Taco Bell

Operations

The largest limited-service franchisees by region

A look at the largest franchisees in each region finds companies that are experts in their markets, and have local management and distribution to support franchisee stores.

Operations

This week’s restaurant nightmares: Scary kids

Kids supposedly say the darnedest things. But they draw things even more frightening. Yet, it was an adult who wreaked recent havoc at In-N-Out.

How many cooks and cashiers in a franchisee's system have gotten Christmas presents from the big corporate boss?

Peanut butter and banana sandwiches? A marshmallow-cramming contest? A dress code of shorts and flip-flops? This is an industry conference?

According to the samplers hanging in your finer Mongolian yurts, “If the herring stings when slapped across your face, don’t suggest a flounder.” Actually, I made that up, but you can almost see the scale marks on the faces of fast-food executives these days, so there’s some license to be taken. Besides, all of them should be dispatched to Mongolia if they go ahead with what they’re considering.

A variation of the cinnamon-bun shops, Bon Bake Shop, will go into test next month, according to reports.

After leading the bakery chain for four years, Cole is stepping up to group president of the concept’s parent company, Focus Brands. Her duties as Cinnabon president have been assumed by former COO Joe Guith.

While some mandates are originating from outside—the FDA just gave companies three years to eliminate trans fats—consumers are the major driver.

With breakfast rivals like Starbucks and McDonald’s already moving in that direction, the doughnut chain is looking to heat up the competition for convenience hunters.

In a bid to engage with young, tech-savvy customers, the coffee giant has released its own keyboard of branded emojis.

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