economy

How do QSRs stack up in the foodservice battle?

By Sara Rush Wirth on Jun. 27, 2014

FARE 2014 shed light on an issue in the foodservice industry: All channels are upping their game to win the battle for share of stomach. See how quick-service restaurants stack up against other grab-and-go segments in the eye of the consumer.

Crumbs closes all stores; cupcake craze crumbles?

Jul. 08, 2014

News outlets are proclaiming the cupcake craze dead after the country’s largest cupcake chain, Crumbs Bake Shop, announced it would shut down all its stores immediately.

Backlash has begun against gluten-free dieters

Jul. 09, 2014

Consumers are voicing impatience with the crusade against gluten, criticizing proponents of the movement as followers of a fad that’s about to fizzle.

Crumbs to file bankruptcy as part of takeover deal

Jul. 14, 2014

The fast-growing cupcake chain that closed its stores abruptly a week ago has a buyer in Marcus Lemonis, owner of Dippin’ Dots ice cream. The goal is to reopen select locations as well as new ones.

Fro-yo’s freeze out

By Kelly Killian on Jul. 15, 2014

Four years after multiple frozen-yogurt concepts landed in our Future 50's top 10, the list is down to one. Has the fro-yo craze reached its cold, swirly peak?

Carpenters union takes on S.F. restaurants

Jul. 17, 2014

Demonstrators outside Roka Akor and other area eateries are protesting the nonunion construction company that built them, shining light on labor issues.

Pizza Hut getting sliced by rivals in pizza wars

Jul. 17, 2014

The pizzeria chain reported an unexpected drop in comparable sales in the face of more intense competition from the likes of Domino's, Chipotle and others.

The top 12 ways restaurants piss people off

Jul. 18, 2014

Dirty utensils and restrooms really get people's blood boiling; confusing who ordered what dish, not so much. A new infographic by Consumer Reports shows the most common restaurant complaints.

Behind bars

By Thomas Henry Strenk on Jul. 29, 2014

While statistics are hard to come by, one liquor-auditing service estimates that bar losses equal about 23 percent of the bottom line.

Technology

The bitcoin toss-up

By Steve Brooks on Aug. 11, 2014

In restaurants, the virtual currency is a novelty—for now.

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