U.S. restaurant count down; chains stable

January 24, 2011

The number of U.S. restaurants declined by 1 percent in 2010, according to market research company The NPD Group. This translates to a loss of 5,551 total…

McDonald’s reports positive 2010 numbers

January 23, 2011

McDonald’s Corp. had nothing but good news this morning in its fourth quarter 2010 and year-end earnings report. For Q4 '10, ended Dec. 31, global sales were…

TCBY secures Texas-sized expansion deal

January 20, 2011

TCBY has signed a deal with Lone Star Yogurt to open 200 stores within the next 10 years throughout Texas. The first store is slated to open this month in Lone…

FOCUS Brands names Gary Bales chief concept officer

January 18, 2011

FOCUS Brands Inc. has announced that Gary Bales has been named chief concept officer in addition to his role as president of Carvel. Bales will now oversee…

McDonald’s plans to double Korean presence

January 17, 2011

McDonald’s Korea plans to double its units throughout the country within the next five years.

Yum! Brands selling Long John Silver's, A&W

January 17, 2011

Louisville, Ky.-based Yum! Brands has announced that it is planning to sell its Long John Silver's and A&W All-American Food brands, and is actively…

Garden Fresh Restaurant Corp. to open Souplantation Express

January 13, 2011

Garden Fresh Restaurant Corp. will open its first quick-serve restaurant, Souplantation Express, Jan. 17 in Carlsbad, Calif.

Top That! Pizza inks multi-state deal

In a push to enter the small fast casual pizza segment (with a quick-service price-point), Lori Walderich -- chief creative officer at IdeaStudio -- and her…

Bigger ax to grind: Quiznos layoffs double original report

January 12, 2011

Less than a week after announcing it was laying off about 69 employees at its Denver-based headquarters, Quiznos is now expected to cut even deeper.

Burguesa Burger heads for the border

January 11, 2011

Burguesa Burger Franchise Inc. has signed a deal with Eddie Burger LLC to open six restaurants in the Rio Grande Valley as part of the company's strategy to…

Study: More dining out, smaller checks in 2011

January 11, 2011

Good news first: Americans are expected to dine out more in 2011. Not-so-good news: it's predicted they'll spend about 5 percent less per meal while doing so.

Bulk of Yum! Brands' sales come from overseas

January 11, 2011

Louisville, Ky.-based Yum! Brands Inc., parent company of Taco Bell, KFC, Pizza Hut, A&W and Long John Silver's, presented its international growth…

Major franchise fee withheld from Yum! International

January 10, 2011

Priszm Income Fund, owner of several Canadian KFC, Taco Bell and Pizza Hut locations, has withheld a $2 million franchise fee to Yum! Restaurants International…

Baskin-Robbins Australia taps new GM

January 10, 2011

Shortly after revoking its major franchise company’s ownership rights, Baskin-Robbins Australia is putting the pieces back into place to start anew. That…

Popeyes reports strong 4Q sales, growth plans

January 9, 2011

AFC Enterprises, parent company of Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen, today announced strong same-store sales for the fourth quarter 2010 ended Dec. 26.  Global…

Dixie Cream Donuts signs Middle East deal

January 9, 2011

Beautiful Brands International (BBI) has signed an agreement with Emirates Associated Business Group (EABG) to open nearly 100 Dixie Cream Donut Company…

Quiznos headquarters issues pink slips

January 9, 2011

Just three months after naming Greg MacDonald as its new CEO, Quiznos has laid off about 70 employees at its Denver-based headquarters.

Yogurtini expands in Missouri

January 6, 2011

Yogurtini Self-Serve has opened its third Missouri location in about six months after announcing its new franchising program.

Boardwalk nails down development deal

January 5, 2011

Boardwalk Fresh Burgers & Fries has inked a master franchise deal with multi-unit restaurant developer Manu Patel. The agreement calls for 40-plus…

Dunkin’ Donuts takes franchisees to court

January 4, 2011

Dunkin’ Donuts is driving an effort to withdraw the franchise rights of three separate unit operators in Billerica, Mass., a town 20 miles northwest of Boston…