This week's chain operating report includes new menu items for Taco Bell and Pizza Hut; Starbucks expanding its coffee reach; and expansion into the Caribbean, South America and Texas markets, among others, for several other multi-unit operators.
Burger 21, a fast-casual concept founded by the owners of The Melting Pot Restaurants, Inc., reached a two-unit franchise deal in Atlanta.
CKE Restaurants, Inc. has entered into a restaurant development agreement with International Meal Company, to develop 100 Carl's Jr. restaurants in Brazil over the next seven years. IMC is a multi-brand casual and quick-service restaurant operator in Latin America with more than 280 company-owned restaurants in Brazil, the Caribbean and Mexico.
Fuddruckers opened a restaurant in Puerto Rican municipality of Mayaguez. The 3,546-square-foot restaurant with seating for 102 guests brings the 30-year-old fast-casual chain's Caribbean footprint to five stores.
Taco Bell will introduce its new Cantina Bell menu on July 5. The expanded menu, developed as part of a partnership with chef Lorena Garcia, will feature eight new ingredients for Taco Bell such as whole black beans, cilantro rice, 100-percent all-white meat chicken in a citrus and herb marinade, guacamole made with 100-percent Hass avocados, fire-roasted corn salsa, creamy cilantro dressing, romaine lettuce and pico de gallo. The Cantina Bell menu items will include veggie options. All menu items, which include bowls and burritos, will have a suggested price of less than $5.
Coinstar Inc. and Starbucks Corp. have entered an exclusive five-year agreement to open several thousand coffee kiosks in the United States, brewing cups of Seattle's Best brand coffee for $1 a cup, according to a report published in the Wall Street Journal. The companies plan to roll out kiosks named "Rubi" in grocery stores, drug stores and mass retailers.
Casual dining chain Quaker Steak & Lube plans to open four locations in Texas, including a franchised restaurant in Waco and corporate-owned stores in Carrollton, Plano and North Dallas. The Waco location will open next month, followed by Carrollton in September, and the remainder before the end of the year or in early 2013, according to a company release.
