Nation's Restaurant News Daily NewsFax articles from April 2002

Nation's Restaurant News Daily NewsFax archives from April 2002

Fresh Enterprises Inc. (Just In).(plans stock offering)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
April 30, 2002... THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. -- FRESH ENTERPRISES INC., parent of the 157-unit BAJA FRESH MEXICAN GRILL fast-casual chain, registered with securities regulators to raise as much as $57.5 million in an initial public stock offering. The company,...

Red Robin Gourmet Burgers Inc. (Just In).(plans stock offering)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
April 30, 2002... GREENWOOD VILLAGE, Cola. -- RED ROBIN GOURMET BURGERS INC. registered with regulators for an initial public stock offering that would raise as much as $60 million. The company owns and operates 87 of the casual-dining restaurants and...

Lone Star Steakhouse & Saloon Inc. (Just In).(takeover bid extended)(Brief Article)
April 30, 2002... WICHITA, Kan. -- LONE STAR STEAKHOUSE & SALOON INC. extended to May 4 its previously announced agreement to go private through a $579 million acquisition by BRUCKMANN ROSSER SHERRILL & CO. Lone Star did not cite a reason for the extension....

Tricon Global Restaurants. (Financial Briefs).(first quarter data)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
April 30, 2002... LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Boasting a 41-percent year-to-year increase in quarterly net profit and a 7-percent rise in revenues for the three months ended March 23, TRICON GLOBAL RESTAURANTS reported first-period earnings of $124 million, vs. $88...

Darden Restaurants Inc. (Executive Suite).(promotes executive)(Brief Article)
April 30, 2002... ORLANDO, Fla. -- RED LOBSTER promoted PHIL ROBINSON to executive vice president of operations for the 663-unit chain, from his former post as chief operations officer for the southwestern United States. Robinson started with the casual-dining...

Stockwatch.(recent stock prices for top gainers and top losers in previous week)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
April 30, 2002... STOCKWATCH (shares over $3) Top Gainers Pct. Mon. change close Total Entertainment 10.02 $11.20 Rare Hospitality 5.20 28.30 Diedrich...

Private equity firm Texas Pacific Group, or TPG, may have an edge in auction bidding that was being held Friday for the Burger King chain. (Just In).(Brief Article)
April 29, 2002... MIAMI -- Private equity firm TEXAS PACIFIC GROUP, or TPG may have an edge in auction bidding that was being held Friday for the BURGER KING chain, media reported indicated. BK's London-based parent, DIAGEO PLC, was said to have set April 26...

ICH Corp. said it accepted a buyout offer for its Sybra Inc. subsidiary from Atlanta-based RTM Restaurant Group. (Just In).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
April 29, 2002... NEW YORK -- ICH CORP. said it accepted a buyout offer for its SYBRA INC. subsidiary from Atlanta-based RTM RESTAURANT GROUP, whose 775 Arby's units make it that chain's largest franchisee. ICH and San Diego-based Sybra, a 239-unit Arby's...

McDonald's on Nov. 20 will host a simultaneous, worldwide fundraiser for children called "World's Children's Day" at all of its 29,000 restaurants in 121 countries. (Just In).(McDonald's Corp.)(Brief Article)
April 29, 2002... OAKBROOK, Ill. -- MCDONALD'S on Nov. 20 will host a simultaneous, worldwide fundraiser for children called "World's Children's Day" at all of its 29,000 restaurants in 121 countries. Specific fundraising events will vary by country and by...

Buca Inc. (Financial Briefs).(earnings)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
April 29, 2002... MINNEAPOLIS -- Despite a first-quarter earnings increase of 31 percent, to $2.1 million, for the 13 weeks ended March 31, BUCA INC.'s same-store sales in the period fell 2.7 percent at the company's 51 Buca di Beppo restaurants and 6.1...

HMSHost Corp. said it named Gianmario Tondato president and chief operating officer. (Executive Suite).(Brief Article)
April 29, 2002... BETHESDA, Md. -- HMSHOST CORP. said it named GIANMARIO TONDATO president and chief operating officer. He succeeds as president JOHN J. MCCARTHY, who will remain chief executive. Tondato most recently was executive vice president and chief...

T.G.I. Friday's said it plans to launch a national branding campaign today under a new tag, "East What You Love, Love Where you Eat". (Marketing Matters).(Brief Article)
April 29, 2002... DALLAS -- T.G.I. FRIDAY'S said it plans to launch a national branding campaign today under a new tag, "East What You Love, Love Where you Eat." Ads on network and national cable channels will focus on the chain's menu variety and its range...

