Food & Dining

Zaxby’s and American Red Cross Team Up To Drive Blood Donor Turnout in October

by Jessica Woods
By: Jessica Woods
Zaxby's and American Red Cross Team Up To Drive Blood Donor Turnout in October
“We want to help alleviate the acute nationwide shortage of blood donations the Red Cross is currently experiencing,” said Zaxby’s CEO Zach McLeroy. “As a thank you to folks who give up their lunch break to donate blood, we’ll treat them to an award-winning Signature Sandwich on us.”

Zaxby’s offers free Signature Sandwiches systemwide to encourage blood donations

Zaxby's and American Red Cross Team Up To Drive Blood Donor Turnout in OctoberAthens, GA  (-)  Zaxby’s, the premium QSR known for its chicken fingers, wings and signature sauces, is partnering with the American Red Cross for an October-long initiative to drive blood donor turnout. Zaxby’s will encourage people to give up their lunch breaks, roll up their sleeves and donate blood for a free Signature Sandwich.

“We want to help alleviate the acute nationwide shortage of blood donations the Red Cross is currently experiencing,” said Zaxby’s CEO Zach McLeroy. “As a thank you to folks who give up their lunch break to donate blood, we’ll treat them to an award-winning Signature Sandwich on us.”

The Signature Sandwich features a double hand-breaded fillet, with three thick-sliced, crinkle-cut pickle chips served on a buttery toasted, split-top potato bun with a choice of Zax Sauce or Spicy Zax Sauce. Donors can redeem the free Signature Sandwich by clicking the link included in the American Red Cross “thanks for donating” email. For donors who do not have a Zaxby’s nearby, the Red Cross will honor each donation with a $5 e-gift card to a merchant of their choice.

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a dramatic decrease in blood donations, depleting supplies across the country. Zaxby’s aims to help the American Red Cross address the national blood shortage by motivating people to take time out of their day to donate blood. This only takes about one hour from start to finish, exactly the time it usually takes to enjoy lunch.

“Only 3 out of 100 Americans donate blood, yet every two seconds, someone needs it. We continue to have an ongoing, critical need for blood,” says Darren Irby, Executive Director of Marketing for the American Red Cross. “In recent months, we have sent 12% more blood products to hospitals to help patients in need. Together with Zaxby’s, we’re encouraging people across the country to give blood and help save a life.”

Those interested in donating blood may visit redcross.org to schedule an appointment. 

About Zaxby’s

Founded in 1990, Zaxby’s is still led by founder Zach McLeroy. The brand is committed to serving delicious chicken fingers, wings, sandwiches and salads in a fun, offbeat atmosphere where customers are considered friends. Zaxby’s iconic Signature Sandwich won Thrillist’s 2021 Fasties Award for Best Fried Chicken Sandwich. Zaxby’s has grown to more than 900 locations in 17 states and is headquartered in Athens, Georgia. For more information, visit zaxbys.com or zaxbysfranchising.com.

About the American Red Cross

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.

Media Contact:
Jacob Teetzmann
Tombras
423-494-3673
[email protected]

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Food & Dining

Marco’s Pizza Announces 15-Unit Area Development Agreement for Greater Tampa DMA

by Jessica Woods
By: Jessica Woods

Marco's Pizza Announces 15-Unit Area Development Agreement for Greater Tampa DMA

Fast-Growing Pizza Franchise Grows Florida Footprint Bringing 15 New Stores to the Market by Year End 2024

Marco's Pizza Announces 15-Unit Area Development Agreement for Greater Tampa DMATampa, FL  (-)  Marco’s Pizza, one of the nation’s fastest-growing pizza brands, announces the signing of a development agreement that will bring 15 new stores to the Tampa metro market by the end of 2024. This development news contributes to the brand’s now 125 plus franchise agreements signed year-to-date, with over 200 stores in various stages of development, as Marco’s aims to grow its 1000-plus unit footprint by more than 10% this year.

