Nation's Restaurant News - November 16, 2009

O’Charley’s introduces
tiered lunch combos

NASHVILLE, TENN. — The 245-unit O’Charley’s casual-dining chain said it has launched Lunch Combos at three price points in an effort to offer customers affordable meals that can be served quickly. O’Charley’s new lunch program allows diners to select items from two lists, Savory Signatures and Hearty Favorites, to build meals ranging in price between $5.99 and $7.69. The Lunch Combos will be available weekdays through 3 p.m. The new lunch program comes days after O’Charley’s Inc. reported third-quarter results that included a 7.6-percent decline in same-store sales at its namesake chain. Jeffrey Warne, the company’s president and chief executive, said the company would look to offer “ value-oriented food and beverage offerings” to drive future sales.

Cold Stone offers Fudge
Brownie Batter ice cream

SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ. — Cold Stone Creamery added a Fudge Brownie Batter flavor to its ice cream lineup for a limited time. Fudge Brownie is the latest flavor in Cold Stone’s

“cake batter” line of ice creams, which were introduced in 2003. The flavor will be available through Dec. 29 in ice cream, pies, cakes and cupcakes. Cold Stone Creamery, a subsidiary of Scottsdale-based Ka-

hala Corp., has more than 1,450 locations in 13 countries.

Peet’s Coffee to buy
wholesaler Diedrich

EMERYVILLE, CALIF. — Peet’s Coffee & Tea Inc. agreed to acquire Diedrich Coffee Co. for about $213 million in cash and stock, a move officials said would help the chain capture a larger share of the wholesale coffee market. The transaction includes Irvine, Calif.-based Diedrich’s portfolio of brands, including Diedrich Coffee, Coffee People and Gloria Jean’s, sold primarily online and to restaurants and specialty retailers. Pat O’Dea, Peet’s president and chief operating officer, said the acquisition would enable Peet’s to enter the rapidly growing single-cup coffee business with Diedrich’s K-Cup coffee packets. Diedrich has been shifting its focus to the wholesale coffee business, selling its 39 retail locations in 2007 to Starbucks Corp. and other companies, and selling the 102-unit domestic franchise operation for Gloria Jean’s Coffee earlier this year to Praise International North America Inc.

Dunkin’ Donuts debuts
tuna, chicken sandwiches

CANTON, MASS. — Dunkin’ Donuts added three new chicken and tuna sandwiches at participating stores in several Northeastern markets. The sandwiches, which will be available in New England, excluding Boston and Springfield, Mass., and in upstate New York, will be served on croissants and in wraps. The new flavors include the Original Chicken Sandwich, featuring seasoned chicken with ranch sauce and melted Monterey Jack cheese; and the Bacon Jack Chicken Sandwich, with strips of bacon. The wraps are priced between

Carrols: BK’s $1 double cheeseburger set to spark sales SYRACUSE, N. Y. — Carrols Restaurant Group Inc. said same-store sales at its franchised Burger King units fell 6. 1 percent for the third quarter, but that trends may improve following the debut of the chain’s new $1 double cheeseburger. For the quarter ended Sept. 27, Carrols’ net income increased to $5.6 million, or 26 cents per share, from $3.7 million, or 17 cents per share, a year earlier. Latest-quarter revenue fell 3. 8 percent to $201.2 million. Carrols operates 314 Burger King units, 91 Pollo Tropical restaurants and 155 Taco Cabana locations. Same-store sales fell 4. 3 percent at Taco Cabana and 0.1 percent at Pollo Tropical. The company said it expects current trends to continue throughout 2009 and that revenue is expected to remain flat from a year ago or increase 0.5 percent.

