With patent in hand, Mici 'presses' forward with national franchising

by S.A. Whitehead — Food Editor, Net World Media Group

Don't tell the restaurateurs behind Mici Handcrafted Italian this might be an inopportune time to launch a franchise nationally. They'll just tell you why the…

Tillster digital ordering platform joins ParTech's Brink POS ecosystem

July 7, 2020

ParTech Inc., a provider of pont-of-sale software for the restaurant and retail industries, has added the Tillster digital ordering platform to the cloud-based…

As COVID-19 cases grow, restaurant transactions fall

July 7, 2020

For the second week, previous signs of recovering recovery for U.S. restaurants are wavering as the number of COVID-19 cases grows nationally. For the last…

Discover commits $5M to support Black-owned restaurants

July 6, 2020

Discover Financial Services has committed $5 million to provide assistance to Black-owned restaurants in the U.S. in the form of $25,000 grants for…

Uber pays $2.65B in stock for Postmates

The third-party delivery version of "big fish eats smaller fish" just changed the stakes in the highly competitive and ever-more-valuable restaurant delivery…

Encouraged traders hoist Domino's, Papa John's, Yum Brands stock values

by S.A. Whitehead — Food Editor, Net World Media Group

Though it was a rough week for Pizza Inn and Pie Five parent, Rave Restaurant Group, other major publicly traded pizza companies fared well over the shortened…

Anonymous restaurant check-in offers option for security-wary diners

July 3, 2020

A Canadian company called, I Checked In, has released a contact-tracing service that restaurants and other businesses can use to contact customers who want to…

CEC bankruptcy leaves at least 266 Chuck E Cheese, Peter Piper corporate stores operating

July 2, 2020

Chuck E Cheese and Peter Piper Pizza parent company — CEC Entertainment Inc. — has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, according to its investor…

FastCasual accepting nominations for 2020 Perfect Pitch

FastCasual is accepting nominations until July 31 for the annual Perfect Pitch.

Mountain Mike's moves in to Temecula

July 2, 2020

California-based Mountain Mike's Pizza is opening its first Temecula location in the Golden State. The company said it is the first of two planned for the city…

US franchise giant files Chapter 11; its Pizza Hut, Wendy's locations remain open

July 1, 2020

With more than 1,200 Pizza Hut locations and nearly 400 Wendy's stores, NPC International Inc. is the nation's largest restaurant concept franchisee by units.

How franchisees can drive mid-market growth in the digital age

Using digital tech to maximum effect is the focus of an hour-long discussion with two leaders at Ohio-based pizza chain, Romeo's Pizza on July 14.

And the top delivery app award goes to ...

July 1, 2020

DoorDash is the most-used food delivery app across the nation, according to an analysis by an advertising technology company, Sabio, which has nearly 30…

Cleveland pizza restaurateur pushes leaders to connect during pandemic

by Niko Frangos — President, Rascal House

At Cleveland, Ohio's Rascal House pizza chain, President Niko Frangos believes leader-employee connection is critical during the trying business times of this…

US restaurant industry hits bump in the recovery road

June 30, 2020

For the first time since the week of April 5-12, customer restaurant transactions failed to improve in year-over-year trend numbers. In fact, customer…

Papa John's preliminary North American Q2 comp sales up 28%

June 30, 2020

Papa John's International Inc. leadership said the brand delivered its third consecutive month of double-digit sales growth in North America, along with what…

QSR customer satisfaction: Dunkin' outdoes Starbucks, Domino's dominates Papa John's

In the fine art of keeping happy customers, there were a few upheavals and a newcomer or two.

Pie Five Q3 comp sales plummet with pandemic onset

June 29, 2020

Pie Five and Pizza Inn parent, Rave Restaurant Group, had a brutal third quarter ending March 29, according to a company press release. Pie Five domestic…

Pieology partners with Latin American company to develop Florida

June 29, 2020

California-based Pieology has partnered with Pizzarium LLC — comprised of Gorrin Group and Corporación Multifranquicas, which own international restaurants and…

Papa John's building Shaq into brand via super-sized 'Shaq-a-Roni' pie

June 29, 2020

Papa John's has launched the Shaq-a-Roni pizza in collaboration with board member, restaurant owner and former pro-basketball standout, Shaquille O'Neal. Papa…