Food & Beverage News

Some of the most successful brands in casual dining, namely Olive Garden and Texas Roadhouse, have emphatically resisted third-party delivery during its surge into the restaurant marketplace. Darden chief executive officer Gene Lee chief among them. During the company’s June 20 fiscal 2019 review, Lee called the space “an immature business,” and one that’s far…

Food and beverage recalls initiated by the Food and Drug Administration during the first quarter of 2019 fell 36.5% to 99, the second lowest quarter since the third quarter of 2015 and the third lowest total since at least 2010, according to Stericycle Expert Solutions’ Recall Index. Stericycle Expert Solutions attributed the decline primarily to…

A franchisee of 27 Perkins Restaurant & Bakery locations filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection after losing the right to use the parent company’s name. The franchisee, 5171 Campbells Land Co., based in Rankin, Pa., said in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania filing that it had assets of between $1…

When the White Horse Tavern first opened in Newport, Rhode Island in 1673, the colony of Rhode Island had been founded only a few decades prior, the United States was still more than a century away from becoming an independent country, and the idea of the modern restaurant had not yet been invented. The nearly…

Dallas-based Brinker International Inc. plans to buy 116 Chili’s Grill & Bar restaurants from franchisee ERJ Dining, according to a regulatory document filed Wednesday afternoon. The parent of Chili’s did not disclose the value of the deal, only stating that the restaurants generate revenue of about $300 million a year. Most of the casual-dining restaurants…

Boston Market said that it has closed 45 stores, or about 10% of its 454-unit system,  due to store underperformance, according to a letter circulated by CEO Frances Allen to employees. The Golden, Colo.-based chain owned by Sun Capital Partners Inc., closed six restaurants on June 30, while the remaining 39 closed on July 7.…

Papa John’s International Inc. has appointed Jim Norberg as the company’s first chief restaurant operations officer, the company said. Norberg, who had served as chief operating officer at McDonald’s USA until 2015, will oversee the operations of corporate and franchise stores for the Louisville, Ky.-based quick-service pizza brand. “Jim has an impressive growth track record,…

Wingstop Restaurants Inc. has named Maurice Cooper as chief marketing officer, the fast-casual brand announced. Cooper most recently served as global vice president for Holiday Inn, a division of the InterContinental Hotels Group PLC. He succeeds Flynn Dekker, who retired from Dallas-based Wingstop in March. Cooper (left) will oversee the chicken wing chain’s global marketing strategy…

Bonchon has appointed Wingstop veteran Flynn Dekker as its CEO, the Korean fried chicken chain’s board said. Dekker replaces Bonchon founder Jinduk Seo, who remains a shareholder and will continue to be a member of the board of directors. VIG Partners, a private-equity firm based in Seoul, South Korea, acquired majority control of the company…

DQ is introducing the fast-food chain’s first subscription box, featuring a different summer-themed activity each month. The concept, developed with agency Barkley, launches with June’s Camp In — in which the box transforms into a nonflammable, family-room-safe campfire illuminated by a flame video via smartphone. The box also includes a shadow-puppet storybook, flashlight and playing cards.…