History is full of examples contradicting the notion that bigger is always better: David didn’t need towering height to slay Goliath, and Mickey didn’t need Dumbo’s girth to rule the world of animation. Need more proof that good – and sometimes delicious – things come in small sizes? Then head over to the nearest Jack in the Box restaurant, where the chain is introducing Mini Cookies this week. For just $1, plus tax, guests at participating Jack in the Box restaurants can enjoy five mouthwatering Mini Cookies filled with candy-coated chocolate and chocolate chips.

“Mini Cookies are a great addition to our dessert menu, which also includes another mini favorite, Mini Churros,” said Tracy Dunn, director of menu marketing and promotions for Jack in the Box Inc. “This is a terrific value for guests looking for a sweet way to finish their meal. An order of Mini Cookies is also fun to share with others, which is a driving factor behind the increasing appeal of mini desserts.”

Jack in the Box Inc., based in San Diego, is a restaurant company that operates and franchises Jack in the Box restaurants, one of the nation’s largest hamburger chains, with more than 2,200 restaurants in 19 states. Additionally, through a wholly owned subsidiary, the company operates and franchises Qdoba Mexican Grill, a leader in fast-casual dining, with more than 550 restaurants in 42 states and the District of Columbia.

Gamers love fast food. And they love getting free stuff, whether it’s food or cool new video games. And when it comes to playing those games, they hate to lose. This is what Jack in the Box restaurants, GameStop and Dr Pepper had in mind when they created an exciting new peel & reveal game that debuts Monday, Oct. 3. Even losers can be winners in the new Jack’s Got Game contest that offers Jack in the Box guests THREE chances to win. So if at first you don’t succeed … you still have two more chances!

Jack’s Got Game awards instant prizes for Jack in the Box food and special offers at GameStop stores as well as daily prizes like Xbox 360 consoles and a trio of hot, new video games launching this fall: Gears of War 3, Battlefield 3 and Assassin’s Creed Revelations. Even if guests don’t win an instant prize or daily prize, they can still win the weekly grand prize – a $5,000 GameStop shopping spree. Jack in the Box will offer five grand prizes over the course of the contest – that’s a total of $25,000 in GameStop merchandise.

Here’s how to play: Jack in the Box guests who purchase a large combo meal or any large fountain drink will receive a peel & reveal game piece on their collectible drink cup. Each game piece offers multiple chances to win. In addition to instant wins, players can visit JacksGotGame.com to enter codes from their game pieces for a chance to win daily and weekly prizes.

“Jack doesn’t like to lose; but more importantly, he doesn’t like his guests to lose,” said Tracy Dunn, director of menu marketing and promotions for Jack in the Box Inc. “That’s why he’s giving them three chances to win with his new Jack’s Got Game contest. With prizes ranging from Jack in the Box food and popular video games to five weekly GameStop shopping sprees totaling $25,000, we think everyone will feel like a winner.”

Kristin Djurdjulov, divisional vice president of marketing and promotions at GameStop, added, “Gamers mirror the demographics of core fast-food customers, so this is a great event for GameStop and Jack in the Box. Whether one is a fan of action-packed video games like Gears of War 3 or Assassin’s Creed Revelations or prefers old-fashioned arcade games, this is a fun and rewarding way to connect with our brands.”

For more information on Jack’s Got Game, including official rules, eligibility, and how to participate without purchase, visit JacksGotGame.com. Jack’s Got Game can be played through Nov. 7, 2011, or while supplies last, at all participating Jack in the Box restaurants.

Your local Jack in the Box restaurant is about to resemble a rough-and-tumble frontier town from the Wild West, thanks to two savory new products that launch on Monday, Oct. 3. Only instead of gunslingers facing off 10 paces apart, two outlaws of a different kind will be dueling for menu supremacy: the Outlaw Burger and Outlaw Spicy Chicken Sandwich.

Inspired by the kind of bold flavors that emanated from chuck wagons and open prairie campfires, the new Outlaws at Jack in the Box feature either a jumbo beef patty or spicy crispy chicken fillet topped with a Bourbon BBQ sauce, lettuce, tomato, hickory-smoked bacon, American cheese and onion rings and are served on a sesame seed bun.

“Our new Outlaw Burger and Outlaw Spicy Chicken Sandwich feature a mouthwatering combination of bold flavors reminiscent of an old-fashioned barbecue,” said Tracy Dunn, director of menu marketing and promotions for Jack in the Box Inc. “The Outlaw Spicy Chicken Sandwich is especially unique in our restaurant category. Jack in the Box is the only major QSR chain offering a BBQ spicy chicken sandwich.

“The new Outlaws are available for a limited time only, so hurry in before the sun sets on these two amazing products.”

Twin chains Hardee’s and Carl’s Jr. are adding new Steakhouse Burgers to their menus. The Steakhouse Burgers come in Six Dollar Burger and Thickburger options. Both are topped with blue cheese, A1 steak sauce, fried onion strings and Swiss cheese. Black Angus ground beef is used exclusively for the patties on these burgers.

The motivations and purchasing behaviors of lunch-time diners vary greatly based on their generation, according to new information from Technomic’s Lunch Consumer Trend Report. People under the age of 34 dine out for lunch the most. They also use value menu items for the lunch the most, while older people don’t consider the value menu as much when making lunch time decisions.

Uno’s is currently working on the largest franchise deal for the chain in its history. The new fast-casual concept for the brand, Uno Due Go, will grow by 30 units or more in Texas. The restaurants will be built in existing retail environments like airports, sports stadiums and hospitals to save money on leasing or new construction.

