Nation's Restaurant News Daily NewsFax articles from June 2002

Nation's Restaurant News Daily NewsFax archives from June 2002

The special meeting called by the World Health Organization and Food and Agriculture Organization. (Just In).(carcingoenic acrylamide found in french fries)(Brief Article)
June 28, 2002... GENEVA--Concluding a three-day U.N. conference Thursday that reviewed recent findings by Swedish, Norwegian, British and other researchers, international health experts expressed "major concern" that french flies, potato chips and other...

The first Yan Can restaurant, a 50-50 joint venture of Yum! Brands of Louisville. (Just In).(and Favorite Restaurants)(Brief Article)
June 28, 2002... PLEASANT HILL, Calif. -- The first YAN CAN restaurant, a 5050 joint venture of YUM! BRANDS of Louisville, Ky., and Hong Kong-based FAVORITE RESTAURANTS GROUP, opened here this week, about 20 miles east of San Francisco. The fast-casual...

Worldwide Restaurant Concepts Inc. (Financial Briefs).(data for latest fiscal year)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
June 28, 2002... SHERMAN OAKS Calif. -- WORLDWIDE RESTAURANT CONCEPTS INC. said net earnings for the year ended April 30 were up 65 percent to $4.5 million, vs. $2.7 million last year Revenue rose 9 percent to $267.2 million, vs. $2452 million in the prior...

ARK Restaurant Group said it hired Robert J. Stewart as chief financial officer to replace Andrew Kuruc. (Executive Suite).(Brief Article)
June 28, 2002... NEW YORK -- ARK RESTAURANT GROUP said it hired ROBERT J. STEWART as chief financial officer to replace ANDREW KURUC, who ended his 15-year tenure with the 45-unit company to pursue other business opportunities. Stewart was CFO and executive...

AFC Enterprises Inc., parent of Church's Chicken, Popeyes Chicken & Biscuits, Cinnabon, Seattle's Best Coffee and Torrefazione Italia Coffee. (Executive Suite).(hires new director of investor relations)(Brief Article)
June 28, 2002... ATLANTA -- AFC ENTERPRISES INC., parent of Church's Chicken, Popeyes Chicken & Biscuits, Cinnabon, Seattle's Best Coffee and Torrefazione Italia Coffee, heed FELISE GLANTZ KISSELL for a newly created post as director of investor relations and...

CKE Restaurants Inc. (Marketing Matters).(promotion at Hardee's restaurants)(Brief Article)
June 28, 2002... ST. LOUIS -- Targeting casual-dining customers, the 12,354-unit HARDEE's fast-food chain launched a Philly Roast Beef Sandwich, S2.99, or $4.39 with flies and a drink. The St Louis-based subsidiary of CKE RESTAURANTS INC. said the...

Stockwatch.(recent stock prices for selected restaurant firms)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
June 28, 2002... STOCKWATCH (shares over $3) Pct. Thurs. Top Gainers chage close Total Entertainment 9.90 $16.32 Checkers Drive-In Rests. 7.88 11.50 Darden Restaurants Inc. 7.14...

Afton Food Group Ltd. (Just In).(Pizza Delight Corp. acquisition postponed)(Brief Article)
June 27, 2002... BURLNGTON, Ontario -- AFTON FOOD GROUP LTD. postponed shareholder approval of its merger with Moncton, New Brunswick-based PIZZA DELIGHT CORP. to assess the possible need for additional financial disclosures. The delay comes after Pizza...

Houston's Restaurants Inc. (Just In).(Dive! restaurant site at Century City Marketplace may be changed to Gulfstream seafood place)(Brief Article)
June 27, 2002... PHOENIX -- HOUSTON'S RESTAURANTS INC., 50-unit parent of the high-grossing namesake chain and such other dinnerhouse concepts as Bandera and Rutherford Grill and Palm Beach Grill, declined to confirm that it is developing the former...

Hong Kong Council on Smoking and Health. (Just In).(smoking ban survey)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
June 27, 2002... HONG KONG -- A two-month-long survey of 4,521 tourists here by the HONG KONG COUNCIL ON SMOKING AND HEALTH led to its projections that a ban on smoking in restaurants and bars would lead to a 19-percent boost in their sales and a 5-percent...

Eateries Inc. (Just In).(fires Arthur Andersen L.L.P.)(Brief Article)
June 27, 2002... EDMOND, Okla -- EATERIES INC., parent of Garfield's Restaurant and Pub, Garcia's Mexican Restaurants and Pepperoni Grill, terminated independent auditor ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP, which was found guilty this month of obstruction of justice in...

