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This Week in Foodservice

  • Congress to Give Restaurants $60 Billion More in Aid

    Congress wants to give restaurants $60 billion more in aid. Operators deal with shortages of many food items. Quantifying the restaurant industry’s labor woes. A restaurant lifts a local man when he needs it most.

  • Labor to Remain a key Issue for all Foodservice Segments

    The job shortage is not going to get better any time soon.Krispy Kreme is going public again. Virtual brands remain in full bloom. These stories and more This Week in Foodservice.

  • The Restaurant Industry’s Strong April Performance Comes With an Asterisk

    Restaurant traffic picked up significantly since the first of this year. Many food truck operators turned a disastrous 2020 into success stories. Suppliers struggle to meet demand as customers return to restaurants. These stories and a whole lot more This Week in Foodservice.

  • The Restaurant Revitalization Plan Moves Towards a Conclusion

    The Restaurant Revitalization Plan is moving toward a conclusion. Sonic Drive-In stores had some unique abilities to deal with the pandemic. McDonald’s and its franchisees might meet in a courtroom over technology charges. These stories and more This Week in Foodservice.

  • Consumers Continue to Spend but Confidence may be Tested by Rising Inflation

    Advance U.S. retail sales show consumers continue to spend. Sales at food services and drinking places increased significantly in April. The consumer price index showed inflation is on the rise which affects consumer confidence. A survey of foodservice employees indicated many held negative feelings toward their employers. These stories and a whole lot more This Week in Foodservice.

  • Restaurants Reopen but Labor is Scarce

    The Restaurant Revitalization program is off and running. Restaurants are reopening and labor remains scarce. Instead of following other operators who furloughed staff, Bloomin’ Brands chose to keep its staff and that approach is starting to pay dividends. Despite their labor challenges, restaurants accounted for 70% of all the new hires in April.  These stories and a whole lot more This Week in Foodservice.

  • Fast Feeders Dominate the Restaurant Market

    The National Restaurant Association’s performance index showed a sharp increase in March but the organization urged caution in evaluating the results. Double-digit growth in personal income may have set an all-time record. Fast feeders now dominate the restaurant market. NAFEM members discuss supply chain issues. These stories and more This Week in Foodservice.

  • Operators Prepare Applications for Restaurant Revitalization Fund

    Operators prepare to apply for grants under the Restaurant Revitalization Fund. Jobless claims fall yet restaurants struggle to find employees. These stories and more This Week in Foodservice.

  • Questions Arise About Subway's Future

    Retail sales, including restaurants and bars, had marked improvement in March. Food prices increased, raising concerns regarding inflation, as restaurants reopen grocery store sales fall. Questions arise about Subway’s future. These stories and a whole lot more This Week in Foodservice.

  • Restaurant Revitalization Fund Sparks More Questions Than Answers

    Some operators find more questions than answers regarding the Restaurant Revitalization Fund. The National Restaurant Association reports more operators plan to invest in their businesses. Pizza Chain Lou Malnati’s is reportedly up for sale. Costco brings back its food courts while McDonald’s and Subway bail out Walmart. These stories and a whole lot more This Week in Foodservice.

  • The NRA February Restaurant Performance Index Contrasts the Past with the Future

    The National Restaurant Association’s February Restaurant Performance Index contrasts the past with the future. Several chains report increased sales. Many reports on the economy this week, both government and private, were very positive. Foodservice operators hired heavily in March. Saladworks plans to open 90 non-traditional locations. Technomic Inc. reported that the top 500 chains had total sales decline by 8.0% last year. These stories and a whole lot more This Week in Foodservice.

  • Is Off-Premises Dining Here to Stay?

    Off-premises dining seems to be well established with a lot of consumers. Chipotle is introducing a new store design that features drive up service. Two major restaurant acquisitions were announced. These stories and a whole lot more This Week in Foodservice.

  • February saw a Decline in Retail, Foodservice and Bar Sales

    Here's what you need to know.

  • Broadliners Share their Quarterly Results

    This story and more This Week in Foodservice.

  • Restaurant Relief Inches Forward

    Restaurant relief inches forward. Famous Dave’s will test a fast-casual prototype. Consumers flock to McDonald’s for its new chicken sandwich.

  • The Restaurant Performance Index on the Rise, Texas Roadhouse Considers two new Concepts

    The Restaurant Performance Index edged up a bit in January. Household income rose at a near record pace in January. One financial analyst thinks McDonald’s crispy chicken will be a major success. Texas Roadhouse is working on a fast-casual restaurant as well developing a burger chain. These stories and a whole lot more This Week in Foodservice.

  • Total U.S. Retail Sales Improved in January

    Some foodservice industry heavyweights back Foxtrot’s expansion. Bloomin’ Brands virtual chicken concept flies the coop en route to national expansion. A major Jack in the Box franchisee has declared bankruptcy. These stories and a whole lot more This Week in Foodservice.