GE Capital’s Franchise Financing group has provided an additional $13 million to the Jack in the Box franchisee J&D Restaurant Group. The latest round of funding will help the company buy nearly 40 locations in the chain. The locations are all found in Texas. The company was founded last year in Dallas, Texas.

Jacksonville, Florida now has two more BUBBA burger Grill restaurants to dine out at. The chain developed from the best-selling frozen burger patties that became a hit in retail environments. Jacksonville already had one BUBBA burger location, but customer demand created an additional two locations. Fleming Island will also see their BUBBA burger location opening in the next few weeks.

KFC, under the management of Yum! Brands, is the newest national chain to integrate DigitalPersona products into their point-of-sale equipment. The products use biometric fingerprint scanning to accurately control employee and management access to cash registers and other equipment, as well as keeping clear records of access.

LongHorn Steakhouse is bringing its Western flair to Tupelo, Mississippi. The restaurant opened recently and raised over $700 for a local children’s charity at a pre-opening training event. 240 guests can be served at one time in and the restaurant brought over 80 jobs to the local community. The Atlanta-based chain is continuing the grow.

Good Times Restaurant & Frozen Custard is bringing the Sweet Potato Fries back to their menu for a limited time. Customers can enjoy the waffle-cut fries plain or dusted with cinnamon sugar until the end of December. The return of these fries brings the chain’s total fry options to four, with other favorites including the Green Chile Cheese fry.

Dickey’s Barbecue Pit chain knows that they offer some of the best barbecue in the country, so to celebrate they are hosting an eating contest. The West Coast competition will take place in the Dickey’s restaurant in Pleasanton, California. Contestants will have six minutes, beginning at 1 pm on the 24^th, to eat as many pulled pork sandwiches as they can.

White Castle recognizes their employees and team members when they’ve served 25 years with the company. The ceremony for this year will see 89 new people inducted into the 25 Year Club. Over 1500 people are currently part of the club, with about 750 still on payroll or working at a White Castle location.

GE Capital, Franchise Finance provided $13.2 million to J&D Restaurant Group, Inc. for the purchase of 37 Jack in the Box units throughout Central and East Texas. Funding was provided through GE Capital’s bank affiliate, GE Capital Financial Inc.

“Our trust and confidence in GE Capital’s ability to execute made choosing them an easy decision,” explains Jeff Moosa, President, J&D Restaurant Group, Inc. “This is our first time working with GE, and they closed our deal the fastest in Jack in the Box history. Without the team’s guidance and effort this would not have been possible.”

J&D Restaurant Group was established in 2010 in Dallas, Texas.

“We are committed to helping restaurant groups such as J&D grow with the industry,” said Marques Bayne, vice president, GE Capital, Franchise Finance. “We deliver on that commitment with our capital and our industry expertise.”

Based in San Diego, Jack in the Box Inc., is one of the nation’s largest hamburger fast-food chains, with more than 2,200 restaurants in 19 states.

McDonald’s Canada intends to spend up to $1 billion to renovate all of its stores in the country. The chain has been in Canada for about 44 years, and this will be the biggest renovation of restaurants since they were built. Over 1,400 restaurants will receive interior and exterior re-designs.

The creators and owners of the Melting Pot fondue franchise recently released their plans for a new high-end burger brand. Burger 21 already has a location in Tampa, but the company only recently decided to expand it into a chain. The restaurants will serve high quality burgers, fresh milkshakes and special side dishes.

African American populations have been declining in Chicago for the past ten years, with 17% of the population now gone from the city. This is making a big impact on the number of soul food restaurants. The city was once known for being the hub of soul food, but the demand for it has dropped as tastes have changed.

Garden Fresh Restaurant Corp. locations will soon be outfitted with new fingerprint biometric scanners from DigitalPersona Inc. The Sweet Tomatoes and Souplantation restaurants will use them to prevent abuse and fraud of discounts and the removal of cash from the till. There was no way to verify who was using the codes to access the register without fingerprinting.

The California Restaurant Mutual Benefit Corporation is pushing for a new conviction against another case of worker’s compensation fraud. A former manager of a California Jack in the Box pleaded guilty after the insurance group found that she had taken part in a robbery that she claimed caused her undue stress.

Kentucky will be the home to the newest Wingstop restaurant in its current push for expansion. The new location is planned for Louisville, and will be followed by three others in the area over the next few years. This will be the chain’s first locations in the state and the agreement was signed with a current Wingstop franchisee from Illinois.

Buffalo Wild Wings already gave away nearly 300,000 free wings to customers who signed their Save Our Season petition. Now the chain is celebrating the return of the football season with more rewards and promotions. Fans can download a special app for free that enters them in the Tailgating Challenge.

White Castle is starting a new Finger Football tour this fall as football season starts. In conjunction with Zelosports, the chain will visit 12 cities to test families’ skills at the table top sport. Players must pay $10 to enter, but even if they don’t win they’ll get a $10 gift card and a t-shirt. Winners will receive free White Castle for life and $2,500.

Luna Grill is adding their sixth location with a new restaurant at Liberty Station in San Diego, California. The restaurant will open in December and will offer the same Mediterranean inspired menu of healthy food options as the other locations. It will seat 48 people inside and 40 more on the patio area outside.