King's Family Restaurants. (Just In).(signs franchise agreement with Red Robin International)(Brief Article)
June 27, 2002... PITTSBURGH -- KING'S FAMILY RESTAURANTS signed a franchise agreement with RED ROBIN INTERNATIONAL that calls for King to open five Red Robins in western Pennsylvania over the next five years. Denver-based Red Robin operates and franchises...

Darden Restaurants Inc. (Just In).(Olive Garden introduces new items)(Brief Article)
June 27, 2002... ORLANDO, Fla. -- OLIVE GARDEN, the 496-unit DARDEN RESTAURANTS INC.-owned chain, launched several new items to emphasize its goal of offering a genuine regional Italian dining experience. Among the items are a bruschetta dish, a tomato and...

Roadhouse Grill Inc. (Just In).(new menu items introduced)(Brief Article)
June 27, 2002... POMPANO BEACH, Fla. -- ROADHOUSE GRILL INC. launched 14 new menu items this week at its 77 restaurants. They include a meat loaf dish, honey barbecue chicken wings, skewers of grilled filet mignon with peanut dipping sauce, pasta Alfredo, a...

Cinnabon Inc. (Executive Suite).(president resigns)(Brief Article)
June 27, 2002... ATLANTA -- CINNABON INC., a 565-unit subsidiary of AFC ENTERPRISES INC., said GREGG KAPLAN resigned as president to pursue other business opportunities. He joined AFC in 1996 as vice president of worldwide strategic development, after serving...

Outback Steakhouse Inc. (Executive Suite).(hires Bill Allen)(Brief Article)
June 27, 2002... TAMPA, Fla. -- OUTBACK STEAKHOUSE INC. named Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar co-founder BILLALLEN chief executive of a new Premium Concepts division, to oversee Outback's joint ventures with the Roy's Restaurants and Fleming's chains....

Stockwatch.(restaurant industry)(Brief Article)(Illustration)(Statistical Data Included)
June 27, 2002... STOCK WATCH (Shares over $3) Top Gainers Pct. Wed. change close Krispy Kreme 6.79 $32.25 Sonic Corp. 5.09 31.56 Steak...

Quality Concession Foods. (Just In).(Aramark wins Houston school contract)(Brief Article)
June 26, 2002... HOUSTON -- ARAMARK retained a foodservice contract with the HOUSTON INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT despite a rancorous school board debate over the contractor's use of minority vendors. The board reportedly voted 7-2 to renegotiate with Aramark...

Olive Group Corp. (Just In).(Todd English lawsuit)(Brief Article)
June 26, 2002... BOSTON--An investment company and a business partner of restaurateur TODD ENGLISH lost their bids for preliminary court injunctions against the celebrity chef on Tuesday after suing him last week for alleged nonpayment of a $450,000 loan and...

Smith & Wollensky Restaurant Group Inc. (Financial Briefs).(second quarter sales)(Brief Article)
June 26, 2002... NEW YORK--SMITH & WOLLENSKY RESTAURANT GROUP INC. said preliminary figures for the second quarter ending July 1 indicate that same-store sales will be up 3 percent, vs. the year-ago period, on top of a 4.5-percent rise in the first quarter....

Nathan's Famous Inc. (Financial Briefs).(earnings for the year ended March 31 were down 22 percent )(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
June 26, 2002... WESTBURY, N.Y -- Blaming soft sales following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, NATHAN'S FAMOUS INC. said earnings for the year ended March 31 were down 22 percent to $1.2 million, vs. $1.6 million last year. Revenue fell 5.9 percent to $44.4...

Schlotzsky's Deli. (Marketing Matters).(four-week "Music for Your Mouth" TV campaign )(Brief Article)
June 26, 2002... AUSTIN, Texas -- SCHLOTZSKY'S DELI on July 8 will break a four-week "Music for Your Mouth" TV campaign to promote the chain's All American Angus beef sandwich. The 15- and 30-second spots mix black-and-white animation with food shots and live...

Del Taco. (Marketing Matters).("Macho Summer" promotion)(Brief Article)
June 26, 2002... LAGUNA HILLS, Calif. -- DEL TACO plans to give away more than a million prizes during its "Macho Summer" promotion, which begins today and runs through July 17. The promotion is supported with a TV spot and includes the tag line "Need new...