Stockwatch.(of various restaurants)(Brief Article)(Illustration)(Statistical Data Included)
April 29, 2002... STOCK WATCH (charge over $3) Top Gainers Pct. Fri. change close Smith & Wollensky 7.88 $5.89 Quality Dining Inc. 5.90 3.95...

McDonald's Corp. (Just in).(searches for executive)(Brief Article)
April 26, 2002... LAS VEGAS -- MCDONALD'S CORP. is searching for an executive to fill a new position as global chief marketing officer, JACK GREENBERG, the company's chairman and chief executive, told franchisees at their biennial worldwide conevention here...

Del Taco Inc. (Just in).(civil rights lawsuit)(Brief Article)
April 26, 2002... LOS ANGELES -- A civil rights lawsuit against DEL TACO INC. alleges that Latino employees discriminated against black co-workers, and management did not intercede when informed of the situation. The suit, filed in Superior Court here on...

IHOP Corp. (Just in).(names CEO)(Brief Article)
April 26, 2002... GLENDALE, Calif. -- IHOP CORP., operator and franchisor of about 1,028 International House of Pancakes restaurants, promoted president and chief operating officer JULIA STEWART to chief executive, effective May 3. Stewart, who was hired as...

Rubio's Baja Grill. (Just in).(branch in Portland, OR)(Brief Article)
April 26, 2002... PORTLAND, ore. - New RUBIO'S BAJA GRILL franchisee S&A ENTERPRISES LLC opened a branch here, making the fast-casual chain's Pacific Northwest debut. Portland-based S&A, which holds the rights to open up to eight of the fish-taco-specialty...

Garden Fresh Restaurant Corp. (Financial Briefs).(Brief Article)
April 26, 2002... SAN DIEGO -- Salad bar-buffet operator GARDEN FRESH RESTAURANT CORP., rebounding from two consecutive quarters of losses by its Souplantation and Sweet Tomatoes chains, reported record net second-quarter income of $2.4 million for the period...

Stockwatch. (Financial Briefs).(restaurant statistics)(Brief Article)
April 26, 2002... STOCKWATCH (charoe over $3) Top Gainers Pct. Thurs. change close Garden Fresh Rest Corp. 9.88 $13.35 Buca Inc. 7.03 18.86 Applebee's...

McDonald's Corp. (Just in).(retains option to acquire Fazoli's chain from Seed Restaurant Group)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
April 25, 2002... OAK BROOK, III. -- MCDONALD'S CORP. said it obtained an option to acquire at a "later date" the 400-unit FAZOLI'S fast-casual Italian chain, which is owned by SEED RESTAURANT GROUP of Lexington, Ky., in connection with a non-binding latter of...

National Food Administration. (Just in).(Stockholm University releases research on acrylamide in potatoes, grain products)(Brief Article)
April 25, 2002... STOCKHOLM, Sweden -- Swedish government scientists on Wednesday said research conducted at Stockholm University had yielded new findings that carbohydrate-rich foods such as potatoes and grain products form high levels of a suspected...

Burger King Corp. (Just in).(will sell Australian units to Dennis Jones)(Brief Article)
April 25, 2002... MIAMI--BURGER KING CORP. agreed to sell all 55 of its BKs in Australia to franchisee DENNIS JONES, whose company has 60 Burger Kings in New Zealand. Financial terms were not disclosed. The pact calls for Jones to oversee new growth in...

Brinker International Inc. (Financial Briefs).(reports third-quarter profits, revenues)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
April 25, 2002... DALLAS -- BRINKER INTERNATIONAL INC. said its third-quarter profit was impaired by an aftertax charge of about $73 million for an agreement in principle with California's DIVISION OF LABOR STANDARDS ENFORCEMENT over back-wage claims. Brinker...

Back Yard Burgers Inc. (Financial Briefs).(reports first-quarter profits, revenues)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
April 25, 2002... MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- BACK YARD BURGERS INC. reported a 46-percent increase in first-quarter profits to $227,000 on a 15-percent rise in revenue to $8.2 million. Same-store sales increased 4.4 percent at company-owned units and 0.8 percent at...