SACRAMENTO, Calif.  (RestaurantNews.com)  The California Restaurant Mutual Benefit Corporation (CRMBC) announced a new conviction as part of its intensified campaign against Workers’ Compensation fraud.  Jeanette Gallo pleaded no contest to one of the two felony counts of insurance fraud in Superior Court, County of Fresno, on August 31.  Gallo, an assistant manager at a Jack in the Box in Fresno, had filed a stress claim in connection with a robbery in which it was discovered that she had played a part.  Sentencing is scheduled to take place on October 19.

The key to the conviction was immediate investigation by restaurant owners Sanjiv Bhagat and Jyoti Madhura who identified and dug into red flags they observed with the incident.  Gallo had arrived early in the morning to open the restaurant in contradiction to company policy. Bhagat and Madhura noted unusual behavior on surveillance tapes and interviews with employees which added to their suspicions.  Their documentation and close cooperation with City of Fresno detectives lead to the arrest of Gallo and her boy friend on a grand theft charge.  Subsequent follow-up by third party administrator American Claims Management and their special investigations unit, Investigation Solutions, lead to the additional charges of insurance fraud.

The CRMBC has announced two new partners in its anti-fraud campaign.  Investigation Solutions is focusing on unlawful and unethical practices by a handful of providers who bill both for exaggerated and non-existent services.  J.D. Wesson and Associates is handling special claims investigations and employee fraud.

“Fraudulent activity by a small fraction of providers and employees costs California employers many millions of dollars each year.  Fraud in Workers’ Compensation brings real harm to the great majority, the honest employers, employees and doctors, and it costs jobs,” said David Mitchell, Chair of the CRMBC Board of Trustees.

About the CRMBC:

The California Restaurant Mutual Benefit Corporation is the state’s largest Workers’ Compensation self-insured group. Launched on January 1, 2005, CRMBC has over 1600 employers with 4000 locations. www.crmbc.com

About CHSI:

Founded in 1996, CHSI designs, manages and consults Workers’ Compensation programs in California, Nevada and other states.  Patent pending program management technology developed by CHSI is now licensed to insurance, self-insurance and captive programs across the country. www.mychsi.com

Jack in the Box has reported net earnings of $18.7 million, or $0.38 per diluted share, for the third quarter ended July 10, 2011, compared with net earnings of $24.2 million, or $0.44 per diluted share, for the third quarter of fiscal 2010.

Gains from refranchising contributed approximately $0.13 per diluted share for the quarter as compared with approximately $0.26 per diluted share in the prior year quarter. Operating earnings per share, a non-GAAP measure which the company defines as diluted earnings per share on a GAAP basis less gains from refranchising, were approximately $0.25 per diluted share compared with approximately $0.18 per diluted share in the prior year quarter.

Linda A. Lang, chairman, chief executive officer and president, said, “Jack in the Box company same-store sales increased 4.7 percent in the third quarter, ahead of our expectations, driven by strong traffic growth and an increase in the average check. On a two-year basis, this represented our fourth consecutive quarter of sequentially improving trends, which we believe has been largely driven by the investments we have made to enhance the entire guest experience at the Jack in the Box brand.

“Qdoba’s same-store sales momentum continued in the third quarter with an increase of 5.1 percent system-wide, driven by a combination of transaction growth, pricing and higher catering sales,” Lang said.

Consolidated restaurant operating margin was 12.5 percent of sales in the third quarter of 2011, compared with 14.2 percent of sales in the year-ago quarter.

Food and packaging costs in the quarter were 210 basis points higher than prior year. Overall commodity costs were approximately 6.5 percent higher in the quarter, driven by higher costs for beef, cheese, dairy, eggs and shortening.

Payroll and employee benefits costs were 80 basis points lower than the year-ago quarter, reflecting leverage from same-store sales increases and lower insurance costs. These decreases were partially offset by higher unemployment taxes resulting from rate increases in several states which negatively impacted payroll and employee benefits costs.

Occupancy and other costs increased 50 basis points in the third quarter due primarily to costs associated with the rollout of new menu boards and uniforms at Jack in the Box restaurants during the quarter. In addition, rent expense was higher as a percentage of sales due to the greater proportion of company-operated Qdoba restaurants versus the prior year. These costs were partially offset by lower utilities expense and leverage from same-store sales increases.

SG&A expense for the third quarter decreased by $5.7 million and was 9.9 percent of revenues compared with 10.9 percent last year. The decrease in SG&A was attributable primarily to the following:

• Advertising costs were $6.0 million lower due to the impact of refranchising of Jack in the Box restaurants and a $2.3 million decrease in incremental spending compared to the third quarter of 2010.
• Mark-to-market adjustments on investments supporting the company’s non-qualified retirement plans had no impact on SG&A in the third quarter as compared to a negative impact of $2.2 million in last year’s third quarter, resulting in a year-over-year decrease in SG&A of $2.2 million.
• Pension expense decreased by approximately $1.2 million due primarily to the company’s previously announced decision to sunset its pension plan, whereby participants will no longer accrue benefits after December 31, 2015.
• The company’s refranchising strategy and planned overhead reductions resulted in lower general and administrative costs of approximately $0.4 million.

These decreases were partially offset by the following:

• An insurance recovery related to Hurricane Ike resulted in a $2.0 million benefit to SG&A in the prior year.
• Incentive compensation accruals were $0.8 million higher in the quarter.
• Qdoba G&A increased by $0.5 million due primarily to higher overhead to support recently acquired markets and new unit growth.

