Most Clicked National Restaurant Association SmartBrief Stories
1. Bobby Flay enters burger business
National Restaurant Association SmartBrief | Jul 17, 2008
Celebrity chef and restaurateur Bobby Flay and his business partner opened a fast-casual burger joint in a New York City suburb this week with the hope it will become a successful chain. The Bobby's Burger Palace menu includes 10 signature burgers, plus sandwiches, beer, wine, salads and margaritas, among other items. Nation's Restaurant News (free registration) (07/16)
2. Starbucks announces stores on closing list
National Restaurant Association SmartBrief | Jul 18, 2008
Starbucks announced plans this month to close 600 stores, and this week, it named which stores those will be. The state with the most closings is California, with 88, followed by Florida with 59. Washington, where Starbucks is based, will lose 19 stores. The company hopes to be finished with the closings by March. Seattle Post-Intelligencer (07/18) Wall Street Journal, The (subscription required) (07/18)
3. Where the presidential candidates eat
National Restaurant Association SmartBrief | Jul 21, 2008
On the campaign trail, both John McCain and Barack Obama have a penchant for pizza. But when Obama is at home in Chicago, he goes for Mexican, burgers and ribs or Tex-Mex. Meanwhile, McCain is loyal to a certain BLT. Wall Street Journal (free content), The (07/19)
4. Entrepreneur sees fast casual as industry's future
National Restaurant Association SmartBrief | Jul 16, 2008
Shawn Foster, founder of the Foster's Grille chain in Virginia, says a slow economy has positioned the fast-casual segment of restaurants to pick up more traffic as diners look to save money. "Because of our position in the economic era right now, there are a lot of people in the fast-casual marketplace who can't afford to go spend $40 on a meal," he said. Nation's Restaurant News (free registration) (07/14)
5. Which sector of the restaurant industry will be most affected by the economy's downslide?
National Restaurant Association SmartBrief | Jul 16, 2008
6. McDonald's to unveil results of specialty-coffee business
National Restaurant Association SmartBrief | Jul 21, 2008
McDonald's plans to report second-quarter earnings on Wednesday. The figures will show the consequences of the chain's gamble on adding espresso drinks to the menu. Wall Street Journal (free content), The (07/21) Crain's Chicago Business (07/19)
7. Subway expands as other restaurants close shop
National Restaurant Association SmartBrief | Jul 21, 2008
Seemingly immune to the problems facing some other restaurants, Subway is expanding and says sales are up dramatically this year. The chain, which has 22,000 U.S. locations, wants to add 800. Advertising Age (07/21)
8. Faced with obstacles, restaurants get creative to keep customers
National Restaurant Association SmartBrief | Jul 18, 2008
In the face of of higher food costs and customers with tighter budgets, restaurants are coming up with new ideas to keep people coming this summer, including fixed-price menus, two-for-one deals and early-bird specials. Some restaurants are going even further, offering to pay for the gas it takes to get to dinner. Desert Sun (Palm Springs, Calif.), The (07/18)
9. New Yorkers react to new calorie-count postings
National Restaurant Association SmartBrief | Jul 17, 2008
New York City implemented a law this spring requiring chain restaurants to show the calorie count of each food item in the same size and font as the price. Although the new signs haven't been put up yet in most sit-down restaurants -- fines begin Friday -- gasps have been filling such shops as Starbucks, where a cookie can run 610 calories. MSNBC (07/16)
10. L.A. official wants to ban new quickservice restaurants
National Restaurant Association SmartBrief | Jul 22, 2008
Los Angeles City Council member Jan Perry has proposed an ordinance that would ban new quickservice restaurants for a year in a 32-square-mile area of the city, citing high rates of obesity in her district. Opponents say the measure goes too far, violating freedoms and placing too much blame on the restaurants. Wall Street Journal, The (subscription required) (07/22)
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