Stockwatch.(Brief Article)(Illustration)(Statistical Data Included)
June 26, 2002... STOCKWATCH (shares over $3) Top Gainers Pct. Tues. change close Max & Erma's 12.66 $15.22 Ark Restaurant Group 6.95 7.75 Smith &...

Prandium Inc. (Just In).(reorganization)(Brief Article)
June 25, 2002... IRVINE Calif. -- PRANDIUM INC., parent of Chi-Chi's. Koo Koo Roo and Hamburger Hamlet, said its prepackaged reorganization plan was approved by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Santa Ana, Calif. The 170-unit restaurant company, which filed for...

Baja Fresh Mexican Grill inked a 16-unit area development deal over the next five years with Lettuce Entertain you Enterprises Inc. (Just In).(Brief Article)
June 25, 2002... THOUSAND OAKS, Calif -- BAJA FRESH MEXICAN GRILL inked a 16-unit area development deal over the next five years with LETTUCE ENTERTAIN YOU ENTERPRISES INC. for the Chicago area The new Mexican fast-casual units, which will be operated by...

Marking his first restaurant at sea, celebrity chef Todd English will develop par restaurant on the Cunard Line. (Just In).(Brief Article)
June 25, 2002... BOSTON--Marking his first restaurant at sea, celebrity chef TODD ENGLISH will develop par restaurant on the CUNARD LINE'S new $800 million Queen Mary 2, which will debut in January 2004. The 216-seat restaurant will be called Todd English and...

National Restaurant Association. (Just In).(Brief Article)
June 25, 2002... WASHINGTON -- The restaurant industry will add some 352,900 jobs dining the 2002 summer season, up 4.4 percent from March 2002, according to the NATIONAL RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION. California, New York, Massachusetts and New Jersey are expected...

CKE Restaurants Inc. (Financial Briefs).(Brief Article)
June 25, 2002... SANTA BARBARA, Calif. -- CKERESTAURANTS INC. said same-store sales for the four weeks ended the week of June 17 were up 3.73 percent at Cad's Jr., 0.83 percent at Hardee's and 1.64 percent at La Salsa vs. the same year-ago period. CKE has...

Sonic Corp. (Financial Briefs).(third quarter earnings)(Brief Article)
June 25, 2002... OKLAHOMACITY -- SONIC CORP. said earnings for the third quarter ended May 31 were up 30 percent to $14.9 million vs. $11.5 million in the year-ago period. Year-to-date earnings were up 24 percent to $31.6 million vs. $25.5 million in the same...

D4 Creative Group. (Marketing Matters).(Brief Article)
June 25, 2002... NEW YORK -- D4 CREATIVE GROUP, a full-service Philadelphia advertising agency, has been awarded the franchise advertising account of the six-unit GOODFELLA'S chain based here. The tagline in the advertising and on the brick-oven pizza and...

Elpollo Loco. (Marketing Matters).(Brief Article)
June 25, 2002... IRVINE, Calif. -- To give customers a taste of summer, ELPOLLO LOCO said it is returning its barbecue chicken to menus nationwide through Aug. 11. The chicken is smothered in the chain's barbecue sauce and then flame-broiled To support the...

McDonald's Corp. (Marketing Matters).(Brief Article)
June 25, 2002... OAK BROOK, Ill. -- Due to the enormous popularity of its new Chicken Flatbread Sandwich, MCDONALD'S CORP. said it scaled back advertising by asking its restaurants take down in-store promotional material to ensure that demand does not outpace...

Stockwatch (shares over $3).(Brief Article)
June 25, 2002... STOCKWATCH (shares over $3) Top Gainers Pct. Mon. change close Meritage Hospitality 6.31 $5.90 Chicago Pizza & Brewery 4.94 8.93 Quality Dining...

Wendy's International Inc. said it completed its acquisition of Fresh Enterprises Inc. (Just In).(Brief Article)
June 24, 2002... DUBLIN, Ohio -- In a deal valued at $275 million, WENDY'S INTERNATIONAL INC. said it completed its acquisition of FRESH ENTERPRISES INC., the owner and operator of the 173-unit Baja Fresh Mexican Grill. The deal, which first was announced on...