With the sale of 226 restaurants year-to-date, the Jack in the Box system was two-thirds franchised as of the end of the third quarter. Gains on the sale of 112 company-operated Jack in the Box restaurants to franchisees totaled $10.2 million in the third quarter, or approximately $0.13 per diluted share, compared with $23.7 million, or approximately $0.26 per diluted share, in the year-ago quarter from the sale of 58 restaurants. For the third quarter of 2011, average gains were $91,000 per restaurant, and total proceeds related to refranchising were $27.3 million, or an average of $244,000 per restaurant. The restaurants sold in the third quarter included 70 restaurants in one market that had lower-than-average sales volumes and cash flows that resulted in lower gains. The re-image costs related to these restaurants will now be the responsibility of the franchisee, and the company expects the sale of these restaurants to be accretive to future operating earnings. Excluding these 70 restaurants, average gains and proceeds for the quarter were $233,000 and $410,000, respectively. The company did not provide any financing during the quarter related to refranchising. As of the end of the third quarter, notes receivable from franchisees related to refranchising activities totaled $10.3 million.

The company repurchased approximately 2,993,000 shares of its common stock in the third quarter of 2011 at an average price of $21.65 per share. Through the first three quarters of fiscal 2011, the company has returned nearly $140 million to shareholders through the repurchase of approximately 6,469,000 shares of its common stock at an average price of $21.61 per share. As of the end of the third quarter, approximately $60 million remained available to repurchase stock under a board authorization that expires in November 2012.

Restaurant openings

Five new Jack in the Box restaurants opened in the third quarter, including one franchised location, compared with four new restaurants opened system-wide during the same quarter last year, of which two were franchised. In the third quarter, 17 Qdoba restaurants opened, including 11 franchised locations, versus 13 new restaurants in the year-ago quarter, of which 8 were franchised. At July 10, 2011, the company’s system total comprised 2,220 Jack in the Box restaurants, including 1,485 franchised locations, and 564 Qdoba restaurants, including 335 franchised locations.

Guidance

The following guidance and underlying assumptions reflect the company’s current expectations for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ending Oct. 2, 2011. Fiscal 2011 is a 52-week year, with 16 weeks in the first quarter, and 12 weeks in each of the second, third and fourth quarters. Fiscal 2010 was a 53-week year, with the additional week occurring in the fourth quarter.

Fourth quarter fiscal year 2011 guidance

• Same-store sales are expected to increase approximately 1 to 3 percent at Jack in the Box company restaurants versus a 4.0 percent decrease in the year-ago quarter.
• Same-store sales are expected to increase approximately 3 to 5 percent at Qdoba system restaurants versus a 5.6 percent increase in the year-ago quarter.
• Same-store sales guidance reflects trends experienced during the first four weeks of the fourth quarter.
• Commodity costs for the quarter are currently expected to increase by approximately 7 percent, driven by higher costs for most commodities other than poultry.

Fiscal year 2011 guidance

• Same-store sales are expected to increase approximately 2 to 3 percent at Jack in the Box company restaurants.
• Same-store sales are expected to increase approximately 5 to 6 percent at Qdoba system restaurants.
• Overall commodity costs are expected to increase by approximately 5 percent for the full year.
• Restaurant operating margin for the full year is expected to range from 12.5 to 13.0 percent, depending on same-store sales and commodity inflation.
• 30 to 35 new Jack in the Box restaurants, including approximately 16 company locations.
• 60 to 70 new Qdoba restaurants, including approximately 25 company locations.
• $55 to $60 million in gains on the sale of 250 to 300 Jack in the Box restaurants to franchisees, with $95 to $105 million in total proceeds resulting from the sales.
• Capital expenditures of $120 to $125 million.
• SG&A expense in the low-10 percent range, excluding impairment and other charges of 70 to 80 basis points.
• Tax rate of approximately 35 percent.
• Diluted earnings per share of $1.46 to $1.60, with the range reflecting uncertainty in the timing of anticipated refranchising transactions as well as same-store sales results and commodity inflation. Gains from refranchising are expected to contribute from $0.71 to $0.78 to diluted earnings per share, as compared to $0.65 in fiscal 2010. Operating earnings per share, which the company defines as diluted earnings per share on a GAAP basis less gains from refranchising, are expected to range from $0.75 to $0.82 per diluted share. Diluted earnings per share includes approximately $0.09 to $0.11 of incremental re-image incentive payments to franchisees in fiscal 2011 as compared to fiscal 2010.

Jack in the Box Inc., based in San Diego, is a restaurant company that operates and franchises Jack in the Box restaurants, one of the nation’s largest hamburger chains, with more than 2,200 restaurants in 19 states. Additionally, through a wholly owned subsidiary, the company operates and franchises Qdoba Mexican Grill, a leader in fast-casual dining, with more than 550 restaurants in 42 states and the District of Columbia.

Jack in the Box Inc. has announced the addition of Madeleine Kleiner to the company’s board of directors, effective September 22, 2011.

Kleiner was most recently executive vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary for Hilton Hotels Corporation, a hotel and resort company. At Hilton, Kleiner oversaw the company’s legal affairs and the ethics, privacy and government affairs functions. She was also a member of the executive committee, with significant responsibility for board of directors matters. She left Hilton in 2008 after completing her responsibilities in connection with the sale of the company. Prior to Hilton, Kleiner served as senior executive vice president, chief administrative officer and general counsel of H. F. Ahmanson & Company and its subsidiary, Home Savings of America, where she was responsible for oversight of legal, human resources, legislative and government affairs and corporate communications. Previously, Kleiner was a partner at the law firm of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, where she advised corporations and their boards primarily in the areas of mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance, securities transactions and compliance.

