

TYLER, TEXAS —With fried tacos, quail fajitas and barbecue ribs, Posados Café Inc. has steadily built a solid name in Mexican casual dining after starting 20 years ago as a store called Mercados in this northeast Texas city. Now...

In spite of sales gain, Centerplate records bigger 4th-Q net loss due to reduced income tax benefit

Mar 19, 2007

STAMFORD, CONN. —Sports and entertainment foodservice management specialist Centerplate Inc. reported a widened net loss in the fourth quarter, citing a reduced income tax benefit from the year earlier that was unable to offset an 8.8...