To Our Valued Subscribers: Here it is the middle of August and I hope you and your organization is as warm as the weather. This is a favorite time for me as a sports fan. The baseball races are in full swing, (my Cubs still have the best record in the National League), the NFL… read more
Language barriers, personal hygiene and environmental impacts are just a few factors hindering food manufacturers’ compliance with the Food and Drug Administration’s (F.D.A.) Foreign Supplier Verification Program (F.S.V.P.) under the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). Enacted to verify that food imports meet the same safety standards as U.S. food production, the regulation requires importers to… read more
As with any legislative action, the devil is in the details. Following the lengthy debate that led to passage of the National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard (N.B.F.D.S.) in 2016, the U.S. Department of Agriculture is working to finalize the regulations that will determine what is and is not a genetically modified ingredient. In early May,… read more
Steak ‘n’ Shake isn’t fooling around with its refranchising plans. The company announced August 13 it’s looking to deal its 400-plus company units (there were 401 in 2017), to “would-be entrepreneurs who want to be hands-on, single-unit owner-operators” for a paltry initial investment of $10,000. For comparison, the initial franchise fee for a Taco Bell… read more
While lefties may be in good company—Bill Gates, Barack Obama, Oprah Winfrey, and Prince William are all southpaws—they’re members of a small club. Only ten percent of the world’s population is left-handed, which means a lot of basic items (scissors, video game controllers, spiral notebooks) are built solely with righties in mind. That’s why LomgHorn Steak House is celebrating International… read more
Service Management Group, a global customer experience, employee engagement and brand research partner to more than 500 brands, announced a new partnership with upscale casual restaurant brand Kona Grill. Looking to empower district operators with real-time information and actionable insights, Kona Grill selected SMG for its robust technology platform and industry-leading research capabilities. Established in… read more
Our company spends a good deal of time designing, developing, and deploying multiunit leadership training programs for top foodservice and retail chains worldwide. While both athletes and musicians can be good at just one thing and be successful, an effective multiunit leader, or MUL, must master several key proficiencies to be effective across his or… read more
McDonald’s Corp. announced plans to invest approximately $6 billion to modernize more than 8,700 restaurants in the United States and the District of Columbia by 2020. The new features in these McDonald’s restaurants will include: Modern dining areas with globally and locally inspired decor, new furniture and refreshed exterior designs; Self-order kiosks; Remodeled counters to… read more
Famous Dave’s has been a blend of innovation and legacy over the course of its turnaround stretch. The barbecue brand’s second-quarter report reflected that strategy and promised more changes, including a fresh concept from its new barbecue star, Travis Clark. Famous Dave’s earned $1.4 million in the period that ended July 1. For perspective, it lost… read more
The Wendy’s Co. on Aug. 16 said that it has sold its interest in Arby’s and Buffalo Wild Wings back to their parent company, Inspire Brands, for $450 million. Dublin, Ohio-based Wendy’s had owned 12.3% of Inspire, a legacy of the ownership interest Wendy’s kept in Arby’s when it sold the chain to private equity firm Roark Capital… read more