  • Sociologists Predict Which Pandemic-Related Behaviors Will Stay

    Off-premises dining became a staple for most consumers during the pandemic and it may remain that way long-term. Thanks to an executive order FEMA now pays 100% of costs for restaurants providing food to soup kitchens and food pantries. These stories and a whole lot more This Week in Foodservice.

  • The RESTAURANTS Act of 2021 Makes it to Congress

    DoorDash acquires Chowbotics, maker of the salad-making robot. Virtual restaurants continue to add units at a fast pace. A bill before Congress promises to provide financial aid to restaurants. Restaurant employment declined by 19,400 in January. Restaurant chain Golden Chick chain introduced a new modular design. New York City’s restaurant week was so successful it will now go on for an entire month. These stories and a whole lot more This Week in Foodservice.

  • Restaurant Operators see Light at the end of the COVID-19 Tunnel

    Restaurant operators see some hope on the horizon. Taco Bell claims the top spot on Entrepreneur Magazine’s Franchise 500 list. A legal case has been appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court that may decide if business interruption insurance covers losses due to the pandemic. These stories and more This Week in Foodservice.

  • Starbucks to Distribute Vaccine, Ghost Kitchen Popularity Grows

    Support for ghost kitchens grows. McDonald’s and other chains say stimulus money is driving sales but will it last? Starbucks will help Washington state distribute vaccine. Friendly’s is sold out of bankruptcy to Amici Partners. These stories and a whole lot more This Week in Foodservice.

  • C-Stores see Increase in Sales From Last Year While Overall Retail Sales Fall

    Total U.S. retail sales fell in December, including, unfortunately, foodservice and drinking places. Darden’s pandemic era plan relies on curbside service. More than half of Chipotle’s sales come from digital means and the chain is making major changes to its business. Almost 60% of C-stores saw in store sales increase last year but the number of C-stores declined for the third consecutive year. These stories and a whole lot more This Week in Foodservice.

  • Stimulus Package Arrives as Restaurant Industry Employment Continues to Decline

    The stimulus package is here – all 5,000 pages of it. Could Texas Roadhouse have 1,000 restaurants someday? Wendy’s and the Flynn Restaurant reach an agreement on the nearly 400 Wendy’s units previously owned by the now bankrupt NPC. These stories and a whole lot more This Week in Foodservice.

  • Punch Bowl Social, Garbanzo Mediterranean Fresh Make News in Bankruptcy Court

    Restaurant performance declined sharply in November. Industry leader Darden’s sales are being hammered by pandemic. Punch Bowl Social, Garbanzo Mediterranean Fresh and Rubio’s Coastal Grill made news in bankruptcy court. These stories and a whole lot more This Week in Foodservice.

  • December Sees a Flurry of Convenience Store Acquisitions

    November retail sales were discouraging. A restaurant sues its insurance company for non-payment of business interruption policy. Schlotzky’s focuses on off-premises business with two smaller store prototypes. These stories and more This Week in Foodservice.

  • Two Restaurant Chains Hit Bumps in the Road

    Wendy’s disputes the Flynn Restaurant Groups’ move to buy NPC International. McDonald’s locks horns with some of its franchisees over the elimination of rebates and the cost of technology. These stories and a whole lot more This Week in Foodservice.

  • From Rapid Tests to Gift Cards: Restaurants are Getting Creative

    Restaurants get creative to reassure customers and keep them safe. Gift Card sales at Christmas can significantly affect a restaurant chain’s annual financial performance. Ghost kitchens continue to expand. These stories and a whole lot more This Week in Foodservice.

  • Restaurants Showed a Modest Gain in October

    Restaurants showed a “modest gain” in October. A MSNBC story documents the problems restaurants have encountered with the pandemic. The National Retail Federation predicts fairly strong sales for this Christmas season. Two major studies report a decline in consumer confidence in November. The Charleys Philly Steaks chain signed a deal to put its restaurants in Walmart stores. These stories and a whole lot more This Week in Foodservice.

  • Restaurant and Bar Sales Declined Slightly in October

    Sales at foodservices and drinking place sales declined slightly in October. Luby’s has been approved for liquidation by its stockholders. Bankrupt NPC International has attracted attention from a variety of suiters, including the Flynn Restaurant Group and Wendy’s. Starbucks will give its employees a pay raise. These stories and more in This Week in Foodservice.

  • Famed Economist Pleads the Case for Government Assistance

    Restaurants need government assistance now. Papa John’s grows its business by adding new customers not selling more food to existing ones. A Stanford study that refers to restaurants as COVID-19 “superspreaders” is highly flawed, according to the National Restaurant Association. These stories and more This Week in Foodservice.

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