Morton's Restaurant Group Inc. said it would give private investment firm Castle Harlan. (Just In).(Castle Harlan must respond to competing bid for Morton's)(Brief Article)
June 24, 2002... NEW HYDE PARK, N.Y. -- MORTON'S RESTAURANT GROUP INC. said it would give private investment firm CASTLE HARLAN five business days, or until June 28, to respond to investor CARLICAHN'S $15-a-share -- or more than $63 million -- offer for the...

Eateries Inc. landed a deal for Denver based Amador Restaurants Inc. to develop Garcia. (Just In).(Garcia Mexican Restaurants)(Brief Article)
June 24, 2002... EDMOND, Okla. -- EATERIES INC. landed a deal for Denver-based AMADOR RESTAURANTS INC. to develop Garcia's Mexican Restaurants in Denver and Colorado Springs, Colo. Amador purchased an existing Garcia's restaurant in Denver from Eateries and...

Big Boy Restaurants International broke ground here on its new prototype Big Boy restaurant, scheduled to open this December. (Just In).(in Grand Rapids, Michigan)(Brief Article)
June 24, 2002... GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- BIG BOY RESTAURANTS INTERNATIONAL broke ground here on its new prototype Big Boy restaurant, scheduled to open this December. The new design will retain much of Big Boy's traditional look, but will cost less to build...

Downtown Atlanta Restaurant Week. (Just In).(charitable drive)(Brief Article)
June 24, 2002... ATLANTA -- Following the success of similar programs in major cities across the country, Atlanta is set to host its first DOWNTOWN ATLANTA RESTAURANT WEEK running from July 29 to Aug. 3. Participating restaurants will offer three-course...

Meritage Hospitality Group. (Financial Briefs).(Wendy's franchiser; 2nd-quarter data)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
June 24, 2002... GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- MERITAGE HOSPITALITY GROUP, a 42-unit Wendy's franchisee, said earnings for the second quarter ended June 2 were down 50 percent to $251,340 vs. $506,393 in the year-ago period. However, 2001 earnings were bolstered by...

The Multicultural Foodservice & Hospitality Alliance. (Executive Suite).(gets new chairperson)(Brief Article)
June 24, 2002... PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- The MULTICULTURAL FOODSERVICE & HOSPITALITY ALLIANCE, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promote diversity in the restaurant and hospitality industry, elected PAT HARRIS, chief diversity officer of MCDONALD'S CORP., as...

To celebrate its 41st anniversary, Wienerschnitzel is set to give out free Original Chili Dogs on July 3. (Marketing Matters).(Brief Article)
June 24, 2002... NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. -- To celebrate its 41st anniversary, WIENERSCHNITZEL is set to give out free Original Chili Dogs on July 3. "The goal is to attract new first-time customers who have never been to Wienerschnitzel and to thank our...

Stockwatch (shares over $3).(recent restaurant industry stock price moves)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
June 24, 2002... STOCKWATCH (shares over $3) Top Gainers Pct. Fri. change close Meritage Hospitality 6.12 $5.55 Total Entertainment 3.03 17.00 Famous Dave's of...

Johnson & Wales University plans to consolidate its Charleston, S.C., and Norfolk, Va., campuses. (Just in).(Brief Article)
June 21, 2002... CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- JOHNSON & WALES UNIVERSITY plans to consolidate its Charleston, S.C., and Norfolk, Va., campuses into one $82 million campus here that will be the anchor of a commercial and residential development. The Charlotte campus...

Creative Host Services Inc. (Just In).(a contract for five concession locations in Boston's Logan Airport)(Brief Article)
June 21, 2002... SAN DIEGO -- CREATIVE HOST SERVICES INC. said it garnered a contract for five concession locations in BOSTON LOGAN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT'S Terminal E. The company said the contract, which expires in November 2009, is expected to generate...

Burger King parent Diageo Plc. (Just In).(Is moving closer to selling the Miami-based fast-food chain)(Brief Article)
June 21, 2002... LONDON -- BURGER KING parent DIAGEO PLC is moving closer to selling the Miami-based fast-food chain in an apparent $2.3 billion deal with San Francisco private equity firm TEXAS PACIFIC GROUP (TPG), that could be announced in July, according...

Hmshostcorp. inked additional spaces in San Antonio International Airport. (Just In).(Brief Article)
June 21, 2002... BETHESDA, Md. -- HMSHOST CORP. inked additional spaces in SAN ANTONIO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. According to HMSHost, a provider o food, beverage and retail concessions to the travel industry, the spaces will be developed as a Simply...