Kleiner currently serves on the Board of Directors of Northrop Grumman Corporation. She also is vice chair of the UCLA Medical Center Board of Advisors and a member of the board of the New Village Charter School. She previously served as a director of several Merrill Lynch mutual funds operating under the Hotchkiss and Wiley name. Kleiner earned her bachelor’s degree from Cornell University and her juris doctorate from Yale Law School.

“Madi brings more than three decades of corporate leadership to her new role on our board,” said Linda A. Lang, chairman, CEO and president of Jack in the Box Inc. “With her strong background in corporate governance and experience as a senior executive for a major franchisor in the hospitality industry she’s an excellent fit with our board.”

Jack in the Box Inc. (NASDAQ: JACK), based in San Diego, is a restaurant company that operates and franchises Jack in the Box restaurants, one of the nation’s largest hamburger chains, with more than 2,200 restaurants in 19 states. Additionally, through a wholly owned subsidiary, the company operates and franchises Qdoba Mexican Grill®, a leader in fast-casual dining, with more than 550 restaurants in 42 states and the District of Columbia.

Jack in the Box is giving impetus to the age-old adage that breakfast is the most important meal of the day by offering a sizzlin’ deal on everyone’s breakfast favorites. For a limited time beginning today, guests can order a platter loaded with mini pancakes, scrambled eggs, hash browns and a choice of bacon or sausage – all for just $2.99, plus tax, at participating restaurants.

“Our new Jumbo Breakfast Platter is a great value for guests looking for a hearty morning meal,” said Tracy Dunn, director of Menu, Marketing & Promotions for Jack in the Box Inc. “Many of our guests depend upon Jack in the Box to jumpstart their days, and we’ve long offered one of the industry’s most varied breakfast menus to help them do just that. But times have changed and breakfast isn’t just for the morning any more. With our full menu available all day every day, guests can also order the Jumbo Breakfast Platter for lunch, dinner or as a late-night meal.”

Jack in the Box Inc., based in San Diego, is a restaurant company that operates and franchises Jack in the Box restaurants, one of the nation’s largest hamburger chains, with more than 2,200 restaurants in 19 states. Additionally, through a wholly owned subsidiary, the company operates and franchises Qdoba Mexican Grill, a leader in fast-casual dining, with more than 550 restaurants in 42 states and the District of Columbia.

Summer is officially under way and, beginning today, Jack in the Box restaurants is serving up the season’s biggest and best meal deal – a $3.99 Really Big Chicken Sandwich Combo. Available for a limited time, the combo features Jack’s Really Big Chicken Sandwich, which includes two breaded chicken patties, lettuce, tomato, bacon, cheese and mayo-onion sauce served on a jumbo bakery bun, along with a small drink and small order of seasoned curly fries for just $3.99, plus tax.

“We’re bringing back the Really Big Chicken Sandwich Combo, which was a guest favorite last summer,” said Tracy Dunn, director of menu marketing and promotions for Jack in the Box Inc. “It’s a great value, especially for hungry consumers on a tight budget. With summer vacations just around the corner – and more and more people hitting the road for trips and family get-togethers – travelers will appreciate the roadside convenience of our restaurants, our drive-thru service, and the portability of our products for on-the-go dining. And with our full menu available all day every day, guests can enjoy our new $3.99 Really Big Chicken Sandwich Combo any time of the day or night.”

Jack in the Box Inc., based in San Diego, is a restaurant company that operates and franchises Jack in the Box restaurants, one of the nation’s largest hamburger chains, with more than 2,200 restaurants in 19 states. Additionally, through a wholly owned subsidiary, the company operates and franchises Qdoba Mexican Grill, a leader in fast-casual dining, with more than 500 restaurants in 42 states and the District of Columbia.

 Sizzler, one of America’s first fast casual dining chains, is being purchased from the Australian based Pacific Equity Partners by Sizzler USA. This will bring all of the Sizzler locations in the United States under control of a U.S. based company. Pacific Equity Partners will retain the rights to all international locations.

Five Guys Burgers and Fries was only founded in 1986, but despite little effort through advertising to attract customers, they’ve developed a nearly cult following. Franchising began in 2002 and since then the chain has grown to over 800 stores. 300 new locations are planned to open by the end of this year, and another 1200 are currently in development in the U.S. or Canada.

The CEO of the Texas Roadhouse chain, GJ Hart, has announced that the chain has noted an expanding demographic in their customers and plans to target guests with higher income levels. He made this statement at the InvestKentucky Equity Conference. The chain used to appeal primarily to middle class workers, especially those in blue collar industries.

A steady push for new growth and careful menu pricing kept chains like Buffalo Wild Wings and Panera Bread booming through the recent recession problems. However, success in the restaurant industry is going to continue to be more challenging as gas prices rise higher and unemployment does as well. Many young adults, the primary diners at fast food chains, have seen a dip in income recently.

Smashburger, the chain famous for fresh beef hamburgers smashed on the grill, is coming to Charlotte, North Carolina. The first Smashburger location for the city will open on June 20^th. Four more locations are currently in development. The location will feature unique North Carolina inspired items like Brunswick Stew and a Banana Pudding Milkshake.

Freebirds World Burrito is opening its 50^th location on June 15^th in Ventura, California. Freebirds began in nearby Santa Barbara, but quickly spread through the state. The chain specializes in custom burritos and salads made with a variety of international flavors. The new restaurant will team up with local charities to raise money and promote awareness.