Stockwatch. (Financial Briefs).(for the restaurant industry)(Brief Article)(Illustration)(Statistical Data Included)
April 25, 2002... STOCK WATCH (shares over $3) Pct. Wed. change close Top Gainers Garden Fresh Restaurants 9.46 $12.15 Ryans Family Steak 5.66 26.10 TBA...

John Ashcroft. (Just In).(airport workers arrested for illegally obtained security clearances)(Brief Article)
April 24, 2002... WASHINGTON -- Federal authorities arrested nearly 100 airport workers Tuesday, including an unspecified number of foodservice personnel, on charges they lied to obtain jobs with security clearances at the Dulles International and Ronald...

Godfather's Pizza Inc., furthering recent new-concept and co-branding developments, has debuted Big Vinny's Sandwiches inside a Godfather's Pizza branch here, the Omaha World-Herald reported. (Just In).(Brief Article)
April 24, 2002... OMAHA, Neb.-- GODFATHER'S PIZZA INC., furthering recent new-concept and co-branding developments, has debuted BIG VINNY'S SANDWICHES inside a Godfather's Pizza branch here, the Omaha World-Herald reported. The oven-baked-sandwich and delivery...

Ruby Restaurant Group has hired IFMA Silver Plate winner Susan Wilkie as vice president of operations. (Just In).(Brief Article)
April 24, 2002... NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. -- RUBY RESTAURANT GROUP has hired IFMA Silver Plate winner SUSAN WILKIE as vice president of operations. She most recently was a and general manager of parks and food operations for Disneyland Resorts in Anaheim....

Papa John's International is testing a deep-dish pizza at all 13 Papa John's in the Wichita Kan., market. (Just In).(Brief Article)
April 24, 2002... LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- PAPA JOHN'S INTERNATIONAL is testing a deep-dish pizza at all 13 Papa John's in the Wichita Kan., market. The units are owned by 130-unit franchisee FRANK CARNEY, who founded rival Pizza Hut. The new pizza, which uses a...

Manhattan chef-restaurateur Tom Colicchio. (Just In).(to open Craftsteak spin-off)(Brief Article)
April 24, 2002... NEW YORK -- Manhattan chef-restaurateur TOM COLICCHIO, whose Flatiron district CRAFT has won critical and popular aoclaim, agreed to open a spin-off called CRAFTSTEAK in July at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas. The MGM MIRAGE INC.-owned...

La Viagra Marina, a seafood restaurant here, agreed to change its name following a trademark-infringement complaint from Pfizer Inc. (Just In).(Brief Article)
April 24, 2002... SEATTLE -- LA VIAGRA MARINA, a seafood restaurant here, agreed to change its name following a trademark-infringement complaint from PFIZER INC., maker of the $1 billion-a-year Viagra drug for crectile dysfunction. Owner SALVADOR HERNANDEZ...

David Overton, founder, chairman and chief executive of The Cheesecake Factory Inc. (Financial Briefs).(sells 1 million shares)(Brief Article)
April 24, 2002... CALABASAS HILLS, Calif. -- DAVID OVERTON, founder, chairman and chief executive of THE CHEESECAKE FACTORY INC., sold 1 million shares of company stock for estate planning purposes, the 51-unit dinnerhouse chain operator said Tuesday. Overton,...

Stock watch.(various restaurants)(Brief Article)(Illustration)(Statistical Data Included)
April 24, 2002... STOCK WATCH (shares over $3) Top Gainers Pct. Tues. change close TBA Entertainment 7.48 $3.45 Garden Freah Restaurants 5.41 11.10...

The Supreme Court's intensely critical questioning of a government attorney Monday suggests that employers may prevail in their protracted battle against the Internal Revenue Service. (Just In).(estimates used to tax tips)(Brief Article)
April 23, 2002... WASHINGTON -- The SUPREME COURT's intensely critical questioning of a government attorney Monday suggests that employers may prevail in their protracted battle against the INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE's use of estimates to levy taxes on...

Burger King's National Franchisee Association, or NFA, said it is working closely with Texas Pacific Group. (Just In).(to buy Burger King from Diageo PLC)(Brief Article)
April 23, 2002... MIAMI -- BURGER KING's NATIONAL FRANCHISEE ASSOCIATION, or NFA, said it is working closely with TEXAS PACIFIC GROUP, the Fort Worth-based private equity firm that is considering making a bid to purchase BK from parent DIAGEO PLC. However, the...

