In This Section:
Panera Rolls Along
Sodexo To Debut Burger Concept On Campuses
Western Sizzlin, Steak N Shake To Merge
Taco Maker Plans NYC Debut
M. Tucker Helps Sharpen Foodservice Focus at IHM&R Show
This issue's Economic Report Sponsor: Food & Hotel Vietnam 2009
Regulatory ReportSponsor: Manitowoc Foodservice
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Panera Rolls Along
Panera Bread Co. is taking a bullish approach to the future. While not matching last year’s 102 new-openings pace, the company nonetheless has opened 28 units in the first two quarters of 2009 and has another 15 to 20 systemwide units set to open in the third quarter.
Not included in these figures is Paradise Bakery. Panera, which purchased a majority stake in the Long Beach, Calif.-based chain in 2007, acquired the balance of the company in June. It operates Paradise as a separate brand. The bakery and café concept has 71 stores in 10 states, predominantly western and southwestern, but including Indiana and Massachusetts. No pending openings have been announced.
Panera is co-headquartered in Boston and St. Louis.
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Sodexo To Debut Burger Concept On Campuses
Sodexo's retail restaurant development team will open The Original Burger Company on up to five college campuses this fall. The latest brand from the Retail Brand Group portfolio will offer student customers built-to-order burgers, fries and chicken sandwiches. The quick-service dining option will debut on three to five campuses and expand around the country throughout the school year. It is also expected to turn up in Sodexo’s other non-traditional segments including corporate campuses and hospitals.
The Original Burger Company was partially designed by members of Sodexo's Student Board of Directors. The group, which gives students a voice in campus dining options, participated in the research conducted for the concept and voted to pick the new concept's name.
Retail Brand Group has more than 575 locations nationwide, including bistros, coffeehouses and upscale pizzerias. Sodexo, headquartered in Gaithersburg, Md., serves more than 10 million customers daily in corporations, health care facilties, schools, college campuses, government and remote sites.
Western Sizzlin, Steak N Shake To Merge
The hamburger and the rib-eye are joining forces in a proposed merger of Western Sizzlin Corp. into a wholly owned subsidiary of Steak n Shake Co. The stock deal would bring together all 205 steak buffet Western Sizzlin stores and the 486 units in the Steak n Shake hamburger chain. Both the Roanoke, Va.-based Western Sizzlin and Indianapolis-based Steak n Shake are holding companies headed by investor Sardar Biglari as CEO.
The deal is pending stockholder approval; details of the proposed merger have not been released.
Taco Maker Plans NYC Debut
Puerto Rico’s largest Mexican QSR brand is coming to New York City. Taco Maker plans to open at least 40 stores over a 10-year period in Manhattan. Plans call for the vast majority to be store-front units, with five to six stand-alone restaurants also planned. The first store is slated to open within six to nine months on the Upper East Side.
The development agreement is part of an expansive strategy by the San Juan, Puerto Rico, firm to grow the brand globally. Taco Maker is one of three concepts under The Taco Maker umbrella, an international franchise system with more than 200 units in the United States, Latin America and Asia. The other two brands are Jake’s Over The Top and Mayan Juice.
M. Tucker Helps Sharpen Foodservice Focus at IHM&R Show
Foodservice is getting more emphasis at the upcoming 94th annual International Hotel/Motel & Restaurant Show. The New York Marketplace, a show-within-the-show, will put the latest trends and innovations in food, foodservice equipment and supplies on center stage.
The Marketplace, developed in conjunction with Paterson, N.J., equipment and supplies dealer M. Tucker Co., comprises an 8,000-sq.-ft. foodservice-focused space within the show. In addition to new product displays from 25 exhibiting brands and equipment manufacturers, it will include chef Q&As, food and beverage tasting, and seminars on topics varying from viral marketing, school and healthcare foodservice, and menu and environmental trends.
The IH/M&R Show is Nov. 7-10 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York. Exhibits open Nov. 8.
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