Nathan’s Famous may have begun as a humble hot dog stand in Coney Island, but the Long Island based company is now making plans for international expansion. The company began development in China earlier this year and is working on new agreements in Canada. Nathan’s is already available in 5 other countries and 26 states.

The expansion plans of the Dickey’s Barbecue Pit brand has paid off and the company is celebrating the grand opening of three new locations in Missouri. Ballwin, Valley Park and Olivette are all home to new Dickey’s restaurants. All three restaurants opened on June 10^th with raffles, giveaways and $1 barbeque sandwiches.

Benihana first developed their “Be the Chef” program to help guests learn the intricacies of fine Japanese cooking. However, the package was only available at limited times. Now the chain has announced that they will offer the program year round for anyone who is interested in learning from a real hibachi chef. The guest will receive private training, then will cook their own teppanyaki meal for friends or family.

To embrace the push for healthier dining options for children, Jack in the Box has added Chiquita Apple Bites as a side option. This side is available with all children’s combos for no extra cost. The bites are accompanied by a caramel dipping sauce. The fresh fruit and dip has only 70 calories and provides children with a full serving of fruit.

Jack in the Box restaurants are giving parents yet another option for customizing their child’s Kid’s Combo Meal. Beginning today, Jack in the Box will offer Chiquita Apple Bites with Caramel as a free substitution in Kid’s Combo Meals and as an a la carte side option.

“Jack in the Box offers a lot of variety with our Kid’s Combos, from grilled or crispy chicken strips, a grilled cheese sandwich and hamburger to low-fat milk, juice and fountain beverages,” said Tracy Dunn, director of menu marketing and promotions for Jack in the Box Inc. “And now parents have the opportunity to include juicy, red apple slices in their child’s order with our new Chiquita Apple Bites with Caramel. At just 70 calories per package, including the caramel dip, they‘re a great addition to any meal.”

The new Chiquita Apple Bites with Caramel meet the nutritional criteria for HealthyDiningFinder.com, an independent online resource that helps consumers easily identify lighter options at restaurants. Other Jack in the Box items meeting Healthy Dining’s nutritional criteria include the Chicken Fajita Pita, Chicken Teriyaki Bowl, Grilled Chicken Salad and 16-oz. Real Fruit Smoothies.

Jack in the Box Inc., based in San Diego, is a restaurant company that operates and franchises Jack in the Box restaurants, one of the nation’s largest hamburger chains, with more than 2,200 restaurants in 19 states. Additionally, through a wholly owned subsidiary, the company operates and franchises Qdoba Mexican Grill, a leader in fast-casual dining, with more than 500 restaurants in 42 states and the District of Columbia.

 Isaac Green started working at a McDonald’s as a high school student, despite the jeers of his peers. However, now he is the successful owner of eight locations in Maryland and Virginia. The eight franchise restaurants pull in an annual profit of $21 million dollars and he provides work for over 450 employees. Green has worked in nearly every position at McDonald’s from crew member to owner.  He looks to expand to thirty locations over the next five years.

Viktor Prenushi opened his first restaurant in 1997 after immigrating to America and is now living the American Dream. Vetoni’s Italian Restaurant serves his family’s secret recipes that came straight from Albania. The restaurant also features a full service bar with an extensive wine list. The restaurant only serves handmade food including Alfredo sauce made from scratch.

Joliet, Illinois was home to the very first Dairy Queen location, and last Friday officials from the company visited the town to commemorate the 71^st anniversary of the founding. The current President of Dairy Queen and the granddaughter of the founder were among those in attendance. Last November the town city council gave the original Dairy Queen location the local landmark distinction.

The coffee shop has been an ideal place for relaxation and socializing since the 17^th century. During the early years many ship captains visited coffee shops to obtain marine insurance, and this legacy continues with many telecommuters working on laptops in modern locations. Coffee is a great stimulant for workers and the exciting but casual environment provides a good replacement for office interaction.

The Currito chain may be new, but the creators are betting on the national demand for fresh burritos to grow. Other chains also feature the custom burrito angle, but Currito brings in international flavors with a wider variety of toppings for a unique twist. For example, Mediterranean toppings include hummus and feta cheese. The chain currently has 14 locations with plans for many more to open this year.

Jack in the Box may be the world’s fifth largest hamburger brand, but the company is struggling to improve sales. Customers did spend over $3 billion at the restaurants in 2010 but this figure is way below what it was before the 2008 dip in the economy. The company also reported a 62% drop in sales since last year.

Red Robin Gourmet Burgers has elected their new Chief Burger Officer after an extensive contest. Micheal Morrison stood out among over 7,200 applications because of the special events in his life revolving around Red Robin. His son was born in a Red Robin parking lot and he spent many weekends in high school holding car washes there.

Carl’s Jr. is partnering with Coca-Cola once again for a new contest. Two winners will receive $5,000 gift cards for electronic retailers. The My Coke Rewards program codes are listed on every drink cup from Carl’s Jr.. When customers redeem them, they’ll receive regular reward points as well as extra chances for winning a variety of prizes.

Fishkill, New York is going to be the newest home of a Dickey’s Barbecue Pit location. Resident Charlie Cassara will be opening his new restaurant in June. Cassara visited the original location in Texas to check out the franchise before developing his own location. The chain has other restaurants in New York, but this will be the first location in Fishkill.

What ails Jack in the Box?

The nation’s fifth largest burger chain has upgraded its food, remodeled its stores and trained its employees in the fine art of customer service.

