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economy

Disruptors: The long list

By Kelly Killian on Aug. 12, 2014

The disruptors that didn’t make our list provide interesting commentary on the state of the restaurant industry and the factors poking their fingers into the mold. Here are a few more ideas we kicked around.

Cautious U.S. consumers cut spending, boost savings

 Aug. 29, 2014

An uptick in saving left many households with fewer dollars to spend on discretionary options like dining out, surprising economists.

Restaurants’ labor market tightening, NRA finds

Sep. 11, 2014

The industry’s pre-Great Recession labor crunch has yet to return, but the numbers suggest a steady move in that direction.

The week’s 5 head-spinning moments: Shock & awe edition

By Peter Romeo on Sep. 12, 2014

Who said established restaurant brands can’t be daring tradition breakers? Olive Garden, Burger King, Starbucks, Krispy Kreme and Chipotle took risks that made us do a double-take this week.

U.S. consumer sentiment ends at 14-month high in September

Sep. 26, 2014

A gauge of their confidence, a key factor in dining-out decisions, finds optimism to be at a 14-month high-water mark.

Traffic woes fuel view the business has never been harder

Oct. 01, 2014

A survey of restaurateurs finds weariness with traffic and margin challenges, prompting almost half to say these are the toughest days they’ve seen.

Food

Climbing the whiskey ladder

By Thomas Henry Strenk on Oct. 13, 2014

We’ve been collecting whiskeys since 1977; now, finally, we are part of a trend,” says Mick McHugh, proprietor of F.X.

Financing

Finding the sweet spot

By Sara Rush Wirth on Oct. 14, 2014

Is finding just the right spot in just the right neighborhood still the prime factor in opening a restaurant?

Trends from the top

By Kelly Killian on Oct. 14, 2014

Fine dining has evolved, adapting a more humble and more accessible attitude to appeal to more wallet-conscious customers.

3 things chains can learn from independents

By Peter Romeo on Oct. 14, 2014

The operators of independent restaurants enjoy a latitude and authority their counterparts on the chain side couldn’t imagine exercising. But maybe they should.

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