The Charlotte, N.C.-based Brixx pizza chain is gaining momentum and being featured in media and from experts in foodservice. Southerners can be protective, fanatical and religious about their food – and there’s a lot of decadence coming from the kitchens. At Brixx, a focus on fresh preparation and an extensive list of craft beers and wine by the glass has made it popular. Expanding the chain will be accomplished through franchising. Brixx management is now securing franchisees in all states nationally.
Keeping up with the popularity of current trends and a variety of preferences of consumers is not an easy thing for culinary experts and R&D chefs at major fast casual chains. When you specialize and focus on fresh fare, the task of emerging with winning salads that will keep guests’ appetites satisfied and their culinary proclivities entertained without taxing operations is a balancing act. Dallas-based La Madeleine recently launched a limited-time offer salad, Cranberry Pecan Wild Field Salade with Chicken.
Pie Five Pizza has signed a franchisee agreement with multi-concept operator L. Gale Lemerand for Florida expansion. Lemerand, who is no stranger to restaurant brand management with 29 restaurants under his belt, including four Houligan’s sports bars and 17 Stonewood Grill & Tavern restaurants, is expected to help boost prospects for Pie Five Pizza.
Will Qdoba Mexican Grill grow large in Canada? Based on initial interest there for the Denver-based Mexican Grill chain, a subsidiary of Jack in the Box, one might say “yes.” The first store opened in December in Brandon, Manitboa, followed by a second location in London, Ontario. John Dikos, director of Qdboa franchise development, confirms there’s a good amount of interest in the chain in Canada.
The muscles, the sun, the tans and the attitude that glide across Miami’s beaches and up to Biscayne Boulevard are part of the scene of a sunnier, perhaps healthier landscape that drives the populous in the southern tip of Florida relative to some other U.S. regions. For Manny Dobal, this is where his business set up shop — Smoothie King stores that now number three — to serve up health-centric meal replacement shakes for South Floridians.
Developing the relationships that are necessary to climb the ladder to the cherished restaurant C-suite office certainly isn’t easy and it’s not meant to be done solo. The industry continues to foster an environment where collaborative effort is necessary. Career-minded restaurant professionals, whether they be store-based, in the field or at the (corporate) support center are looking to strategize relationships for career success.
Wendy’s announced Tuesday its expansion into Ecuador, a Pacific Coast South American country. The burger chain has struck a deal with The Eljuri Group to develop 20 restaurants there. The Wendy’s Latin American and Caribbean presence will now grow beyond the 17 countries and U.S. territories where it has already developed a presence.
Oatmeal is becoming a star player in the resurgence of the morning meal in away-from-home dining. What’s not to love about a fiber-rich product that satisfies hungry, half-awake consumers and is a fairly open palette for diners to add fruit, nuts, grains and a cornucopia of toppings? Take Starbucks’ Steel-Cut Oatmeal with Blueberries or Panera Bread’s Steel-Cut Oatmeal with Fresh Fruit counterpart.
CUPS Frozen Yogurt — That’s Hot, is opening a new store in Rockaway, N.J. March 28. The first-ever franchise location for CUPS is in partnership with Susan Witham, a successful area businesswoman who is involved within the Rockaway community, said The Briad Group’s CUPS chain.
SkinnyPizza has signed an exclusive agreement with Kim Mogull, founder and CEO of Mogull Realty, for expansion in Manhattan. The health-centric concept is looking to grow its base, and is “on the skinny” with Mogull because of its relationships and the $150M in leasing transactions it closed in New York City in the last 12 months.
