Foodservice Management

Aliso Viejo, Calif. - Johnny Rockets is partnering with foodservice consulting group EMPAD to support purchasing and distribution for the brand's U.S. restaurants. As part of the relationship, EMPAD will assist Johnny Rockets with distributor pricing verification, analysis, sourcing and more to improve the supply chain process for the brand's franchise and corporate-owned restaurants.

Photo: Fernando’s owner Fernando Padilla with CityLine location general manager Omar Hernandez.

Seattle – Although coffee prices are on the wane, Starbucks Corp. is facing rising wage and rent expenses. The retailer is passing at least some of those costs along to the consumer with higher prices on some beverages.

Ann Arbor, Mich. - Customers are less satisfied with fast food as their discretionary income improves and preferences shift in favor of quality over price.

According to new data from the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI), two new entrants to ACSI debut at the top of limited-service (fast food) restaurants: Chick-fil-A and Chipotle Mexican Grill.

Dallas - Corner Bakery Cafe has found another route to help it reach its goal of doubling its national footprint in the next two years.

The company, which operates more than 185 company-owned and franchised locations around the country, said it plans to expand in the nation's busiest airports. The chain is basing the plans on success of its Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport location in Atlanta.

Aliso Viejo, Calif. - Johnny Rockets is expanding into Poland, with its first Polish location expected in Warsaw in early 2016. The casual dining chain has reached a development agreement with HDS Polska Group to build and operate 10 Johnny Rockets restaurants during the next 10 years.
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HDS Polska Group is a subsidiary of publicly-traded company Lagardere Services that operates a network of more than 800 outlets in the Polish market including convenience stores, coffee shops and full service restaurants.

Orlando, Fla. - Darden Restaurants Inc. plans to separate a portion of its real estate assets through a combination of sale leaseback transactions and a new, publicly traded real estate investment trust ("REIT"). Under the plan, Darden will transfer approximately 430 of its corporate stores to the REIT, with substantially all of the REIT's initial assets being leased back to Darden.  

Aliso Viejo, Calif. — Johnny Rockets plans to open 25 new domestic stores during 2015 and 100 new domestic stores by 2017 via franchise expansion.

The casual dining chain is targeting the following U.S. cities for franchise growth in its Johnny Rockets, Johnny Rockets Express and Johnny Rockets Route 66 banners: Tucson, Arizona; Houston, Bridgewater, New Jersey., Gainesville, Florida; and Bakersfield and Fresno, California.

Atlanta - Hooters of America LLC has finalized an agreement with global commercial real estate services firm Colliers International to have the firm advise Hooters on real estate needs and provide strategic counsel as the brand expands domestically and internationally. Colliers International’s Bob Browning, VP for retail services, and Robert Hantgan, senior VP, are managing the exclusive assignment.

Winston-Salem, N.C. - Krispy Kreme (will open 31 stores in South Africa during the next five years. The coffee retailer has signed a development agreement with KK Doughnuts SA (Pty) Ltd, that will mark its first venture into Africa.

Krispy Kreme has more than 1,000 stores in 24 countries.