But even though consumers forked over $3 billion for sandwiches, tacos, churros and other food last year, sales are still way below pre-recession levels. Jack in the Box Inc.’s stock remains sluggish and last week the company said its profit in the three months ended April 17 dropped 62% from the same period last year.

Customers are starting to return to its stores, but it’s a trickle, with same-store sales up 0.8% over the second quarter of 2010.

“They need to find a way to differentiate themselves,” said Darren Tristano, restaurant analyst for the research firm Technomic Inc. “If you think of Jack in the Box, I’m not sure what you think of anymore.”

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Fuddruckers, the custom burger chain, is planning to feature its two most popular signature burgers in May as well as an old favorite. The Inferno Burger is returning for the first time in 5 years, along with the featured Southwest Burger and the Swiss Melt. All three can be found at any participating Fuddruckers location for a limited time.

In the next few weeks a new Red Robin Gourmet Burgers location will open in Long Island. The new location will feature the same gourmet burger and sandwich menu as other chain locations. Each burger sold during the grand opening week beginning May 9^th will also contribute .50 cents to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children.

Along with celebrating its 70^th Anniversary this year, Dickey’s Barbecue Pit chain is also hosting grand openings for three new locations. This weekend three chains will open their doors in Minnesota to serve great barbeque to visitors in Rogers, Plymouth and Eagen. Despite 70 years of steady popularity, Dickey’s has seen a nearly 40 percent growth rate in the last three years alone.

The Chain Restaurant Compensation Association has announced that none of the 39 organization members have announced any salary increase freezes for this year, unlike the previous years. This means managers and other high level employees may see pay increases over the course of 2011. Base salary increases were frozen as the restaurant industry took a hard hit when the economic slumped.

The Philippines will be the next international country to be home to Jamba Juice locations as the company has signed a new agreement to develop 40 new stores there. This marks their second international branch. Jamba Juice is also growing domestically with plans to add over 50 new stores in the United States over the next year.

Despite the struggling economy in Central Florida, many business owners are taking chances and opening new restaurants. Three University of Central Florida graduates are partnering together to open the new Terrace 390 in Orlando. In Florida alone nearly 1000 new food industry locations applied for permits since January of 2011, including food trucks and restaurants.

Jack in the Box restaurants will be offering a new blackberry flavored milkshake for a sweet summer treat. For a limited time visitors can enjoy the fresh shake, made with real ice cream, at all participating locations. The blackberry flavor was first tested in 2007 as a lighter alternative to Chocolate and Oreo shake flavors, and has proven very popular in the summer.

Hail the blackberry! Ballyhooed by various cultures for centuries as a miracle fruit, the blackberry is now set to cure the shake cravings of Jack in the Box guests. For a limited time beginning today, Jack in the Box restaurants are adding Blackberry to their line of real ice cream shakes.

“This is a great time of year to add the distinct flavor of blackberry to our shake menu,” said Tammy Bailey, division vice president of menu marketing and promotions for Jack in the Box Inc. “Our Chocolate and Oreo Cookie Shakes are still guest favorites, but with the months heating up, a lot of people will be looking for an indulgent treat with a flavor profile that’s a bit more refreshing. When Jack in the Box first introduced a Blackberry Shake in 2007, it was one of our best selling flavors.”

Available in 16- and 24-ounce sizes, the new Blackberry Shake is made with real ice cream and blackberry-flavored syrup and features whipped topping and a Maraschino cherry on top.

Jack in the Box is expanding their line of fresh Grilled Sandwiches with a new Bourbon BBQ Steak sandwich. The new menu item will be added to all national locations on Monday, April 25^th. The sandwich consists of hot grilled steak strips, melted cheddar cheese and fresh grilled onions topped with bourbon barbeque sauce. The bold and savory taste is sure to be a hit.

Chicken sandwiches have proven so popular in California that McDonald’s restaurants in the Southern part of the state are adding two new McChicken flavors. The spicy Jalapeno Cheddar McChicken combines a fresh breaded chicken patty with white cheddar cheese and jalapeno toppings. The Cheddar Onion McChicken features white cheddar cheese as well, but less heat with sweet caramelized onions.

As celebrities open their own restaurants, bars and night spots, the options for glamorous dining and night life in Los Angeles are growing. Fat Sal’s is owned by Jerry Ferrara and has a storefront location, while Robert De Niro’s Ago sticks to unpretentious authentic Italian cuisine. Despite the obvious popularity boost from opening a restaurant, many celebrities are actually creating quality dining experiences. 

Tilman Fertitta is critical of the decision by the Board of Directors of McCormick and Schmick’s Seafood Restaurants chain to turn down his $9.25 offer for each share of the company. The buy out attempt was turned down and in reaction a “poison pill” bill of rights was instituted by the Board. Fertitta and his company LSRI Holdings plans to continue purchasing stock from holders who do agree with his buy out.

Red Mango hosted its first annual National Conference for franchisee owners recently, and handed out many awards. The owner of the Las Vegas chain of Red Mango won the West Coast Smoothie/Parfait sales contest for 2010, while the Greenvale, N.Y. location had the highest sales of the year. The owners of the Bellevue, Washington mall location managed to sell the most gift cards despite a 700 foot store and the inability to serve smoothies.

Pizza Inn also hosted its National Franchise Convention in Mississippi to honor the best franchisees. Jamey Brown, owner of two Tennessee locations, won the Restaurant of the Year award for his Knoxville restaurant. Joe Crouch was awarded the Griff Glover Franchisee of  the Year for his leadership at his Texas location as well.

