Financing

How your restaurant sales and profits compare to competitors' and what you can do to improve financial performance

Financing

Smoothies

Like other aspects of the industry, the smoothie segment has been impacted by the economy.

Financing

A toast to the wrap

“We looked at three elements: the carrier, the protein and the flavor enhancers,” Scott explains.

You know the signs. Customers don’t even look at the drinks menu anymore. Trendwise, your signature cocktail is so last year. Beverage sales in general are on the decline. It’s time to do something to get guests ordering those high-margin drinks again. Here are the first steps:

Potatoes, seafood and almonds are three commodities that are key players on restaurant menus. Drought, high feed prices and other factors have wreaked havoc on several staple foods in the supply chain this year. How are these three commodities trending as we move into 2013 and how can they enhance the menu?

Now that every other venue offers big screen TVs and half-price beers, it’s crucial to start building a loyal customer base early through strategic promotions. And there’s still time to snag sports fans, as football fever really heats up with preseason August games.

Serving the morning meal is last decade’s news (or older) to sister concepts Village Inn and Bakers Square. Instead, they’re trying the allure of customization and upscale item.

This fast-casual leader fell behind the pack. Will its reinvention be enough to bring it back to the top, and fast enough to keep investors at bay? We look at Panera 2.0 and where it's going next.

The role has evolved to tackle today’s labor challenges.

Management says the venerable Italian chain will use the filing to renegotiate leases on 37 closed sites.

The casual-dining concept looks to expand with capital from the private-equity investor in such growth-focused brands as Blaze Pizza.

  • Page 475