Even the best educated, smartest and most talented restaurant managers and owners are prone to developing blind spots. These blind spots make it difficult to achieve true restaurant success because you can’t even notice that they’re a problem. Asking for the input of an outside source, whether its a friend or a professional consultant, helps work around these problems.
Private equity firm Advent International has purchased the ownership interest held by Falfurrias Capital Partners in the Bojangles’ Restaurant Company. Falfurrias Capital Partners first bought the chain four years ago. Advent International plans to work with the current management team of the company and has no plans for drastic changes to the structure or menu of the chain.
Burger King restaurants have added the BK Minis sandwich packs to their national menu. Each BK Minis set contains four, eight or 12 tiny burgers or chicken sandwiches. Snackers can share a set of mini-sandwiches or chow down all by themselves. The four pack begins at just $2.99, with the 12 pack costing only $7.99.
Red Mango, a quickly growing chain specializing in frozen yogurt and smoothies, has appointed a new CEO. Barry M. Barron will take over as the head of the chain and will bring his extensive experience in the restaurant industry to the chain. He spent six years as the head of expansion at Papa Johns and learned how to be a top-notch CEO at the ACE Cash Express chain.
Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen is making tasty, freshly fried chicken fun again with the new Rip’n Chick’n. The meal features chicken tenders pre-cut so you can tear them apart and dip into the ranch dipping sauce. For just $3.99 diners will receive a buttermilk biscuit, ranch dip, the chain’s signature Cajun fries and a Rip’n Chick’n breast piece.
Chik-fil-A is expanding its breakfast menu across the country with health-conscious consumers in mind. The newest menu addition is the slow-cooked Multi-Grain oatmeal. Four types of grains, including rolled oats and flax, are used to increase fiber and nutrients. Topping choices include mixed nuts, dried fruit and brown sugar with cinnamon.
Domino’s Pizza is taking a unique and daring step to win customer loyalty. The pizza chain is adding a live display in Times Square that shows customer feedback from the online ordering program as it is added. Negative and neutral reviews will be displayed along with positive feedback. Customers also get to use the Domino’s Tracker to see which employees prepared their pizza at each step.
Taco Bell restaurants around the country launched the new Big Box Remixed meal today. The meal also gives consumers access to exclusive music content through a partnership with the upcoming MTV Video Music Awards. A Quick Response, or QR, code on the box gives your smart phone access to a mobile site with music downloads and other exciting content.
Hardee’s and the My Coke Rewards program have teamed again to help diners win one of two $5,000 gift cards. Large fountain drinks, including those with large sized combo meals, feature promotional codes that are redeemable for free menu items and My Coke Reward points. The promotion will run until September 18th.
Growing demand for healthy dining variety has led the Zoup! Fresh Soup Company to grow rapidly. Franchisees Don and Pat Hoag are developing their second location with the brand that will open in October in Cleveland, Ohio. The chain currently has 35 restaurants mainly located in the Midwestern states like Michigan.