QSR Ones to Watch

Seattle's Best Wants to Know, What is 'Delicious' to You?

QSR magazine — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 22:33:49 +0000

Cream and sugar are common additives to coffee, but cayenne pepper and gummy bears? These aren’t so common, especially in national coffee concepts like Starbucks and Seattle’s Best Coffee.

But coffee drinkers across the U.S. have different preferences for what, if anything, goes into their coffee, as Seattle’s Best recently discovered. The brand conducted a survey through Wakefield Research and found that 83 percent of people add something to their coffee. And for some people, its unusual things like cayenne, balsamic vinegar, or grape soda.

Navy’s Dining Program Manager Receives Service Award

QSR magazine — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:30:26 +0000

Rear Admiral William D. French recently presented the Meritorious Civilian Service Award to Steve Hammel, Dining Services program manager, U.S. Navy, Southwest Region. The award recognizes meritorious service in performance of duty.

“Mr. Hammel’s dynamic leadership and foresight in the area of Dining Services has improved readiness and quality of life for sailors and their families, and has had a positive impact throughout the entire Navy Food and Beverage Program,” states the award citation.

Garbanzo Partners With Gemini Investors for Expansion

QSR magazine — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 14:32:04 +0000

Garbanzo Mediterranean Grill, a Denver-based fast-casual restaurant concept offering fresh, healthy, and authentic Mediterranean cuisine, announced today its partnership with Gemini Investors, a private equity firm based in Wellesley, Massachusetts, that provides equity capital to established, middle market businesses.

Participation Triples for NRA’s 'Kids LiveWell'

QSR magazine — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 14:13:38 +0000

The National Restaurant Association today announced that the number of restaurant companies participating in its “Kids LiveWell” program has more than tripled since the initiative’s launch last July.

BBI Launches Fast Casual Sushi Franchise, Sushi Freak

QSR magazine — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 14:01:43 +0000

With the sushi product category exploding onto the national restaurant scene, Beautiful Brands International (BBI) announced today the official franchise launch of their brand new Sushi Freak fast causal create-your-own sushi concept, in a campaign targeting all 50 states and select nations around the world.

Dubbed the world’s first “create your own sushi brand,” Sushi Freak is poised to expand rapidly and sign at least 100 franchise agreements in the first nine months of 2012. BBI expects 50 stores open and operating by the end of the first quarter 2013.

Saladworks Opens Doors on Location No. 2 in Virginia

QSR magazine — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 15:38:02 +0000

Saladworks, the nation’s first and largest fresh-tossed salad franchise concept, is opening its second Virginia location, in Reston in the Plaza America Shopping Center, 11692 Plaza America Drive.

Saladworks is celebrating the grand opening of its Reston, Virginia, location by offering $5 salads for three days, February 11-13.

The Reston Saladworks is owned and operated by Michael Lord, of Sterling, Virginia, who spent 25 years in engineering before deciding it was time to go into business for himself.

Dunkin’ Donuts to Develop in Denver, El Paso

QSR magazine — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 14:36:12 +0000

Dunkin’ Donuts announced today the signing of a multi-unit store development agreement with a newly formed subsidiary of Sizzling Platter, LLC (Sizzling Donuts, LLC) for 11 new restaurants in Denver and eight new restaurants in El Paso, Texas. The company also acquired two additional existing restaurants in El Paso.

Daily Kitchen Dishes Up Eco-Conscious Fare in Vegas

QSR magazine — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 14:58:54 +0000

Delicious is officially in season at Daily Kitchen & Wellness Bar, the newest fast-casual concept from The LEV Restaurant Group in Las Vegas.

Situated off the Strip in the Gardens Plaza in Summerlin, Daily Kitchen & Wellness Bar is dishing up seasonal, locally-sourced ingredients for breakfast, lunch, and dinner with its eclectic menu that offers something for every palate, from carnivores to lettuce lovers to families on-the-go.

Sonic Appoints O’Reilly to Chief Marketing Officer

QSR magazine — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 14:41:26 +0000

Sonic Corp., the nation's largest chain of drive-in restaurants, today announced the appointment of James O’Reilly as senior vice president and chief marketing officer.

O’Reilly brings more than 20 years of senior level leadership in consumer driven marketing, brand management, and product development, including extensive experience within the quick service restaurant segment.

He most recently served as the chief concept officer of Einstein Noah Restaurant Group, Inc.

Krispy Kreme Franchisee Implements MICROS Simphony

QSR magazine — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 08:15:00 +0000

Hospitality Solutions International (HSI), a division of MICROS Systems, Inc., is pleased to announce that Glazing Saddles, LLC, a franchisee of Krispy Kreme Doughnut

Corporation, has chosen to implement MICROS Simphony, a cloud-based point-of-service and enterprise restaurant management system.

All eight of the franchise’s locations will benefit from MICROS Simphony’s service- oriented architecture (SOA), which enables the central management of menus, payroll, scheduling, gift cards, and loyalty functions from anywhere through a web browser.