A number of foodservice industry observers have expressed concern that rising food and gasoline prices could undercut what remains a fragile recovery of the market. Higher food prices undercut operators’ ability to make money on “value meals,” which are driving a lot of operator traffic. And higher gasoline prices eat into consumers’ disposable income for…

In the rush of third quarter reports, our revised E&S market forecasts and the like, we almost let slip Technomic Inc.’s list of leading restaurant trends for 2011, or what they called “11 for ’11.” While most of the trends are food and beverage oriented–Korean-Mexican fusion foods, retro-cocktails, farmers as celebrity counterparts to chefs, more…

There are about 600 mobile food trucks, vans and carts in Oregon’s Multnomah County. That’s nearly one for every 1,000 residents of the state’s biggest county. But the popularity of the foodservice streetscape sprawl is prompting new rules that have put the thriving, trendsetting world of Portland food carts on notice. During a city council…

Common sense has won out in dueling menu-labeling laws in California, where a Jan. 1 law required all chains with 20 or more locations to post calories on menus and menu boards. Los Angeles County joined most other counties in the state in saying they won’t be strictly enforcing the measure, passed two years ago,…

This week’s presidential signing of the Food & Drug Administration Food Safety Modernization Act capped a list of legislative victories for the National Restaurant Association. These included passage of lower, more transparent interchange fees; tax relief for small businesses; the launch of one national menu-labeling standard; and the defeat of union card-check legislation. NRA Chairman…

Who would have guessed that a 19th century novel would become the most common reference point for 21st century restaurant inspections and public-health notices? Allusions to Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter have been common from operators and lawmakers discussing restaurant grading systems for New York restaurants and Los Angeles food trucks. And now, it again…

Nashville, Tenn.-based Logan’s Roadhouse has been purchased by private equity firm Kelso & Co. The change occurred after Logan’s parent company, LRI Holdings, filed for an initial public offering that sought to raise $200 million. Logan’s, which opened its first restaurant in 1991 in Lexington, Ky., operates188 company-owned and 26 franchised full-service restaurants in 23…

Famous Dave’s of America opened two barbeque restaurants in November, in Orange, Calif., and in Lahaina, Hawaii. The dual openings have boosted the company’s unit count tally to 183, including 53 corporate locations and 130 franchised units in 37 states. Famous Dave’s specializes in barbequed and grilled meats, salads, sandwiches and desserts.

Chili’s Grill & Bar is shedding new light on its food and guests thanks to the recent major installation of LED lights in its 827 corporate-owned restaurants. The project, which involved installing some 125,000 LED lamps in both interior and exterior areas, is expected to save about $87 per store/per week. Overall savings will tally…

Nearly 100 FreshBerry Frozen Yogurt Cafés will be opening in Florida, Portugal and Venezuela over the next few years thanks to a recently signed agreement between parent company Beautiful Brands Int’l. and developers Keiny and Erasmo Gudiño. The first two stores are slated to open the first quarter of this year in Caracas, Venezuela, and…