Amid activist pressure, Del Frisco’s Restaurant Group said it has “commenced a comprehensive review of strategic alternatives.” This review will consider a full range of options, the company said, including a possible sale of DFRG or any of its dining concepts. There’s no guarantee a deal will take place, however. “The board believes that conducting… read more
Foodservice Equip & Supplies News
Evolving Famous Dave’s Plots a Virtual Future
The behavior of a third-party delivery user typically plays out as follows: Sort by proximity, or sort by cuisine. Where does that leave a restaurant that doesn’t box its food into a single category? This was a question Famous Dave’s chief operating officer Geovannie Concepcion found himself asking. “One of the classic marketing riddles we’ve… read more
Fogo de Chão Promotes Barry McGowan to CEO
Barry McGowan, the president of Dallas-based churrascaria chain Fogo de Chão, will take on the added role of CEO at the end of the year, when Larry Johnson retires from that position after holding it for 11 years, the company said. Johnson, who led the chain’s 2015 initial public offering and also took it private… read more
Flynn Restaurant Group acquires 368 Arby’s
Flynn Restaurant Group L.P. has acquired 368 Arby’s from U.S. Beef Corp., expanding its casual-dining and quick-service portfolio of franchised concepts to $2.3 billion in annual sales, the company said. The acquisition by San Francisco-based Flynn’s wholly owned RB American Group LLC brings the parent company’s restaurant total to 1,245 in 33 states, including locations… read more
Charleys Hopes 600 Locations is one Milestone of Many
With Americans love for chicken on the rise, Charleys wanted to cash in. Since its founding more than 30 years ago, Charleys Philly Steaks has expanded along a robust non-traditional path. Is there one in every major mall in America? The reality is probably not that far off. In September, the chain, started in 1986,… read more
Glassdoor’s List of the 100 Best Places to Work in 2019
Only three restaurant companies were included in Glassdoor’s list of the 100 best places to work in 2019: In-N-Out Burger, Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants and Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers. In-N-Out was the standout, finishing No. 3 in the ranking of companies with at least 1,000 employers, behind Bain & Co., the former owner of Domino’s… read more
Packaging: A Control Point for Food Safety
While product recalls in the bakery and snack industries are most often due to undeclared allergens or the detection of pathogens like Salmonella or E. coli, there have been food safety issues related to packaging. For example, a package that is not secure in some way can lead to food safety hazards ranging from spoilage to sabotage. Dan… read more
Casual-Dining Restaurant Targets Women who Instagram
Chicago-based Parker Restaurant Group is planning a national expansion of its female-focused concept The Hampton Social, a move designed to quadruple the group in size to 21 restaurants within the next three years. Currently with five units in Chicago — though one restaurant is closed temporarily for a relocation — Parker Restaurant Group operates three… read more
Pizza Hut May be Taking its Pie-Making Show on the Road
A new automated pizza-making robot prototype that cooks pizzas on the way to customers’ homes is set to be unveiled Tuesday at the Specialty Equipment Market Association’s annual automotive specialty products show in Las Vegas. The mobile pizza factory, residing in the bed of a zero-emission Toyota Tundra pickup, will get its debut during Toyota’s presentation at… read more
California Restaurant Association Ready to Help Displaced Workers
Fires in California raged on Monday leaving devastated communities in their path, as they destroyed hundreds of homes and businesses including locations of several quick-service chains in Northern California. As of Monday, the Woolsey fire near the posh community of Malibu, Calif., had scorched 91,572 acres and was only 20 percent contained, according to state… read more