Hooters has declared March 17 and 18 National Play Hooky Days, encouraging customers to watch the first round games of the basketball tournament at its resstaurants.  Fans are encouraged to visit www.HootersHookyDay.com, to cure their “basketball fever,” download a doctor’s note and redeem a free appetizer coupon today and tomorrow during the games. “If you’ve […]

The National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF) announced that Ralph Brennan, esteemed restaurateur and president of the Ralph Brennan Restaurant Group, has been named the 2011 Thad and Alice Eure Ambassador of Hospitality. Brennan will be honored at the 25th Annual Salute to Excellence on Saturday, May 21, 2011, at the Hilton Chicago. Kicking off […]

Morton’s The Steakhouse will be the “Official Steakhouse of the PGA Tour, Champions Tour, and Nationwide Tour,” thanks to a marketing partnership between the PGA TOUR and Morton’s Restaurant Group. This marks Morton’s first official league-wide sports partnership. “We are extremely pleased to announce our marketing partnership with such a premium restaurant brand as Morton’s,” […]

The Apple Gold Group, a franchisee of Applebee’s restaurants in North Carolina, Oklahoma, and Arkansas, announced that employee Kim Almond has been named Employee of the Year by the North Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Association (NCRLA). “Kim embodies Applebee’s mission to be a great neighbor in the community and is a vital addition to our […]

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 […]

When New York City–based burger concept 4food opened its first location in August, the media buzz it generated mostly stemmed from its innovative use of technology and social media. Plasma TV screens adorn its walls, including one that scrolls customer tweets. iPads are used to order food. And diners can save their specialized burger orders […]

The franchising business model has helped build the quick-service industry into a global powerhouse. A panel of franchise experts at QSR’s Dine America conference on Tuesday discussed the importance of having a strong relationship between franchisees and franchisors in order to build brands. “Within franchising there are two distinct businesses: the business of the franchisor […]

After working with The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), UFood Grill, a chain of fast-casual restaurants with nine locations in four states, has joined a growing national trend through a new initiative that involves switching to cage-free eggs. "UFood Grill has demonstrated that it takes social responsibility seriously and should be commended for […]

U.S. sales of organic products continued to grow during 2009 despite the distressed state of the economy, according to the Organic Trade Association (OTA). The findings are part of the organization's newly released 2010 Organic Industry Survey. Organic product sales in 2009 grew by 5.3 percent overall, to reach $26.6 billion. Of that figure, $24.8 […]

In December, the National Restaurant Association (NRA) released its What’s Hot in 2010 survey in conjunction with the American Culinary Federation (ACF), naming locally grown produce, locally sourced meats and seafood, and sustainability as the top trends to watch for this year. The report underscored the fact that restaurant consumers are becoming more interested in […]

The Humane Society of the U.S. (HSUS) continued its campaign against IHOP’s use of eggs laid by hens confined in battery cages. The society launched a television ad campaign in California, home of IHOP and its parent company DineEquity Inc., denouncing the breakfast chain and its use of eggs from supplier Michael Foods. “IHOP exclusively […]

The resurgence of the environmental movement has caused an upswing in the demand for environmentally friendly packaging, finds a new Trends Report from the Foodservice Packaging Institute. FPI’s 2009 Trends Report contains two sections: information from FPI members on what they think are trends in four key areas and a report from FPI on what […]

Each year more than 750,000 New Jersey residents are in need of hunger relief, and every week approximately 87,000 people receive emergency food assistance through the Community FoodBank of New Jersey’s network of partner agencies. Tyson Foods, Inc., (NYSE:TSN) donated a truckload of much needed protein to the food bank’s southern branch, for the ninth […]

Aramark will provide a culinary experience and guidance to help them make better choices in support of environmental sustainability. At the International Guest Chef Culinary Showcase, held in New York City on October 16, Aramark guests will savor haute cuisine created from locally grown food and heirloom fruits and vegetables and experience dining practices that […]

The natural and organic food and beverage market is reshaping the way America shops. With products available in every retail outlet, increasingly health-savvy consumers can now easily purchase natural alternatives to processed foods and other mainstream offerings. In the second edition of its report, Natural and Organic Food and Beverage Trends in the U.S., Packaged […]

The Council of Better Business Bureaus (BBB) today released its first report on the progress that participants in BBB’s groundbreaking self-regulation program—the Children’s Food & Beverage Advertising Initiative—have made in changing the children’s food and beverage advertising landscape. BBB has assessed the participants’ compliance with their pledges regarding child-directed advertising of their food and beverage […]