Development
- Development
- Donna Boss
In today’s fast-paced society, a growing number of fast-casual foodservice concepts continue to add or expand their grab-and-go offerings to capture a greater share of time-starved customers’ business.
- Development
- Dana Tanyeri
Ari Weinzweig and Paul Saginaw started Zingerman’s Delicatessen in 1982 with a $20,000 loan, a staff of two, a selection of specialty foods and a short sandwich menu served from a small corner building in Ann Arbor, Mich. Today, Zingerman’s is a Michigan institution with annual revenues approaching $40 million. Zingerman’s has grown to include a creamery, a bakery, a coffee company, candy manufacturing and mail order, among others. It also operates ZingTrain consulting and plans to open a Korean restaurant in 2016. Weinzweig says great products and long-term vision drive the company.
- Development
- Dana Tanyeri
Growing a traditional, family dining franchise is not without challenges in the current environment, which seems partial to smaller, Millennial-friendly, fast-casual concepts. But Redding, Calif.–based Black Bear Diner continues to prove that distinctive, family-focused operations that stick to their knitting with familiar, comfort-food favorites; clean, inviting operations; and friendly service can thrive. Now at 20 years old with 74 units in the western U.S., Black Bear ramped up both corporate and franchised growth and targets 100 units by 2018. Chief development officer Doug Branigan explains how they’ll get there.
- Development
- The Editors
The parent company of Aubuelo’s Mexican Restaurant is converting its Lexington, Ky., location into a new concept, Oak Spring Grill.
- Development
- The Editors
UFood Grill, the health-focused fast casual concept, debuted a newly-remodeled location in Terminal B at Logan International Airport in Boston.
- Development
- The Editors
Panda Restaurant Group Inc., a privately held company operating Panda Express restaurants, has invested in Pieology last month and Just Salad earlier this month at about 111 outlets combined. Panda Express execs say they plan to make additional minority-stake investments in growing fast-casual chains to leverage new real estate and expanded customer demographic opportunities.
