The parent of Le Pain Quotidien agreed to sell its U.S. locations of the bakery-cafe chain to New York-based multiconcept operator Aurify Brands LLC for about $3 million. The agreement came as PQ New York Inc., operator of 98 Le Pain Quotidien restaurants across the U.S. before the pandemic, filed for Chapter 11 reorganization. As part… read more
The new CEO of the Wahlburgers restaurant chain isn’t letting the pandemic get in the way of ambitious expansion plans. As John Fuller researched the company before interviewing for the CEO job at the Hingham-based group, he was surprised to learn it only had 37 locations, given its widespread name recognition. There’s a good reason… read more
As a response to the current hardship faced by the restaurant industry Hubworks, powered by Altametrics, is now offering their HACCP compliance software, Zip HACCP, free to all restaurants for life. This decision came as a result of Altametrics seeking a way to give back to the community that supports the company. As restaurants continue… read more
An inability to reopen at 100 percent capacity may not even be worth it for some dining establishments. Some states across the country have reopened their dining rooms and bars to various degrees while others are still waiting for relaxed guidelines from their state. But while restaurant operators and staff members might be looking forward… read more
Bankrupt FoodFirst Global Restaurants is seeking approval to sell at least 45 of its stores to GPEE Lender in the form of a $25 million credit bid, $50,000 in cash, and $4.5 million in assumed liabilities. GPEE is an entity formed by GP Investments, the ultimate owner of FoodFirst, and Earl Enterprises, which owns and… read more
The impact of the coronavirus pandemic has led a Denny’s franchisee in New York to close 15 restaurants in the central and Finger Lakes areas of the state. The franchisee, Feast American Diners LLC, filed Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notifications, or WARN notices, for 15 restaurant closures, citing “unforeseeable business circumstances prompted by COVID-19. “Due… read more
Concerns over profitability and food quality for years kept the restaurant from expanding into delivery. This summer, however, Brinker announced it will offer the service nationwide through an exclusive deal with third-party platform DoorDash. Sales in the fourth quarter ended June 26 increased 2% to $701.9 million from $688.2 million in the same period last… read more
The Food and Drug Administration is allowing temporary flexibility in food labeling requirements for manufacturers experiencing difficulty sourcing some ingredients during the COVID-19 pandemic. “Our goal is to provide regulatory flexibility, where fitting, to help minimize the impact of supply chain disruptions associated with the current COVID-19 pandemic on product availability,” the agency said. Changes… read more
The new directives stress the importance of social distancing. “The more an individual interacts with others, and the longer that interaction, the higher the risk of COVID-19 spread,” the CDC said, noting that the lowest risk is in restaurants that only offer drive-thru, delivery, takeout and curbside pickup. Operators should designate one staff person each… read more
Dunkin’ is getting into the electoral spirit more than five months ahead of the U.S. presidential election with a campaign that turns selecting a favorite donut into a bit of a patriotic play. Dunkin’ is celebrating National Donut Day by introducing the six candidates in the Donut Party. “This year, for obvious reasons, we thought… read more