In This Section:
Chains Fly South To Test Eco-Friendly Designs
Papa John's Lets Patrons Pick Pizzas Via Text Messages
Panera Bread Celebrates 20th Year
Qdoba Franchisee Opens Chain's 400th Store
This issue's Economic Report Sponsor: Manitowoc Foodservice Group
Regulatory ReportSponsor: Enodis
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Chains Fly South To Test Eco-Friendly Designs
Following the "snowbirds" down south, McDonald's Corp. and Subway both recently announced the opening of greener stores in Florida.
McDonald's opened the first restaurant in Florida to tap into geothermal power. Built in Pensacola, the store uses a heat pump to regulate heating and cooling. The heat pump pulls geothermal energy from 55 holes drilled 350 feet deep, drawing hot water in the winter for heating, and pumping heated water down into the earth in the summer. The unit is the chain's second to use geothermal energy; the first was built outside Detroit in 1997.
Subway opened its first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design-certified store in Kissimmee, Fla., in early November. The chain's "Eco-Store" design includes high-efficiency HVAC systems, remote condensing units for refrigeration and icemaking equipment, daylighting and controls for high efficiency lighting, LED interior and exterior signs, low-flow water fixtures, and building and décor materials from sustainable sources. Subway also used a lot of recycled materials in both constructing and furnishing the unit. The green store is one of several efforts the chain is making to be more environmentally conscious, according to Bill Schettini, the chain's chief marketing officer.
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Papa John's Lets Patrons Pick Pizzas Via Text Messages
Papa John's Int'l., the first of the big three pizza chains to implement online ordering, has again done its competition one better. The chain has set up a system to make it easy for customers to order via text messages from their mobile wireless devices.
To get started, customers go online to the Papa John's Web site and fill out a profile indicating their typical pizza orders and preferred methods of payment. They can save four "favorite" orders. To order using a cell phone or other device, customers just text "FAV" and the number of the order they want. The system lets customers check for coupons or promotions, find store locations and change their preferred method of payment via text, too. The system supports most major cell providers.
For more information, go to www.papajohns.com/sms.
Panera Bread Celebrates 20th Year
Party hats and noisemakers: Panera Bread, formerly known as St. Louis Bread Co., celebrated its 20th anniversary in mid-November.
The chain actually had its beginnings in 1981 as Au Bon Pain, founded by Louis Kane and Ron Shaich. Au Bon Pain bought St. Louis Bread Co. in '93, and the company name was changed to Panera Bread in '99.
The company, which now has more than 1,100 company-owned and franchise units, celebrated at a bakery-café in Kirkwood, Mo., where the Panera/St. Louis Bread brand got its start.
Qdoba Franchisee Opens Chain's 400th Store
After seven short years in business, Qdoba opened its 400th unit, this one in Nampa, Idaho. The Denver-based chain opened its first store in Denver in 1995. The newest store is owned and operated by Mike Bladow, a Carlsbad, Calif., franchisee who has a development agreement to open 12 units in two states by 2010.
Qdoba was purchased by Jack in the Box in 2003, but is operated as a separate entity.
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