Ihopcorp. (Financial Briefs).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
June 21, 2002... GLENDALE, Calif. -- IHOP CORP. said it expects to incur about $3.5 million to $4 million of additional expenses in 2002. The costs mainly are associated with market, brand and consumer-research programs, new restaurant-site assessment...

Darden Restaurants Inc. (Financial Briefs).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
June 21, 2002... ORLANDO, Fla. -- Driven by same-store sales growth, DARDEN RESTAURANTS INC. said earnings for the fourth quarter ended May 26 were up 20 percent to $72.9 million vs. $61 million in the year-ago period. Same-store sales for the fourth quarter...

Yum! Brands Inc. (Financial Briefs).(Brief Article)
June 21, 2002... LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- YUM! BRANDS INC., parent of Taco Bell, KFC, Pizza Hut, A&W Restaurants and Long John Silver's, said estimated systemwide same-store sales for the four weeks ended June 15 were up 5 percent at its company restaurants vs. the...

Dunkin' Donuts, a wholly owned subsidiary of Allied Domecq Plc. (Marketing Matters).(Will be represented by Tom Brady of the New England Patriots)(Brief Article)
June 21, 2002... RANDOLPH, Mass. -- DUNKIN' DONUTS, a wholly owned subsidiary of ALLIED DOMECQ PLC, said New England Patriots quarterback and Super Bowl MVP TOM BRADY inked a deal to represent the 5,000-unit chain in a special product promotion scheduled to...

Stockwatch (shares over $3).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
June 21, 2002... STOCKWATCH (shares over $3) Top Gainers Pct. Thurs. change close Ark Restaurant Group 13.91 $7.86 Total Entertainment 9.92 16.50 Diedrich Coffee...

Talk of the Town Restaurants here, parent of the highly successful 8-year-old casual seafood brand Fish Bones. (Just In).(Brief Article)
June 20, 2002... ORLANDO, Fla. - TALK OF THE TOWN RESTAURANTS here, parent of the highly successful 8-year-old casual seafood brand FISH BONES, is suing Tampa, Fla-based BONEFISH GRILL ma emerging six-unit chain, and its growth partner, OUTBACK STEAKHOUSE...

McDonald's Corp. (Just In).(Brief Article)
June 20, 2002... MISSISSAUGA, Ontario - BOSTON MARKET CANADA, a subsidiary of Oak Brook, Ill.-based MCDONALD'S CORP., broke ground on its first Canadian unit here. The new unit is the first of three scheduled to open in the greater Toronto area in 2002....

Olive Group Corp. president James Cafarelli filed suit in Suffolk Superior Court. (Just In).(Brief Article)
June 20, 2002... BOSTON - Two lawsuits were filed againts Boston-based celebrity chef TODD ENGLISH on June 18, the Boston Herald Reported. OLIVE GROUP CORP. president JAMES CAFARELLI filed suit in Suffolk Superior Court, claiming he hadn't been paid salary or...

Lamar's Donuts International Inc. (Just In).(Moving its HQ to Denver)(Brief Article)
June 20, 2002... DENVER-LAMAR'S DONUTS INTERNATIONAL INC. is moving its headquarters here from Lincoln, Neb., by the end of the month. JOSEPH FIELD, LaMar's chairman and chief executive, said the decision to relocate was based on Denver's access to major...

Starbucks Corp. (Financial Briefs).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
June 20, 2002... SEATTLE - STARBUCKS CORP. said it approved the repurchase of up to 10 million shares. The company said it has repurchased 3.5 million shares for $51.6 million under a $60 million program it launched in Sept. 2001. The more than 5,000-unit...

Michael Hoffer, chief operating officer of Famous Dave's of America Inc. (Executive Suite).(Brief Article)
June 20, 2002... EDEN PRAIRIE. Minn. -- After a seven-month stint, MICHAEL HOFFER, chief operating officer of FAMOUS DAVE'S OF AMERICA INC., left the company to pursue other opportunities, the barbecue chain said in a statement Before joining Famous Dave's in...

Diedrich Coffee Inc. (Executive Suite).(Brief Article)
June 20, 2002... IRVINE, Calif. - DIEDRICH COFFEE INC., which operates Gloria Jean's Gourmet Coffees, Diedrich Coffee and Coffee People, hired ROGER J. STEWART as director of sales, office coffee services. Stewart most recently was senior vice president of...

