Photographs courtesy of the brands
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Taste Tracker: A new year brings new flavors to Smoothie King, Arby’s and Applebee’s
El Pollo Loco fills burritos; Wings Etc. taps cauliflower; Velvet Taco goes Italian; and more menu news of the week.Multimedia
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Operations
Trend or fad? These restaurant currents could go either way
Reality Check: A number of ripples were evident in the business during the first half of the year. The question is, do they have staying power?
Financing
Starbucks' value offer is a bad idea
The Bottom Line: It’s not entirely clear that price is the reason Starbucks is losing traffic. If it isn’t, the company’s new value offer could backfire.
Financing
Struggling I Heart Mac and Cheese franchisees push back against their franchisor
Operators say most of them aren't making money and want a break on their royalties. But they also complain about receiving expired cheese from closed stores. "Don't send us moldy product."