As if rising fuel and food costs weren’t enough for foodservice operators, the extreme winter weather has also taken a toll. Same-store sales and traffic fell sharply in the January Restaurant Performance Index maintained by the National Restaurant Association. The overall index fell 0.8 point to end at 100.2, still above the 100 tipping point…

Gasoline isn’t the only commodity critical to foodservice that has been inflating. Food prices rose again in January, as extreme weather affected fruits and vegetable prices. On the retail side, prices were also up at the menu level and in grocery stores. Overall wholesale food prices rose 0.8% in January, according to the National Restaurant…

Both major surveys of consumer confidence moved higher in February, reaching levels not seen for three years, as consumers began to feel a bit better about the economic and employment outlooks. Both the Consumer Sentiment Index fielded by the Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan Surveys of Consumers and The Conference Board’s Consumer Confidence Index hit their…

In its largest-ever international development agreement, Dunkin’ Donuts has inked a deal to open 500 restaurants in India over the next 15 years. The Canton, Mass., chain signed the agreement with Jubilant FoodWorks Ltd., calling for Jubilant to develop, sub-franchise and operate more than 500 DD restaurants throughout India. The first units in the world’s…

In addition to Dunkin’ Donuts and as recently reported, Yum! Brands, McDonald’s and other chains are making inroads in feeding India’s fast-growing fast-food appetite. McDonald’s opened 33 new restaurants in the country in 2010, and its Indian franchisee plans to set up 30 new restaurants in the southern and western parts of the country this…

The National Restaurant Association last week unveiled the recipients of its 2011 Kitchen Innovations Award, which honors groundbreaking kitchen equipment in the foodservice market. An independent panel of judges, including internationally recognized food facilities consultants, multiunit executives and design experts, selected award recipients. The awards recognize innovations that provide new solutions to restaurant and foodservice…

Rumors abound, but other than a report that Chipotle Mexican Grill has registered the name ShopHouse Southeast Asian Kitchen with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, almost nothing is known about the Denver chain’s previously announced fast-casual Asian concept debut. Chipotle said last fall that founder Steve Ells and a small team were developing an…

Hello, Russia. There’s nothing like a chilly day in February for the warm debut of that country’s first Chili’s Grill & Bar. The new Chili’s outlet, opened last month in Moscow’s city center, Novy Arbat, is the first of 25 restaurants slated for development in the Russian Federation by June 2017.  It was developed by…

Opening its doors only six days a week hasn’t depressed sales at Chick-fil-A. The Atlanta-based chain boasts a record 11%-plus increase in its 2010 overall sales performance and a same-store sales increase of nearly 6%. The concept entered the Chicago market this year with three stores, adding to its total of 80 new-unit openings in…

Major metro areas are to going to see a few more Checkers Drive-In Restaurants. The Tampa, Fla., double-drive through chain has signed agreements with four franchisees to develop a dozen new restaurants in Baltimore, Detroit, New York and Philadelphia. It’s all part of a strategic growth plan to expand the brand’s presence in existing markets,…