The 1,250 McDonald's restaurants in Canada launched a "Lighter Choices" menu with seven items. (Marketing Matters).(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
June 20, 2002... TORONTO - The 1,250 MCDONALD'S restaurants in Canada launched a "Lighter Choices" menu with seven items. Items on the new menu range from a McVeggie Burger, which is made from a soy patty and served on a whole wheat bun, to a Mandarin...

Stockwatch.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
June 20, 2002... STOCKWATCH (shares over $3) Pct. Wed. Top Gainers change close Chicago Pizza & Brewery 8.36 $9.20 Good Times 5.87 3.97 Lone Star Steak House 4.14...

Morton's Restaurant Group Inc. (Just In).(getting offers)(Brief Article)
June 19, 2002... NEW HYDE PARK, N.Y. - Investor CARL ICAHN boosted his offer to acquire MORTON'S RESTAURANT GROUP INC. to $15 a share, in response to investment firm CASTLE HARLAN INC. upping its bid to match Icahn's previous offer of $13.50 a share,...

Shakey's Inc. (Just In).(settled lawsuits)(Brief Article)
June 19, 2002... GARDEN GROVE, Calif. - Pizzeria franchisor SHAKEY'S INC. has settled a year-old lawsuit with California franchisees MICK CLARK of sterling Foods Inc. and JOHN J. MCNULTY JR. of Montel Corp., a according to a statement issued by the 70-unit...

Qdoba Mexican Grill. (Just In).(Brief Article)
June 19, 2002... DENVER - Marking its first foray into Pennsylvania, the 75-unit QDOBA MEXICAN GRILL signed BROOKS HOSPITALITY LLC to a franchise agreement calling for it to develop five units in the Pittsburgh area over the next five years. The first unit...

Jack in the Box Inc. (Financial Briefs).(Brief Article)
June 19, 2002... SAN DIEGO - JACK IN THE BOX INC. said same-store sales were down 1.1 percent at company-owned units for the four weeks ended June 9, and were off 0.1 percent for the 36 weeks ended on that date, vs. the year-earlier periods. Nonetheless, the...

McDonald's Corp. (Financial Briefs).(Brief Article)
June 19, 2002... OAKBROOK Ill. - MCDONALD'S CORP. said its chain's sales in the United States increased 2 percent through the first five months of fiscal 2002, although sales were poor in the company's Asia/Pacific/Middle East/Africa region. McDonald's said...

Elmer's Restaurants Inc. (Financial Briefs).(Brief Article)
June 19, 2002... PORTLAND, Ore. - ELMER'S RESTAURANTS INC. said earnings for the fiscal year ended April 1 were up 11 percent to $1 million, vs. last year's $956,006 net profit, and revenue was up 30.6 percent to $33.8 million, vs. $25.9 million in the prior...

CKE Restaurants Inc. (Marketing Matters).(Brief Article)
June 19, 2002... ANAHEIM, Calif - CARL'S JR, the 975-unit fast-food chain owned by CKE RESTAURANTS INC., is launching three new summer menu items today. They are the Jalapeno Cheeseburger, with a suggested price of 99 cents for a single and $4.59 in a combo;...

Stockwatch.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
June 19, 2002... STOCKWATCH (shares over $3) Top Gainers Pct. Tues. change close Quality Dining Inc. 10.63 $4.89 Total Entertainment 9.31 14.78 Back Yard...

Internal Revenue Service. (Just In).(Brief Article)
June 18, 2002... WASHINGTON -- In a decision affecting more than 200,000 restaurants, the SUPREME COURT ruled that the INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE can continue to use estimates of servers' tips to assess employers for Social Security taxes. The high court's 6-3...

Private equity investment firm Castle Harlan Inc. raised its bid to acquire Morton's Restaurant Group Inc. (Just In).(Brief Article)
June 18, 2002... NEW HYDE PARK, N.Y. -- Private equity investment firm CASTLE HARLAN INC. raised its bid to acquire MORTON'S RESTAURANT GROUP INC. to match financier Carl Icahn's $13.50-a-share, $56 million, offer to buy the upscale steakhouse operator. In...

Roadhouse Grill Inc. said it plans to build 60 restaurants during the next four years throughout Italy, France, Holland, Spain, Germany and the United Kingdom. (Just In).(Brief Article)
June 18, 2002... POMPANO BEACH, Fla. -- ROADHOUSE GRILL INC. said it plans to build 60 restaurants during the next four years throughout Italy, France, Holland, Spain, Germany and the United Kingdom. The company, which opened its first European restaurant...

