Some might say that the last three years have not been very, well, accommodating for the quick-service industry. With lenders and customers alike pulling their dollars off the table, the industry has been left to make due with the circumstances and struggle to stay afloat until the economic environment warms. Although the recession created a […]

When banks wanted a third-party guarantee who didn’t have to sell their house to repay franchisee loans, Ken Switzer, CFO of Marco’s Pizza, stepped in with an unusual idea. As a result of the frozen credit market, Switzer developed Marco’s Assurance, which offers a $50,000 guarantee on franchisees’ loans. The idea helped the company grow […]

Being in the right place at the right time is the key to success in any business. And as the nation finally begins to climb out of one of the worst recessions in U.S. history, a number of quick-service companies are advising their franchisees that, with soft real estate prices, lower construction costs, and increasing […]

It’s no secret that running a restaurant is a risky business. The fact that many restaurants will ultimately fail early in their existence is not lost on most entrepreneurs, and yet they carry on anyway in hopes that their restaurant dreams can be made true.   The risk inherent to opening a restaurant—both mom and […]

After running nuclear reactors for submarines, Loren Goodridge was ready to be his own boss. Navy alum Goodridge became a Subway franchisee in 1992, and has since been recognized for his strategic planning skills by Subway CEO Fred DeLuca and grown his franchise company to 20 units. Armed with military-refined leadership skills and a strong […]

There’s no getting away from it: Everyone from executive chefs to moms and grocery store purchasers are feeling the escalation we’re seeing in food prices. There are increases across the board, and some of them are pretty hefty. Earlier this month the Food Institute, Upper Saddle River, New Jersey, reported that February 2011 marked the […]

Atlanta-based private investment firm Argonne Capital Group, LLC today announced that an affiliate, Peak Restaurant Group, LLC, has acquired the restaurant assets, operations, and franchise rights to 40 IHOP restaurants located in seven states in and near the Rocky Mountain region including California. With this acquisition, Argonne-controlled entities, including Sunshine Restaurant Partners and ACG Texas, […]

The Eat’n Park Hospitality Group launched LifeSmiles, a program that will invest in children’s health and wellness initiatives in the communities the company serves. As part of the effort, the foodservice leader plans to invest $1 million and 20,000 volunteer hours to health and wellness initiatives over the next five years. According to Brooks Broadhurst, […]

With “Main Street” restaurants still struggling to find working capital despite an improving economy, financial services provider Capital Access Network (CAN) announced that one of its subsidiaries will make such loans more available to small- and mid-sized businesses. NewLogic Business Loans Inc. uses a proprietary business model to approve loans for restaurants, service practices, and […]

As a result of a downtick in same-store sales and customer traffic levels, the National Restaurant Association’s Restaurant Performance Index(RPI) fell below 100 in November. The RPI—a monthly composite index that tracks the health of and outlook for the U.S. restaurant industry—stood at 99.9 in November, down 0.8 percent from October. November marked the first […]

The recent tragedy in Japan will affect the global food supply–especially with seafood–but it also will provide an opportunity for American food suppliers and retailers to increase their market share, this according to Phil Lempert, a leading food industry expert. ; “This might just be the event that triggers the reverse of our dependence on […]

Darden Restaurants has announced a 14% increase in its third quarter diluted net earnings per share. Highlights for the third quarter include the following: Net earnings from continuing operations for the third quarter were $151.7 million, or $1.08 per diluted share, on sales of $1.98 billion. Last year, third quarter net earnings from continuing operations […]

Over 80,000 new jobs and over $10 billion in economic output could be lost in 2011 unless credit flow to franchised small businesses increases, according to a new report released today by the International Franchise Association (IFA). “The Small Business Lending Matrix and Analysis, Vol. 3,” prepared by FRANdata for the IFA Educational Foundation, shows that […]