President Bush told a coalition of industries that he favors their pursuit of legislation to make the federal government a backstop in providing terrorism insurance. (Just In).(Brief Article)
April 23, 2002... WASHINGTON -- PRESIDENT BUSH told a coalition of industries that he favors their pursuit of legislation to make the federal government a backstop in providing terrorism insurance. Speaking to the COALITION TO INSURE AGAINST TERRORISM, Bush...

Burger King on Monday introduced a new item called shake 'em Up Fries with Cheezy Flavor Boost. (Marketing Matters).(Brief Article)
April 23, 2002... MIAMI -- BURGER KING on Monday introduced a new item called shake 'em Up Fries with Cheezy Flavor Boost, available for three weeks with the chain's Big Kids' meals for a 25-cent premium. The fries come with a shaker bag and a packet of cheese...

Stock watch.(various restaurants)(Brief Article)(Illustration)(Statistical Data Included)
April 23, 2002... STOCK WATCH (shares over $3) Top Gainers Pct. Mon. Change close Landry's Seafood 6.79 $28.30 CKE Restaurants Inc. 4.97 12.45 Good Times Burgers ...

Tricon Global Restaurants. (Just In).(latest bidder to acquire Burger King)(Brief Article)
April 22, 2002... MIAMI -- TRICON GLOBAL RESTAURANTS, owner of KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell, reportedly is one of several companies that has expressed interest in purchasing BURGER KING from spirits giant DIAGEO PLC of London, according to the Bloomberg news...

Starbucks Corp. (Just In).(to settle class action lawsuit brought by employees)(Brief Article)
April 22, 2002... SEATTLE -- STARBUCKS CORP. on Friday said it agreed to pay up to $18 million to settle two California class action lawsuit over back-overtime claims by an estimated 1,000 current managers and an unspecified number of former employees. The...

AFC Enterprises Inc. (Just In).(terminates contract with Arthur Andersen L.L.P.)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
April 22, 2002... ATLANTA -- AFC ENTERPRISES INC. fired embattled auditor ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP and hired KPMG LLP as its replacement. AFC, whose Church's Chicken, Popeyes Chicken & Biscuits, Cinnabon, Seattle's Best Coffee and Torrefazione Italia Coffee chains...

Maid-Rite Corp. (Just In).(upgrades menu)(Brief Article)
April 22, 2002... DES MOINES, Iowa -- The group of 14 investors that bought 76-year-old MAID-RITE CORP. in January from the Gillotti family has begun upgrading and standardizing the 83-unit quick-service chain's menu. Augmenting its signature "loose meat"...

Bahrain Restaurant Co. (Just In).(American restaurant chains boycotted in Middle East)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
April 22, 2002... CAIRO, Egypt -- Calls throughout the Middle East for boycotts of American brands, in response to their rumored support for Israel and its alliances with the United States, are imperiling large restaurant franchises and sharply reducing their...

Landry's Restaurants Inc. (Financial Briefs).(secondary shares offering)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
April 22, 2002... HOUSTON-- LANDRY'S RESTAURANTS INC. plans to offer 4.75 million common shares for $26.50 each in a secondary offering slated for April 24. A stockholder will sell another 500,000 shares at that price. Landry's, whose more than 200 units...

CBRL Group Inc. (Financial Briefs).(predicts higher earnings)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
April 22, 2002... LEBANON, Tenn. -- Citing stronger-than-expected sales, CBRL GROUP INC. said diluted earnings per share would be at the high end of its mid-30-cent target for the third quarter ending May 3. CBRL said same-store sales so far in the period had...

Stockwatch.
April 22, 2002... STOCKWATCH (shares over $3) Pct. Fri. change close Top Gainers Quality Dining Inc. 6.58 3.89 Mexican Restaurants 6.24 4.60 J....

McDonald's Corp. (Just In).
April 19, 2002... OAK BROOK, Ill. -- Marking its sixth straight quarterly earnings decline, MCDONALD'S CORP. said first-quarter net income dropped 33 percent to $253.1 million, which compared with $378.3 million in the year-ago quarter. The company said it...

White House ceremonies Thursday, President Bush honored a group of children for their environmental activism. (Just In).(Brief Article)
April 19, 2002... WASHINGTON -- In White House ceremonies Thursday, PRESIDENT BUSH honored a group of children for their environmental activism, including a Lubbock, Texas, boy whose "Stop Tobacco in Restaurants" campaign led to a local ban on public smoking...