$1.49 and $1.79 each, and the croissant sandwiches are priced between $2.49 and $2.99. The tuna sandwich is priced at a suggested $2.99.

burger concept’s first foray outside of New York City. Meyer's Union Square Hospitality Group said the new unit would be located along

Chavez to open boxing-
theme operation

MESA, ARIZ. — World boxing champion Julio Cesar Chavez planned to open a boxing-theme restaurant and entertainment venue in this Phoenix suburb Nov. 10. Called Julio Cesar Chavez Campeones — Spanish for “champions” — the restaurant will feature Mexican food, a sports bar, arcade games and a World Boxing Council Legends of Boxing Museum. Campeones also will feature an events center that can accommodate up to 1,700 people. Other principals in the $4.5 million venture are Chavez’ agent, Brian Weymouth, Dan Wer-gin and Brian Day O’Connor.

companies, to serve as its vice president of food and beverage operations. Hoemann most recently was vice president of food and beverage at San Francisco-based Joie de Vivre Hotels, Restaurants and Spas, according to SRG, which creates and operates restaurants located adjacent to hotel properties developed and managed by its parent, Sage Hospitality Resources of Denver. SRG concepts include The Corner Office and Second Home Kitchen + Bar in Denver; Temple Downtown in Providence, R.I.; Mercat a la Planxa in Chicago; Braddock’s in Pittsburgh; and Urban Farmer, the Original and Departure, all in Portland, Ore.

Lincoln Road, Miami’s well-known pedestrian promenade. Known for its gourmet burgers and frozen custard, Shake Shack debuted in 2004 in New York City’s Madison Square Park. USHG has since opened two other branches in New York, with plans to add a third next year in the city’s Nolita neighborhood.

Jack in the Box adds
Southwest Chicken Bowl
Meyer slates Shake
Shack for Miami
Sage hires Hoemann
for operations role

NEW YORK — Restaurateur Danny Meyer will open a Shake Shack next year in Miami, marking the

DENVER — The eight-unit Sage Restaurant Group hired Dave Hoemann, a veteran of hotel, contract foodservice and restaurant

SAN DIEGO — Jack in the Box restaurants are adding to the popular Teriyaki Bowls line with a new limited-time offer that has more of a south-of-the-border twist. The chain debuted a Southwest Chicken Bowl featuring fajita-seasoned chicken, rice, grilled onions and peppers, topped with shredded cheddar and cilantro-lime sauce. The bowl is available for a recommended $4.29 at participating restaurants within the 2,200-unit chain. Jack in the Box added its Teriyaki Bowls, available with chicken or steak, to the menu last October.

ADVERTISER INDEX

American Express Anheuser Busch Anything 4 Restaurants Boston Beer Company *Bush Brothers & Company *California Restaurant Association Capital Roundtable Cargill Cholula *Conagra Foods/Lamb Weston Crunchtime Systems *Dow Agrosciences Emeril Lagasse Golf Classic FSTEC *Georgia Power Gilroy Foods & Flavor H. C. Brill Company Heinz

C2, 2

31A 10 11 33 C4, 48 36 C1 8 C3, 47 35B 7 24 38, 39

PAGE

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www.anheuser-busch.com
www.a4r.com
www.bostonbeer.com
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www.cravetheexperience.com
www.capitalroundtable.com
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www.cholula.com
www.lambweston.com

WEBSITE

888-829-7302 800-342-5283 800-393-8807 617-368-5165 800-251-0968 800-765-4842

PHONE NUMBER

www.kikkomanusa.com WEBSITE

800-944-0600 877-284-4863 401-461-6342 800-288-8682

PHONE NUMBER

www.longlifeoils.com
n/a
www.fstec.com
www.gp.com
www.gilroyfoodsandflavors.com
www.hcbrillfoodservice.com

866-608-4877 208-938-1047

011 442 07432 2444 800-678-2388

n/a 212-756-5245 800-257-9744 800-921-7502 800-241-8526 800-547-8924

Kikkoman International Inc.
Koala Care Products
*MFHA
Nestle USA
New England Foodservice
NRN AM
*NRN Datafiles
Orkin Pest Control
*Richardson Oilseed Limited
San Jamar
Shoes For Crews, Inc.
*Simplot Foods
Staples
Stratas Foods
Tyson Foods, Inc.
Ventura Foods LLC
Wisconsin Restaurant Show

22, 23 15 35A 5 34 1 37A 28 31B 20 46 37B 8AB 19 17 13 32

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