Morton’s Restaurant Group is considering a potential sale of the company. The Chicago-based business announced that, with the support of affiliates of Castle Harlan, Inc. and Laurel Crown Partners, LLC, its two largest current shareholders, the company’s board of directors has authorized the exploration of strategic alternatives to enhance shareholder value. The board of directors […]

Tavistock Group has acquired E-Brands Restaurants, a multi-concept restaurant company that operates Timpano Chophouse and Martini Bar, AquaKnox, and Taqueria Canonita. E-Brands Restaurants sold its brands and seven restaurant locations to the Orlando, Florida-based private investment company after filing for bankruptcy last summer. “We continue to look for undervalued assets across the U.S. that can […]

Visits to restaurants may be down compared to six years ago but there’s a glimmer of hope on the horizon. New research from the NPD Group shows that there were signs of improvement in the second half of 2010. Restaurant traffic was flat for the quarter ending December 2010, compared to a -3 percent decline […]

JB’s Family Restaurants has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection due to debts that are estimated to range as high as $50 million, but at least $10 million. The company has also closed 26 of its 50 restaurants, around half of which are company-owned and half of which are franchised. They are located in six […]

The 500 largest U.S. restaurant chains saw a 1.8 percent increase in sales last year. Research by Technomic showed that sales for these restaurants increased more than $4 billion over 2009, by around $234 billion. The growth was driven by fast-casual and limited service restaurants but was also seen in other segments. The top five […]

Ever wondered what exactly a daypart is or when to use the term “front of house”? A new website, www.fiwords.com, will tell you just this – at a price, of course. Fiwords.com, the “Financial Writer’s Stylebook,” offers subscribers – who pay just $12 a year – a simple way to decode terms from the foodservice, […]

Business in the quick-serve industry is finally trending up, and with lending becoming increasingly available to operators, franchisors may soon find themselves with more prospective franchisees clamoring to get on board with their brand. In order to accommodate franchise growth, two law experts say there are several things franchisors should do to make sure their […]

The times are changing for many of the industries that fortified America’s capitalistic society. With banks trying to figure out how to thrive under new financial regulations, quick serves are facing a challenge to their classic business model: the franchise. Although no one expects the franchise model to disappear any time soon, it’s true for […]

FRANdata, an independent research company whose professional team has more than 30 years of collective experience in the banking industry, announced that a new survey found franchisees have a greater chance at getting bank loans if they include the company’s Bank Credit Report in their application package. A Bank Credit Report provides an independent analysis […]

First Financial Bancorp announced that the former Irwin Franchise Capital Corporation (IFCC) changed its name to First Franchise Capital Corporation. The new name is effective immediately. First Financial Bancorp acquired the company in September of 2009 when its principal banking subsidiary, First Financial Bank, N.A., acquired certain assets and liabilities of Irwin Union Bank and […]

Technomic released a report in July in conjunction with Restaurant Finance Monitor that suggests, among other things, that some restaurant franchisors shifted franchising strategies in 2008 to accommodate the recession and credit crunch. According to the report, which details information on the top 400 franchise companies by sales, showed that in 2008 some franchisors—including Pizza […]

A recent survey conducted through the National Restaurant Association's Smartbrief online newsletter reported that a majority of restaurateurs think the economy had the greatest effect on their companies in 2008. Economic woes trumped rising food costs (which garnered 35 percent of the votes), calorie legislation (3.7 percent), and food safety (3.7 percent). Despite the industry’s […]

The International Franchise Association announced plans for a new initiative to help IFA member companies recruit more minority franchisees into their systems. Called "MinorityFran" the initiative is designed to provide one, convenient point where minority prospects can explore franchise offerings of companies actively looking to recruit minority franchisees. The initiative will build on relationships forged […]

Triarc Cos. Inc. (NYSE:TRY), a U.S. holding company and franchiser of Arby's restaurants, said on Wednesday it had named Francis McCarron chief financial officer. The company said in a statement that Mr. McCarron would replace John Barnes when Barnes, 53, retires on or about June 30. McCarron, 44, had been Triarc's senior vice president for […]