___________________________________________________________________________________
August 22, 2011
PANERA BREAD PURCHASED PARADISE BAKERY & CAFE
In 2007, Panera Bread purchased a majority stake in Paradise Bakery & Café®, a Phoenix-based concept with over 70 locations in 10 states (predominantly in the west and southwest). The Company purchased the balance of Paradise in June 2009.
_______________________________________________________________________
Clover Investment Group completed a deal to buy two well-known restaurant chains—Cafe Deluxe and Tortilla Coast — and have signed leases to open new locations of each.
“We’re years ahead of where we’d thought we’d be,” said co-founder James Sullivan Sr., who started Clover Investment Group with sons James Jr., a litigation attorney, and Brian, a master’s in business administration graduate.
Clover will open a Tortilla Coast this fall in a 4,600-square-foot spot at 1460 P St. NW, a former McCormick Paints location in the bustling Logan Circle area. Cafe Deluxe, meanwhile, is headed to Gaithersburg later this year, taking a 6,800-square-foot space in Rio at Washingtonian Center, where Hamburger Hamlet used to be.
_______________________________________________________________________
August 10, 2011
PANERA BREAD - NEW STORE OPENING (Christiana Mall, Newark, DE)
Lemek LLC (a Maryland based Panera Bread franchise) opened up their 47th restaurant on Thursday, 8/4/11 with their infiltration into DE and first out of state bakery cafe! Lemek has exciting plans for consistent expansion and continues to offers advancement opportunities and jobs for managers and staff.
______________________________________________________________________
August 9, 2011
August 5, 2011
Should I tell a company I am interviewing with that I have another job offer?
by Jody Dugan at Dugan Staffing Solutions (DSS)
As a restaurant or retail manager interviewing and seeking career opportunities, you will most likely encounter crucial decision-making situations. For instance, you may find yourself in a position where you are interviewing with multiple companies and have received an offer from one of them. So, do you tell an interviewer that you have another job offer? This question is like a double-edged sword because it could make or break the deal.
It is imperative that you keep the lines of communication open with your recruiter. He/she is not only your lifeline, but your filter. Informing your recruiter of any job offers will allow him/her to give you their professional input as to how to handle the situation. If you don't work with a recruiting agency, I would strongly recommend you couple with one now (I happen to know of a honest placement firm with an outstanding reputation).
A recruiter will assess your predicament and provide feedback on an individual basis. One circumstance can have an array of outcomes, dependent upon variables. What works for one candidate/client combination may not work for another. Your recruiter will know all of his/ her clients well enough to provide you with an educated answer so that you can make an informed decision.
On the other hand, if you already set up this interview before contacting Dugan Staffing Solutions (DSS) or your recruiter is nowhere to be found (which would never happen at DSS), you will have to make this decision solo. A safe answer would be that, if you’re an exemplary candidate and are confident that you would be an asset to their company, they may expedite the process because they don't want to lose out on the cream of the crop.
However, if you are a great manager, but don't outshine others in the industry, they may encourage you to pursue the opportunity presented.
Having so many variables, there is not objective answer to this question, but the key is to remain true to yourself, and utilize your recruiter as a guide. After all, your recruiter does work with your interviewers on an ongoing basis.
RMGT: Restaurant Management Magazine
California Pizza Kitchen, Inc. announced the nationwide addition of 10 new menu items including appetizers, soups, pizzas, salads, and desserts that all explore the bold, fresh tastes for which CPK is known. Consistent with CPK’s commitment to using the highest-quality ingredients, the casual-dining restaurant chain now uses only natural chicken and a wide variety of natural meats in its recipes.
New menu items launched today include:
Mediterranean Focaccia
Crispy Mac ‘N’ Cheese
Bang Bang Shrimp appetizer
Artichoke & Broccoli Soup
Caramelized Peach Salad
Roasted Vegetable Salad
Habanero Carnitas Pizza
Carnitas Tacos
Strawberry Shortcake
Non-Fat Yogurt Smoothies
The Boston -based chain also is planning to develop 20 cafes before year's end, grabbing inroads to Sacramento, Calif., and Nashville as part of a strategy to expand into a national brand, according to CEO Sue Mordelli.