Dunkin’ Donuts has added a few special items to their menu to help customers celebrate the upcoming Royal Wedding. The Royal Wedding donut is heart shaped and features a white glaze and jelly filling. The sister chain Baskin-Robbins will also create a special Royal Wedding ice cream cake in the turquoise and white colors of the wedding theme.

OpenTable is searching for the Mother of All Foodies to celebrate Mother’s Day. Mothers who qualify as foodies and who love trying new cuisine, finding the hottest restaurants and who love using OpenTable can enter to win 100,000 points for the restaurant. The points are redeemable for $100 worth of guest cheques through the OpenTable system.

The first quarter of 2011 has proven successful for McDonald’s as the company releases its sales figures. Modernizing the menu and improving service has paid off with a 4.2% rise in total global sales, and a 5.7% rise in sales in Europe alone. The diluted earnings per share rose 15% and $2 billion was returned to shareholders through share repurchasing and dividends.

Original Tommy’s, one of America’s last true hamburger chains, will celebrate their 65^th anniversary on May 15^th. The chain plans to offer .65 cent hamburger and Coca Cola combo meals all day to invite new and old customers alike to stop by. The 33 locations that make up the chain will all host anniversary celebrations, and certain locations are already offer secret .65 cent deals on their Facebook pages.

Beginning Monday, April 25, Jack in the Box will expand its popular line of Grilled Sandwiches with a Bourbon BBQ Steak Grilled Sandwich. The new sandwich, which is available for a limited time only, features hot tender steak strips, grilled onions and melting cheese covered with Jack’s new Bourbon BBQ sauce and served on grilled artisan bread.

“The new sandwich is a flavorful combination of bold, savory ingredients that our guests really crave,” said Tammy Bailey, division vice president of menu marketing and promotions for Jack in the Box Inc. “This is a great addition to our popular line of Grilled Sandwiches.”

Jack in the Box launched its line of Grilled Sandwiches last year. The addition of the new Bourbon BBQ Steak Grilled Sandwich expands the product line to four, with the other varieties being Turkey, Bacon & Cheddar, Deli Trio and Grilled Breakfast Sandwich.

Jack in the Box Inc., based in San Diego, is a restaurant company that operates and franchises Jack in the Box restaurants, one of the nation’s largest hamburger chains, with more than 2,200 restaurants in 19 states. Additionally, through a wholly owned subsidiary, the company operates and franchises Qdoba Mexican Grill, a leader in fast-casual dining, with more than 500 restaurants in 43 states and the District of Columbia.

Chain restaurants saw a surprising amount of growth during 2010, showing an annual average rise of 1.8%. Some companies, such as Fazoli’s and many in the Steak category, turned 2009 losses into 2010 growth. Limited service restaurant chains like Pizza, Coffee & Beverages and Donuts were the fastest growing. Among full service chains Mexican and Asian showed the most growth.

Morton’s Restaurant Group, the company behind iconic Morton’s Steakhouse, may be going up for sale soon. The Board of Directors is exploring alternative methods of raising shareholder value. The company is the largest global operator of high-end steak houses. 77 Morton’s Steakhouses are currently open in seven countries.

Jack in the Box is bringing its fast food favorites out on the road in a new mobile food truck. The truck is known as Jack’s Munchie Mobile and is equipped to serve a variety of the restaurant’s menu items. It will travel throughout Southern California for the time being, with possible expansion into other states during the summer.

To celebrate their new 10-piece 10 Buck Sunday deal, KFC is planning to give away $1000 grants to 10 church choirs around the country. The grants will help struggling music programs buy gowns, musical equipment and cover travel expenses. A performance by the St. Louis Children’s Choir jump started the event at a St. Louis area KFC restaurant.

Cracker Barrel Old Country Store and Kenny Rogers have teamed up to release Rogers’ new cd, “The Love of God”. Already at #2 on the Top Christian Albums chart and #8 on the Country chart, the cd is sold exclusively through Cracker Barrel locations. With over 600 stores or restaurants in the country, Cracker Barrel offers country music stars like Kenny Rogers a sturdy marketing base.

Patina Restaurant’s “Chef’s Apprentice” program is helping the youth of Los Angeles build real world work skills and self-discipline. The program was developed through a partnership with the A Place Called Home youth haven. Teens will learn cooking basics and menu preparation from the Executive Chef Tony Esnault.

Saladworks is expanding into Delaware after a fast start. The first fresh, tossed salad chain restaurant, the brand hopes to open their second Delaware store in the Rehoboth Beach area. Franchisee Tajesh Patel already operates a North Carolina branch of the franchise. The first Saladworks in Delaware is located in Wilmington.

Dunkin’ Donuts is planning on expansion this year, and the five new locations in Polk County, Florida attest to that fact. The first will open in 2012, with the other four following in 2016. Dunkin’ Donuts is also investigating other expansion opportunities in Florida as an alternative to the coffee shop saturated New England area.

Coca-Cola and the Buffalo Wings & Rings chain have come together to host a Final Four sweepstakes. One lucky winner will receive the grand prize of a trip for two to the 2011 Final Four showdown at the beginning of April. Basketball fans can enter at Buffalo Wings & Rings locations and by mail. Air fare, accommodations and game tickets are all included.

Bru’s Room Sports Grill is adding two new locations to their roster, reaching a total size of 10 restaurants in the South Florida area. The two restaurants will be opened in Stuart and Pembroke Pines, Florida. The brand has been a Palm Springs favorite for over two decades and is banking on that popularity for their new focus on growth and expansion.