Boston Market said that it has closed 45 stores, or about 10% of its 454-unit system, due to store underperformance, according to a letter circulated by CEO Frances Allen to employees. The Golden, Colo.-based chain owned by Sun Capital Partners Inc., closed six restaurants on June 30, while the remaining 39 closed on July 7…. read more

Subway and its vendors are expected to provide franchisees with more than $100 million in grants to help fund remodels to about 40% of the chain’s units over the next year and a half, the company said. The Milford, Conn.-based sandwich giant, along with its vendors, is providing operators with $10,000 grants to help spur remodels…. read more

Startups offer shared industrial kitchens and warehouses to lure restaurateurs. Honest Burger at work in Deliveroo’s shared industrial-kitchen space in Swiss Cottage, London. The British food-delivery company operates about 30 shared kitchens in several countries. As food delivery expands across major U.S. cities, a handful of startup companies are trying to use the latest e-commerce technology… read more

Brands ranked below the category average in alphabetical order: Applebee’s, Bahama Breeze, Benihana, BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse, Bonefish Grill, Carrabba’s Italian Grill, Chili’s Grill & Bar, Dave & Buster’s, Denny’s, P.F. Chang’s China Bistro, Romano’s Macaroni Grill and Italian Restaurant, Ruby Tuesday, Shoney’s, TGI Fridays​. TEXAS ROADHOUSE: Casual dining: The heartbeat of the American consumer…. read more

In a surprise announcement, family dining chain Cracker Barrel revealed July 23 it has entered into a strategic partnership with Denver-based Punch Bowl Social. Cracker Barrel plans on investing as much as $140 million and taking on a non-controlling position in the eatertainment brand. The agreement allows Cracker Barrel to acquire a controlling position or full… read more

“We have the meats!” The unmistakable Arby’s tagline is voiced by Golden Globe–winning actor and unmistakable baritone Ving Rhames, who has saved the world time and again by crafting spy gadgets as Luther Stickell in the Mission: Impossible franchise. For Arby’s, he presents “the meats”—an equally essential weapon in the fast food arms race. “We put a… read more

A federal bankruptcy court has approved the sale of 24 Kona Grill polished-casual restaurants for $20.3 million to Williston Holding, the company headed by former Kona CEO and co-founder Marcus Jundt. The sale would pare the holdings of Kona Grill’s bankrupt parent to three restaurants, according to bankruptcy court documents. But local news reports indicate that… read more

McDonald’s Global Chief Marketing Officer Silvia Lagnado plans to leave the world’s largest restaurant company in October and the Golden Arches will move on without a global CMO, Ad Age has learned. Lagnado’s pending departure was announced Monday morning in a message sent to McDonald’s employees by CEO Steve Easterbrook. Lagnado, an executive VP and… read more

Jack in the Box Inc. said it will challenge a jury verdict that earlier this week ordered the chain to pay more than $15 million in damages in an employee wrongful termination lawsuit. The verdict was made in Los Angeles Superior Court on June 11, according to the company’s June 13 filing with the Securities… read more

Last June, IHOP, known to many as International House of Pancakes, ran a risky PR stunt, “changing” the company’s name to IHOB, International House of Burgers for a short period. Now, as the anniversary of that attention-grabbing temporary move nears, the chain is teasing another switch on social media. “What could the P be?” a… read more