A new San Francisco law seeks to ban the “insanely awesome” subsidized corporate cafeterias that have grown up in the Bay Area. If the law passes, companies like Google and Facebook won’t be allowed to operate cafeterias in any future office buildings in San Francisco. The law, which is endorsed by the Golden Gate Restaurant Association… read more
Tabletop/Front Of House News
Oprah Winfrey’s Next Edible Bet: True Food Kitchen
Oprah Winfrey is making a significant investment in True Food Kitchen and joining the board of the growing chain, which is eager to see whether the Oprah Effect translates into significant gains in the restaurant world. Winfrey was introduced to the decade-old chain by her friend, health expert Bob Greene, when Winfrey and Greene tasted… read more
Jose Garcés Sells Most of his Restaurants in $8M Deal
With a new investor joining in and a higher purchase price, the Garces Restaurant Group late Tuesday announced the sale of almost all of its restaurants for $8 million plus assumed liabilities. The Philadelphia-based multiconcept group has been acquired by an entity called 3BM1, which is a partnership between Ballard Brands LLC — which had… read more
P.F. Chang’s is Looking for a new owner
Centerbridge Partners and the board of managers of Wok Parent revealed Friday they have retained Bank of America/Merrill Lynch and Barclays to explore a possible sale of the Chinese food chain. “Given the positive performance of P.F. Chang’s Bistro and having received multiple unsolicited indications of interest, this is an exciting time to explore a… read more
What Restaurants Need to Know about Predictive Scheduling
Though many hourly employees choose to work in foodservice because they need more flexible schedules than they can find in other fields, this same flexibility has also put strain on workers. Many common practices in restaurants, such as short notice of shifts, on-call scheduling, sending employees home when they are scheduled, and scheduling closing shifts… read more
Hangman Corp Announces Name Change to The Maven Group
Hangman Corp. unveils new branding to express the company’s renewed focus on divisional expert consulting. Now, the parent company will be The Maven Group with three main divisions: Forge Craft Foodservice, Maverick Healthcare Outfitters and Resquip Foodservice Supply. The Forge Craft Foodservice division will continue to specialize in contract commercial design and build foodservice projects,… read more
Carlisle FoodService to Be Sold For $750M
Carlisle Cos. has announced the signing of a definitive agreement to sell Carlisle FoodService Products (CFS) to The Jordan Co., a New York-based private equity firm, for $750 million in cash. The transaction, announced February 1, is expected to close within the first quarter of 2018. CFS manufactures supplies, table coverings, cookware, displayware, storage containers,… read more
This Brand Almost Doubled Its Revenue by Improving Front- and Back-of-House Communication
The kitchen is the backbone of any restaurant, and when it’s chaotic, so is the entire dining experience. Customers at Captain’s Quarters in Prospect, Kentucky, outside of Louisville, are treated in an idyllic waterfront dining experience thanks to the restaurant’s position on the bank of the Ohio River. However, 13 years ago, the restaurant’s high-capacity… read more
Modern Casual Restaurant
Frank Lloyd Wright made his name by designing spaces that connect with nature. The surroundings helped define what the building would look like and how it would function. Wright’s buildings left their marks in a major way. His architecture remains an example of how one person’s perspective can influence the look and feel of our… read more
Oneida Group CEO Patrick Lockwood-Taylor Discusses The Strategies and Future Of The Company and Brands
As nearly everyone in the foodservice market knows, the parent company of Oneida and Anchor Hocking, among America’s most recognized foodservice and retail tabletop brands, has weathered more than one storm since the beginning of the Millenium. The forces of globalization, the demands of American finance and other factors led to two bankruptcy filings, supply… read more