Jack in the Box is getting closer to its goal of becoming up to 80% franchised. New franchisee J&D Restaurant Group has acquired 37 of the chain’s corporate stores in Texas. After refranchising 112 corporate locations in the third quarter, the chain is about 67% franchised. It expects to sell up to 300 units to…

A menu shorter than a cocktail list and a BYOC (chopsticks) rule are two features at Chipotle’s new Asian concept restaurant, ShopHouse. The debut store in Washington, D.C., opened in September. Its interior is similar to that of Chipotle Mexican Grill: spare and industrial, relying on recycled materials with a focus on green design. The…

A smaller kitchen and a streamlined service system are among the changes at La Madeleine. A 3,500-sq.-ft. prototype opening near its Dallas headquarters boasts a theater-style bakery and expanded retail offerings. Future company stores in McLean, Va.; Silver Spring, Md.; and Tulsa, Okla., are also planned. The chain, which currently owns and operates 60 cafes…

Seasons 52, Darden Restaurants’ 18-unit seasonally oriented concept, has six new units on the docket. Three of the grill and wine bars should open by the end of November in Jacksonville and Naples, Fla., and in Kansas City, Mo. Next year will see openings in Santa Monica, Calif.; Long Island, N.Y.; and Oak Brook, Ill.…

Today’s energy- and water-efficient ice machines step it up with smart diagnostics and digital control.

Welcome to the latest in ice machines. We invited the major makers to submit their newest and most updated machinery, and below we assembled their key features for your review. For a longer list of ice machine suppliers, consult our Buyers Guide here at fermag.com.—Ed.

Note: Supplier Statements are not to be taken as editorial endorsements.

Behind scenes at the new Ronald Tutor Campus Center, a 13,000-sq- ft. production kitchen serves chain outlets, fine dining, a bar/nightclub, a marketplace and the banquet hall.

Motor size and bowl/blade configuration are good starting points for your checklist.

Something odd is going on out there. Even with 9.1% unemployment, employers of all sizes, in all kinds of industries, are grousing that they cannot find suitable hires. How could that be?  It has been fashionable to bash the educational system, from grammar schools up through secondary education, but that’s bogus. Recent educational trends haven’t changed…

Several changes have been announced at Cres Cor. Bill Klan, who has worked in