Taco Bell said it will roll out its first meal-in-a-bowl item Wednesday. (Marketing Matters).(Brief Article)
June 18, 2002... IRVINE, Calif. -- TACO BELL said it will roll out its first meal-in-a-bowl item Wednesday. Priced at $2.99, the Zesty Chicken Border Bowl contains grilled chicken, salsa, red tortilla strips and three cheeses over lettuce with dressing,...

Starbucks Coffee Co. removed in-store posters from more than 3,000 units. (Marketing Matters).(Brief Article)
June 18, 2002... SEATTLE -- STARBUCKS COFFEE CO. removed in-store posters from more than 3,000 units because it was told the picture of two tea drinks side by side might have been an inadvertent reminder of the World Trade Center tragedy, the Associated Press...

The National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation approved five new trustees. (Executive Suite).
June 18, 2002... CHICAGO -- The NATIONAL RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION approved five new trustees. They are: THEODORE M. FOWLER JR, President and chief executive of Golden Corral Corp.; DENNIS MARIE FUGO, president of Sammy's; BURTON "SKIP"...

Stockwatch.(Brief Article)(Illustration)(Statistical Data Included)
June 18, 2002... STOCKWATCH (shares over $3) Top Gainers Pct. Mon. change close Rubio's Restaurants Inc. 10.78 $8.94 Max & Enna's 10.75 15.24 CKE...

Royal Capital Corp. (Just In).(Brief Article)
June 17, 2002... HOUSTON -- Atlanta-based ROYAL CAPITAL CORP. signed a deal to buy 57 Texas-based CHURCH'S CHICKEN restaurants from Church's parent AFC ENTERPRISES thought Royal's Inglewood, Calif.-based BEST AMERICAN HOSPITALITY INC. Church's franchise...

Camille's Sidewalk Cafe. (Just In).(Brief Article)
June 17, 2002... TULSA, Okla. -- CAMILLE'S SIDEWALK CAFE, a 16-unit chain here, signed development agreements with four groups for a total of 23 units in Illinois, Iowa, New jersey and Virginia. Camille's units are in strip centers and malls, serving all...

Boston Pizza Restaurants LP. (Just In).(Brief Article)
June 17, 2002... DALLAS -- BOSTON PIZZA RESTAURANTS LP. Dallas-based arm of Boston Pizza International of Canada, which has 160 Boston the Gourmet Pizza units in the U.S. and Canada, signed a franchise deal with ALIMENTOS DE YUCATAN, S.A. DE C.V. for...

Joe Marchetti. (Just In).(Obituary)
June 17, 2002... CHICAGO -- JOE MARCHETTI, who ran the city's famed COMO INN for decades until it closed recently, died June 11 of brain cancer. He was 68. Marchetti took over running the family business that his father started as a 35-seat neighborhood...

Outback Steakhouse. (Just In).(Brief Article)
June 17, 2002... TAMPA, Fla. -- OUTBACK STEAKHOUSE on Saturday dispatched a team of 16 "Outbackers" to Afghanistan to prepare meals including the chain's signature steaks and Bloomin' Onions for 6,000 American troops fighting the war on terrorism. A member of...

Triple R Group. (Just In).(Brief Article)
June 17, 2002... DALLAS -- The TRIPLE R GROUP, headed by former Carlson Restaurants Worldwide executive ROYCE RING and marketing expert RUSSELL HAYWARD, was chosen to reopen the Drum Room in Kansas City, Mo., by PRESIDENT DEVELOPMENT GROUP LLC. The Drum Room,...

CKE Restaurants Inc., citing a $175.8 million change for the write-off of goodwill for its Hardee's brand, reported a loss of $162.6 million for the first quarter ended May 20. (Financial Briefs).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
June 17, 2002... SANTABARBARA, Calif. -- CKE RESTAURANTS INC., citing a $175.8 million change for the write-off of goodwill for its Hardee's brand, reported a loss of $162.6 million for the first quarter ended May 20. In the year-ago period CKE, which...

Roadhouse Grill Inc. (Marketing Matters).(Brief Article)
June 17, 2002... POMPANO BEACH, Fla. -- Following ROADHOUSE GRILL INC.'s statement that it expects to emerge from Chapter 11 reorganization in August, the 69-unit casual-dinning chain said it kicked off a radio advertising and promotional campaign in South...