April 11, 2011
INTERVIEW TIPS AT A GLANCE
by Jody Dugan, President Dugan Staffing Solutions (DSS)Quick Interview Tips include:
Dress professionally. Did you know that first impressions are formed within 7-17 seconds? Yikes! So, we shouldn't take the old cliché "dress for success" lightly. I encourage you to wear conservative, colored dress slacks or a skirt, a pressed button down shirt, dress shoes, and a tie(for men). A suit jacket is optional. Please, never wear jeans.
Be odorless. Don't smoke or wear heavy cologne. You want your lasting impression to be something unique that you brought to the interview either cognitively or personally, not a lingering scent. Remember, interviews are a fragrance-free zone.
Positive energy. It is important to present yourself with an energetic, positive manner. Employers are looking for upbeat managers to motivate their staff. This positive energy also includes discussion of past experiences. Even if you had a negative or unjust situation with a past employer, it is imperative that you find a positive twist.
Timeliness. Arrive on time (or early). Map out your route prior to the day of your interview, anticipating the possibility for obstacles.
Educate yourself. Do your homework. Make sure you gain considerable knowledge about the company you are interviewing (food, trends, competitors, the company as a whole) so that you will be able to answer questions about their particular concept from an educated perspective. Make sure you visit a location prior to interviewing.
Favorite 52: A year's worth of options all over the map. Our annual critics' picks.
Tarrant's Cafe is among the “Favorite 52” of Style Weekly's annual critics' picks.
_______________________________________________________________________
May 16, 2011 13:09 ET
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA--(Marketwire - May 16, 2011)
The wait is over; wing fans can now enjoy the award-winning taste of Buffalo Wild Wings™ for the first time in Canada. Today the company celebrates the grand opening of its first Canadian location in Oshawa Ontario. The opening marks the first restaurant north of the border.
As a special incentive for grand opening day, Buffalo Wild Wings (or B-Dubs™, as it's been affectionately named by loyal wing fans) is offering its first 100 patrons at the new Oshawa location a grand opening gift of free wings for one year. Consumer are expected to line up early for their chance to win one of the coveted coupon books offering ten free wings per week for a year.
________________________________________________________________________
February 25, 2011
Press release by Jenn Abelson, Boston Globe
By August, Au Bon Pain expects to have 26 new cafes, and at least two dozen more are planned in 2012. Au Bon Pain is seeking to bring this concept across the country, including new markets in Sacramento, Nashville, and Cincinnati.
_________________________________________________________
January 11, 2011
11 Spots To Watch In 2011written by Amanda on 01/11/2011, Metrocurean: Metropolitan Style & Epicurean Living
1. District Commons, and Burger, Tap & Shake 2200 Pennsylvania Ave. Chef Jeff Tunks and Passion Food Hospitality are planning their sixth and seventh restaurants on one spot. District Commons will feature Tunks' menu of American classics, a raw bar and an open hearth oven turning out flatbreads and savory tarts. The more casual Burger, Tap & Shake, with counter service and cafe seating, will serve fresh ground beef patties on housemade buns with hand-cut fries and adult milkshakes. Both restaurants will offer about 20 small-batch beers from American brewers. ETA: summer 2011 ________________________________________________________________________ December 13, 2010 |
|
Chain hires culinary vet Peter Gibbons to oversee changes December 13, 2010 | By Bret Thorn, Nation's Restaurant News Captain D's has hired culinary veteran Peter Gibbons as vice president of product development as it prepares to revamp its menu, the chain said Monday. Gibbons most recently served as vice president of culinary at Buffets Inc. and previously has worked as head chef at Denny's and Burger King, where he oversaw the rollout of the chicken Whopper. At Captain D's, he will be charged with helping the seafood chain streamline its menu while adding more healthful options, with more emphasis on chicken and sandwiches. “Peter’s unique talents and wealth of knowledge match perfectly with the new direction of Captain D’s,” said Phil Greifeld, who was named chief executive of the 535-unit chain in September. “I came to Captain D’s aware of the areas we can improve upon and I am confident that Peter will be an important factor in moving or brand forward.” Nashville, Tenn.-based Captain D’s operates in 25 states and on military bases around the world. _______________________________________________________________________ |