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Florida Department of Health. (Just In).(Brief Article)
April 19, 2002... ATLANTA -- The federal CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION and the FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ale investigating a "likely" case of new variant Creutzfeldt Jakob disease, or nvCJD, the suspected human form of mad-cow disease, in a...

Kurt Muellenberg to monitor Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees International Union Local 69. (Just In).(Brief Article)
April 19, 2002... NEWARK, N.J. -- A.U.S. District Judge here appointed Washington attorney KURT MUELLENBERG to monitor HOTEL EMPLOYEES AND RESTAURANT EMPLOYEES INTERNATIONAL UNION LOCAL 69 for at least four yeas after prosecutors charged it had long-standing...

Famous Dave's of America Inc. (Financial Briefs).(Brief Article)
April 19, 2002... MINNEAPOLIS -- FAMOUS DAVE'S OF AMERICA INC., whose 58-unit barbecue chain includes 24 franchised locations, doubled its first-quarter profits, to $809,000, on a revenue rise of 4 percent, to $21.2 million, vs. year-ago results. The profit...

Stockwatch.(Brief Article)
April 19, 2002... STOCKWATCH (shares over $3) Top Gainers Pct. Thurs. change Close Piccadilty Cafes 7.16 $3.59 McDonald's Corp. 5.38 28.62 Good...

Cosi Inc. (Just in).(registers for initial public offering)(Brief Article)
April 18, 2002... NEW YORK -- Past-casual sandwich chain COS1 INC. registered Wednesday for an initial public offering of up to $60 million common shares. In a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, 66-unit Cos1 said it will use proceeds from the...

Levy Restaurants. (Just in).(awarded Green Bay Packers contract)(Brief Article)
April 18, 2002... CHICAGO -- LEVY RESTAURANTS has been awarded a contract from the GREEN BAY PACKERS to do all foodservice at LAMBEAU FIELD in Green Bay, Wis. Levy will operate premium as well as general concessions beginning in August at the Packers' stadium,...

Fiscal Responsibility Coalition. (Just in).(President Bush praises National Restaurant Association)(Brief Article)
April 18, 2002... WASHINGTON -- Speaking to the FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY COALITION, PRESIDENT BUSH praised the NATIONAL RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION's chairman, TED FOWLER, for "leading the mobile effort to make sure that Congress gets the message that fiscal sanity...

CKE Restaurants Inc. (Financial Briefs).(increases stake in Checkers Drive-In Restaurants Inc.)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
April 18, 2002... SANTA BARBARA, Calif -- CKE RESTAURANTS INC. exercised a warrant to purchase additional shares of Tampa, Fla.-based Checkers Drive-In Restaurants Inc., increasing its stake in the company to 982,030 shares, or about 8.6 percent, of Checkers...

Coca-Cola Fountain. (Supplier News).(Distinguished Restaurants of North America partnership)(Brief Article)
April 18, 2002... ATLANTA -- COCA-COLA FOUNTAIN will become the exclusive soft-drink sponsor of DISTINGUISHED RESTAURANTS OF NORTH AMERICA under terms of a partnership agreement announced Wednesday. Coca-Cola also will help relaunch DiRoNA's Web site, which...

Tyson Foods Inc. (Supplier News).(to purchase facility from Millard Refrigerated Services Inc.)(Brief Article)
April 18, 2002... SPRINGDALE, Ark. -- TYSON FOODS INC. said it signed a letter of intent to purchase a bacon processing facility in Omaha, Neb., from MILLARD REFRIGERATED SERVICES. Tyson now is engaged in a due diligence process and will develop a final...

Noodles & Co. (Executive Suite).(hires chief people officer)(Brief Article)
April 18, 2002... BOULDER, Colo. -- NOODLES & CO. hired CINDY SUGIMURA RANDALL as chief people officer. Most recently Randall was vice president of people services, training and development at Seattle Coffee Co. Starting May 1 Randall will be responsible for...

Checkers Drive-in Restaurants Inc. (Marketing Matters).(launches nonalcoholic Kahlua shake)(Brief Article)
April 18, 2002... TAMPA, Fla. -- To enhance its adult-oriented menu offerings, CHECKERS DRIVE-IN RESTAURANTS INC. launched a nonalcoholic Kahlua shake through an exclusive licensing agreement with ALLIED DOMECQ SPRITS USA INC. It will be featured in the...

