The rapidly expanding 600-unit pizza, pasta, salad and dessert buffet chain has inked agreements for the addition of 16 units over the next five years in the Houston and San Antonio areas. The moves are part of CiCi’s growth initiative, with the goal of adding 500 restaurants in the next eight to 10 years. Wingstop…

McDonald’s is one of many chains making inroads in feeding India’s fast-growing fast-food appetite. The Oak Brook, Ill.’s Indian franchisee Hardcastle Restaurants Private plans to set up 30 restaurants in the southern and western parts of the country this year. In 2010, McDonald’s opened 33 Indian restaurants. Hardcastle will invest $111 million in India over…

Chili’s made its Russian debut with the February opening of a restaurant in Moscow’s city center, Novy Arbat. This store marks the first of more than two dozen Chili’s stores planned for Russia during the next six years. Chili’s has also recently entered the Indian market by opening four restaurants in that country. The casual…

Chick-fil-A’s growth plans call for some 90 new stores in 2011, including 71 stand-alone locations, four mall/in-line restaurants and 15 licensed outlets. In ’10, the fried chicken franchise debuted some 80 new units, including its first three restaurants in the Chicago market. Chick-fil-A expects to expand further in the Chicago area this spring, and will…

As part of its multiyear focus on conservation, the National Restaurant Association has teamed up with Chicago’s Kendall College School of Culinary Arts to explore restaurant waste reduction and sustainability efforts. The Int’l. Foodservice Sustainability Symposium will hold its inaugural meeting in Chicago immediately after the NRA Show, on May 24-25, 2011. IFFS is billed…

April may be tax month, but there are still eight months left this year to secure some important tax perks for purchasing or selling equipment. The Small Business Jobs and Credit Act of 2010, signed by President Obama last September, provides tax relief for foodservice operations and small businesses and assistance in gaining access to…

Nine industry professionals have been selected to receive the Int’l. Foodservice Manufacturers Association’s 2011 Silver Plate Awards. The annual awards honor winners for industry achievements, commitment to innovation and contributions to their segments and the foodservice industry as a whole. The ’11 Silver Plate winners: • Independents: Buzz Beler, owner, The Prime Rib, Washington, D.C.…

Chipotle Mexican Grill will open in France and is also testing a new Asian concept. The first international Chipotle, opened in London last May, has done so well that the chain is planning to open a Paris outlet later this year. Analysts estimate the Denver-based chain could have more than 100 outlets in Europe by…

More than 50 industry leaders were honored by the North American Association of Food Equipment Manufacturers during The NAFEM Show in February. John Nackley received the association’s highest honor, the 2011 William W. Carpenter Award, given to an industry professional who has contributed to NAFEM’s success and the enrichment of the foodservice industry. Nackley, president…

Wendy’s/Arby’s Int’l., Columbus, Ohio, has announced new growth and expansion plans. Among them: a domestic product rollout requiring new equipment, a joint-venture deal to re-launch in Japan and further international expansion. Wendy’s operators have been asked to invest $13,000 to $23,000 per store in preparation for the national rollout this fall of the Dave’s Hot…