Restaurant industry added over 8,300 locations in 2013
The restaurant industry continued to expand at a healthy pace in 2013, albeit somewhat slower than recent years, according to newly-released data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The restaurant industry added a net 8,362 establishments* in 2013, an increase of 1.4 percent. The 2013 expansion followed stronger gains of 9,944 locations (+1.8 percent) in 2011 and 11,649 locations (+2.1 percent) in 2012. MORE>>
A Kimpton Hotel in Washington, D.C. Completes Multi-Million Dollar Redesign
Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants announces the completion of a multimillion-dollar renovation and redesign of Donovan House, a Kimpton Hotel. The renovation of the stylish downtown Washington, D.C. hotel encompasses all 193 guestrooms and suites, elevators, and hallway corridors and features a more cosmopolitan look and new business-friendly amenities. MORE>>
Purity Vodka, Inc. Appoints Andres Zuniga to Vice President, Branding and Creative
Purity Vodka has appointed Andres Zuniga to the role of Vice President, Creative and Branding, where he will be responsible for leading the creative direction of the brand and its marketing communication. In this new role, Zuniga will lead the US marketing team and report directly to Purity Vodka AB CEO Andy Glaser. Zuniga joins Purity Vodka after a longtime leadership term at Colangelo Synergy Marketing, where he was a Group Creative Director. MORE>>
Beverage Metrics Names Bob Fenley President
Beverage Metrics, Inc., a leading provider of beverage management solutions, announced that it has named Bob Fenley as President. With more than 25 years of experience in executive leadership and business development roles, Fenley is ideally suited to directly contribute to Beverage Metrics’ overall growth in the on-premise segment of the hospitality industry. MORE>>
P.F. Chang's China Bistro Confirms Credit Card Data Breach
P.F. Chang’s China Bistro Inc. confirmed Friday that data from credit and debit cards used at its restaurants had been breached and it has returned to use of manual-imprint card readers. The Scottsdale, Ariz.-based company said in a statement that it learned of the breach on Tuesday and immediately began an investigation with the Secret Service and third-party forensic experts. MORE>>
Rioja Wines Make Inroads With U.S. Consumers
Spanish wines have been enjoying growth in the U.S. market, with bottled shipments up by more than half a million cases over the past two years. Within the 4.6-million-case Spanish category in the U.S., wines from Rioja have been a major contributor to growth. In 2013, Rioja’s shipments to the U.S. jumped 18% to the equivalent of about 1.1 million cases, capping a run in which its U.S. presence has expanded by nearly three-quarters since 2009. MORE>>
Thinking Outside the Glass
Thanks to continued economic sluggishness, low consumer confidence and, earlier in the year, the weather, 2014 is another year in which the primary growth opportunity for on-premise beverage professionals is in taking share from competitors. For restaurant, hotel and bar operators, that means diverting traffic from the competitor across the street into their own establishment. For brand marketers, it means stealing on-premise occasions from other brands and categories. MORE>>
The Next Big Menu Trends
Smoky, spicy or seasonally sourced, some of the hottest flavors and preparations on menus span both food and beverages. Peppers, for example, recently have popped up in both fast-food sandwiches and casual-dining cocktails. “We’re seeing tandem trends happening across the food and beverage sides of the menu,” said Donna Hood Crecca, senior director of Technomic, Inc. “Does food drive beverage trends, or does beverage drive food trends today?” MORE>>
Uno Heads to Suburbs with New Fast-Casual
Uno Restaurant Holdings Corporation, best known for its full-service Uno Chicago Grill, is doubling down on its fast-casual game with the launch of a new brand meant to compliment existing Uno Due Go restaurants. Uno fresco, which opened its first location in Stoneham, Massachusetts, is the suburban-friendly fast casual that builds on Uno Due Go’s style of service with an amped up dinner menu and family-oriented environment. MORE>>
Coke poised to pounce on Monster Energy? Analyst Suggests Suitors Wary of ‘Legal Overhang’
Potential buyers of Monster Energy including Coke and Anheuser-Busch may be ‘waiting on the sidelines’ until the firm’s potential liabilities on outstanding legal issues have been settled. MORE>>