Stcokwatch.(restaurant industry)(Brief Article)(Illustration)(Statistical Data Included)
April 18, 2002... STOCKWATCH (shares over $3) Top Gainers Pct. Wed. change Close Total Entertainment 18.98 $11.78 J. Alexander's Corp. 9.84 3.35 Quality Dining Inc. ...

Ruth Fertel. (Just in).(founder of Ruth Chris Steak House dies)(Brief Article)(Obituary)
April 17, 2002... NEW ORLEANS -- RUTH FERTEL, founder of the 82-unit RUTH'S CHRIS STEAK HOUSE chain, died at a hospital here Tuesday after a lengthy bout with lung cancer: She was 75. Fertel, often called the "First Lady of American Restaurants," bought the...

McDonald's Corp. (Just in).(social responsibility report)(Brief Article)
April 17, 2002... OAKBROOK, Ill. -- MCDONALD'S CORP. issued its first world-wide social responsibility report to provide prospective on such company initiatives as those promoting animal welfare and the use of recycled products. The fast-food giant released a...

Chicago Pizza & Brewery Inc. (Just in).(appointments)(Brief Article)
April 17, 2002... HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif -- CHICAGO PIZZA & BREWERY INC., owner of the 26-unit BJ's dinnerhouse-brew-pub chain, appointed JOHN F. GRUNDHOFER and J. ROGER KING to its board of directors. Grundhofer is the chairman of U.S. Bancorp, a multistate...

Roadhouse Grill Inc. (Just in).(chapter 11 filed)(Brief Article)
April 17, 2002... POMPANO BEACH, Fla. -- ROADHOUSE GRILL INC., the owner and operator of 73 dinnerhouses in Florida and nine other states, said it filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy because the company could not negotiate a debt restructuring with affiliates of...

CEC Entertainment Inc. (Financial Briefs).(increase in earnings)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
April 17, 2002... IRVING, Texas -- Despite a 2.2-percent dip in same-store sales, CEC ENTERTAINMENT INC. reported a 6-percent increase in first-quarter earnings to $26.8 million. Revenue grew 6 percent to $172.8 million. The company, whose 407-unit CHUCK E....

Stockwatch.(Brief Article)(Illustration)(Statistical Data Included)
April 17, 2002... STOCKWATCH (shares over $3) Top Gainers Pct. Tues. change Close Nathan's Famous Inc. 9.30 $3.77 Mexican Restaurants 8.02 4.16 Quality...

Thomas Pate, vice president of management training for Cracker Barrel Old Country Store. (Just In).(responds to NAACP lawsuit)(Brief Article)
April 16, 2002... LEBANON, Tenn. -- THOMAS PATE, vice president of management training for CRACKER BARREL OLD COUNTRY STORE, defended the family-dining chain's practices in a recent news conference, firing back at the NAACP, which said last week it was joining...

Qdoba Mexican Grill. (Just In).(signs agreement to expand chain in Virginia)(Brief Article)
April 16, 2002... DENVER -- QDOBA MEXICAN GRILL signed a group of veteran franchise operators, including the largest franchisee of Papa John's Pizza, to an agreement calling for expansion of the Denver-based quick-service chain in Virginia. The new franchisee...

Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Inc. (Just In).(will consolidate Miami, West Palm Beach markets)(Brief Article)
April 16, 2002... WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- KRISPY KREME DOUGHNUTS INC. said it will consolidate its company-owned Miami market with its currently franchised. West Palm Beach, Fla., market. JIM CONSENTINO, president of DYNAMIC DOUGHNUTS, INC., who also is the...

Louisiana Restaurant Association. (Just In).(court delays higher minimum wage implementation)(Brief Article)
April 16, 2002... BATON ROUGE, La. -- Following litigation by the LOUISIANA RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION and other business interests seeking an appeal, the state SUPREME COURT delayed indefinitely the implementation of a higher minimum wage in New Orleans Parish,...

Checkers Drive-In Restaurants Inc. (Financial Briefs).(third-quarter earnings)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
April 16, 2002... TAMPA, Fla. -- CHECKERS DRIVE-IN RESTAURANTS INC., operator and franchiser of 409 Checkers and 386 Rally's reported third-quarter earnings of $2.7 million, vs. year-ago earnings of $843,000. Revenue rose 15 percent to $40.4 million....

