Mango Makes Its Mark in Spring Drinks
Back in December, we identified mango as an emerging cocktail flavor for 2014. As we enter spring, mango indeed is making headlines in adult beverages: Mango Moscato is the featured flavor of Red Robin Gourmet Burgers’ new wine shake, which drew national attention when it was announced last week. And AB InBev this month debuted the Bud Light Lime Mang-O-Rita as one of two new additions to the highly successful Ritas line that launched in 2012. MORE>>
Restaurant Marketing Ideas for April
Restaurant owners and operators are always on the lookout for special events they can use in their online and offline marketing efforts. Tax Day, for example, has become an annual favorite as restaurants across the nation step up to offer tax weary Americans a break with special deals and offers. April also serves up many food specific days that can easily be worked into any menu marketing plan. On the menu: Beer, Blueberry Pie, Caramel and MORE>>
Major City at Center of $15 Wage Fight
Activists pushing for a $15 minimum wage are now focusing their efforts on Seattle, and may use their tactics there to drive similar pushes in other cities around the United States. The group at the center of the Seattle efforts, 15 Now, was a prime organizing force behind a ballot measure last November that forced starting wages for a small subset of transportation and hospitality workers in nearby SeaTac, Wash., to $15 beginning in January. MORE>>
Diageo Sharpens Focus on Emerging Marketing Through Changes to its Leadership Team
With an eye toward sharpening its focus on China and India, Diageo has made changes to its international leadership team. Gilbert Ghostine, who has been president of Diageo Asia-Pacific for the past five years, will now concentrate his regional focus on China and India. His new title is president, Diageo India and China, and chief corporate development officer. In that newly created corporate development role, Ghostine will be responsible for the company’s business development. MORE>>
The 15 Most Allergy-Friendly Restaurant Chains
Navigating a restaurant menu when you have food allergies can zap all the fun from dining out. But it doesn't have to -- if you know where to eat. In that spirit, AllergyEats, an online guide to allergy-friendly restaurants, has released its annual ranking of chain restaurants that best serve customers with food allergies. "These restaurants have demonstrated a superior willingness and ability to accommodate guests with food allergies," Paul Antico, founder and CEO of AllergyEats, said in a statement. MORE>>
Women Consumer Restaurant Trends
The quick-serve industry, which has seen a boom in healthy dining trends coinciding with the increase of women’s purchasing power, does seem to be listening to what women want. The rise in popularity of healthful menu items; fresh, quality ingredients; and the customizable model that offers nearly endless options reflect the typical values of the female consumer. MORE>>
Chipotle Not Too Hot for Bulls 79% Annual Advance
Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc. (CMG), the best stock performer among U.S. restaurant chains last year, remains a favorite of options traders who bet its new outlets and food choices will attract health-conscious customers. Puts that pay should the shares drop 10 percent cost 1.16 times more than calls betting on a 10 percent gain, according to one-month data compiled by Bloomberg. The price relationship fell to the lowest level since December 2012 on Jan. 13. MORE>>
Beyond the Bar
A full-service restaurant isn’t the most obvious or easiest place for bar-driven event programming, since it must serve the needs of the dining area first and foremost. But even if the bar isn’t the anchor of the venue, bar-driven programming can promote the restaurant, bring guests in during quiet hours, establish the expertise of the bar staff in a spirit or cocktail category, and keep a sit-down restaurant so full there is standing-room only. MORE>>
NCCR Urges Senate to Reject Minimum Wage Hike
The National Council of Chain Restaurants issued the following comments from Executive Director Rob Green on the hearing held today by the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee on a proposal to raise the federal minimum wage: "Today’s hearing is an exercise in rehearsed political talking points that ignore the practical reality of what yet another government mandate on businesses would mean in this fragile economy. MORE>>
Buffalo Wild Wings Hosts Community Day
As part of the Buffalo Wild Wings Team Up for Kids initiative, nearly 600 Buffalo Wild Wings® restaurants across the United States are inviting local Guests to join them for a Community Day on April 9. The restaurants will donate 10 percent of total sales that day to a local Boys & Girls Club in their community. Guests can support their local area Boys & Girls Club by dining at a participating Buffalo Wild Wings restaurant, and may add a personal donation to their guest check if desired. Participating restaurants may also host a variety of fun Guest activities to promote Community Day in the restaurant. MORE>>