bite-sized buzz for september 7

A quick list that includes branding news, expansion plans, restaurant openings, pizza and more.

Inc. magazine released its list of the top 5,000 fastest growing privately held companies in America. The top 10 restaurant companies are: Chicken Salad Chick (37), Melba’s Old School Po’ Boys (123), The Chicken & Rice Guys (206), Nekter Juice Bar (334), MOD Pizza (373), Saxby’s Coffee (629), Pizza Schmizza (678), Hawkers Asian Street Fare (1247), Figueroa Moutain Brewing Co., (1353), and Surly Brewing (1410).
Technomic Inc. reports in On Demand Delivery: Disrupting the Future of Foodservice, that even when restaurants have a formal agreement with a third-party ordering or delivery service, 76 percent of consumers hold the restaurant at least partially responsible for any errors in the transaction.
In other Technomic news, a new forecast expects overall consumer spending on alcoholic beverages in the away-from-home channel will grow at a modest 2.3 percent, with similar expectations for 2017. Total alcohol volume in bars and restaurants is expected to be flat in 2016.

Charlie Graingers Hot Dogs, Brisket and BBQ, based in Wilmington, N.C., announced a development agreement that will bring more than 100 stores to Florida. Since launching franchising in 2015, the burgeoning chain has over 350 commitments for stores, mostly in the southern U.S.
Elevation Burger — the organic “better burger” concept — announced plans for 20 new restaurants in Egypt.
MOOYAH Burgers, Fries & Shakes opened a new restaurant in Tuscaloosa, Ala., its 100th since launching in Plano, Texas in 2007.
Real Mex Restaurants — operators of Chevys Fresh Mex, El Torito, Acapulco, and Pink Taco — is actively seeking one or more strategic acquisitions within the next twelve months that would effectively double the company.
True Food Kitchen plans to open two new locations in the Bay Area in October. The operation has 12 locations in the U.S. and boasts an anti-inflammatory diet menu.

Leading restaurant design firm api(+), headquartered in Tampa, Fla., hired Fernando Castillo as studio director for its Miami office.
sbe, the Los Angeles-based leading lifestyle hospitality company that develops, manages and operates award-winning hospitality venues, announced today it has hired Philippe Zrihen as Partner and member of its Executive Committee.

Texas-based Gatti’s Pizza announced a five-year partnership with The University of Texas to bring its pies to campus locations.
Pie Five opened a second location in Virginia and a fifth location in Baltimore. The chain currently has more 90 locations in the US.
Pieology, named the fastest-growing chain by Technomic, has opened a location in Goleta, Calif.
PizzaRev is seeking franchisees and scouting for corporate stores in and around the Austin and San Antonio, Texas, markets.
Uncle Maddio’s Pizza signed a development deal to open two new stores in Florida’s panhandle.