Landry's Restaurants Inc. (Financial Briefs).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
April 16, 2002... HOUSTON - Citing sales gains at its Joe's Crab Shack chain and lower seafood commodity prices, 213-unit LANDRY'S RESTAURANTS INC. reported a 67-percent to $192.2 million. Landry's credited a "strong" quarter by its Rainforest. Cafe chain and...

Volume Services America. (Executive Suite).(hires Lawrence E. Honig)(Brief Article)
April 16, 2002... SPARTANBURG, S.C. - VOLUME SERVICES AMERICA hired LAWRENCE E. HONIG as chief executive of the sports and convention-center concessionaire. JOHN DEE, who was chairman and CEO, will remain chairman. Honig had been chairman, CEO and president of...

Stockwatch.(restaurant industry)(Brief Article)(Illustration)(Statistical Data Included)
April 16, 2002... STOCKWATCH (shares over $3) Top Gainers Pct. Mon. Change Close Checkers Deive-In Rests. 13.82 $12.93 Piccadilty Cafeterias 8.06 3.35...

Gov. George Pataki. (Just in).(of New York and New Jesey Governor James McGreevey propose rule requiring fingerprinting and criminal background checks of foodservice and other New York-area airport employees)(Brief Article)
April 15, 2002... NEW YORK -- New York GOV. GEORGE PATAKI and New Jersey GOV. JAMES MCGREEVEY proposed new security rules for the 23 airports around the New York City area that would exceed federal standards by requiring fingerprinting and criminal background...

Burger King Corp. (Just in).(planning the nationwide introduction of a value menu and a salad lineup)(Brief Article)
April 15, 2002... MIAMI -- BURGER KING CORP. is planning the nationwide introduction of a value menu and a salad lineup, BK chief marketing officer CHRIS CLOUSER told Nation's Restaurant News. He declined to provide details or rollout dates but indicated that...

La Salsa Inc. (Just in).(signs Florida restaurant development deal with South Florida Cafes Inc.)(Brief Article)
April 15, 2002... SANTA BARBARA, Calif -- LA SALSA INC., a 95-unit fast-casual chain owned by CKE Restaurants Inc., signed South Florida Cafes Inc. to a franchise development agreement to open five La Salsa Fresh Mexican Grills in Florida Expansion to the...

Creative Host Services Inc. (Just in).(gets concession contract at Newark International Airport)(Brief Article)
April 15, 2002... SAN DIEGO -- CREATIVE HOST SERVICES INC. landed a contract with the Port Authority of NEW York, New Jersey for a third concession venue within NEWARK INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT in Newark, N.J. By July Creative Host expects to debut a deli/cocktail...

Diedrich Coffee Inc. (Financial Briefs).(3rd-quarter earnings report)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
April 15, 2002... IRVINE, Calif -- DIEDRICH COFFEE INC. said a $297,000 charge related to a malfunction in the company's Keurig K-Cup line for the office coffee-service market led to a third-quarter loss of $190,000, compared with a loss of $632,000 in the...

Advantica Restaurant Group. (Financial Briefs).(1st-quarter same-store sales)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
April 15, 2002... SPARTANBURG, S.C. -- ADVANTICA RESTAURANT GROUP said same-store sales for the first quarter ended March 27 fell 0.1 percent at Denny's, 63 percent at Cocos and 1.6 percent at vs. the year-ago period. Advantica's chains have 2,332 units.

Tom Hartman. (Executive Suite).(joins Mimi's Cafe as market partner for Utah)(Brief Article)
April 15, 2002... SALT LAKE CITY -- Restaurant veteran TOM HARIMAN joined 58-unit MIMI'S CAFE as a market partner for Utah and will supervise expansion of the French/New Orleans-inspired casual-family restaurants in the state. The Tustin, Calif.-based chain's...

Domino's Pizza. (Executive Suite).(Jeffrey Lawrence named controller, Edwina Divins named VP)(Brief Article)
April 15, 2002... ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- DOMINO'S PIZZA promoted JEFFREY D. LAWRENCE to vice president and corporate controller. He most recently was senior director of financial reporting for the Ann Arbor-based chain. In addition, EDWINA WILSON DIVINS was...

Dean Foods Co. (Executive Suite).(Howard Dean to retire as chairmand, Gregg Engles to succeed him)(Brief Article)
April 15, 2002... DALLAS -- DEAN FOODS CO. said 37-year company veteran HOWARD M. DEAN retired as director and chairman. The dairy processing company said GREGG ENGLES, current chief executive and vice chairman of the board, will replace Dean as chairman.