Behind this area development agreement is investment group MPZ Holdings, LLC. The group successfully manages 21 Marco’s locations across South Carolina and Georgia, and with key members of the leadership team moving to the Tampa area, they’re eager to successfully grow and expand in Florida. With two signed leases igniting initial development, Marco’s Pizza will debut in Tarpon Springs at 1147 Pinellas Avenue and Dundee at 28065 Highway 27 by early Q1 2022. The MPZ Holdings leadership group aims to open five stores every year, with all 15 Marco’s locations projected to be open and operating by the end of 2024. Additional areas targeted for development include Oldsmar, Winter Haven and St. Petersburg.

“The pandemic made it clear that consumer demand for quick and delicious carryout and delivery options was here to stay,” said lead investor of MPZ Holdings, LLC. “Already impressed by the quality of Marco’s Pizza and its exceptional leadership team, we knew timing was right to further invest and be aggressive with growth. Equipped with a proven business model, we’re well on our way to developing these locations over the next three years.”

Marco’s is experiencing explosive growth, record-breaking sales, and continues to innovate and pilot new programs to sustain its performance. As a result, eager and sophisticated entrepreneurs and multi-unit operators are flocking to the franchise opportunity as now nearly half of the franchise network is made up of multi-unit owners.

“We’re placing an emphasis on growing with incredible partners who truly embody our People-First approach to business,” said Keith Sizemore, Vice President of Development for Marco’s Pizza. “When a proven franchise partner doubles down on their current investment to open 15 more stores, it speaks to the tremendous belief they have in the Marco’s brand. We are excited to have yet another group of ‘empire builders’ in our system, developing a strong market in Tampa.”

Opening a new store every three and a half days on average, the Top 50% of its franchised stores generated $1,059,574 AUV for 2020*. For more information on Marco’s Pizza franchise opportunities, visit www.marcosfranchising.com or call 866-731-8209.

About Marco’s Pizza

Marco’s Pizza is America’s Most Loved and Most Trusted Pizza Brand, according to the 2019 Harris Poll EquiTrend® Study. Headquartered in Toledo, Ohio, Marco’s Pizza is one of the fastest-growing pizza companies in the United States. Marco’s was founded in 1978 by Italian-born Pasquale (“Pat”) Giammarco and thrives by making authentic Italian quality pizza with fresh ingredients. The company has grown from its roots as a beloved Ohio brand to operate over 1,000 stores in 34 states with locations in Puerto Rico and the Bahamas. Most recently, Marco’s Pizza was ranked No. 2 in the Pizza category on Entrepreneur Magazine’s 2020 “Franchise 500” ranking, and No. 6 in the Largest Pizza Chain category on Restaurant Business’ 2020 “Top 500 Chains” ranking. Other recent accolades include ranking No. 4 in Forbes 2019 “Best Franchises to Buy” Small/Medium Investment and ranking five consecutive years on Nation’s Restaurant News’ prestigious “Top 200” ranking. For more information on Marco’s Pizza franchise opportunities, visit www.marcosfranchising.com or call 866-731-8209.

*Based on the Average Unit Volume of the top 50% of our Franchised Stores for fiscal year 2020. Based on fiscal year 2020, 142 of 369 Franchised Stores in the category (38%) met or exceeded this average. This information appears in Item 19 of our 2021 FDD – please refer to our FDD for complete information on financial performance. Results may differ. There is no assurance that any franchisee will perform as well.

Media Contact:
Kelly McNamara
Fishman PR
847-945-1300
[email protected]

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Food & Dining

Clean Juice Energizes at Annual Juice Jam Event

by Jessica Woods
By: Jessica Woods

Clean Juice Energizes at Annual Juice Jam Event

Leading Organic Fast-Casual Restaurant Welcomes Franchise Partners and Vendors to Orlando, Announces 2021 Juicerista Scholarship Winners

Clean Juice Energizes at Annual Juice Jam EventClean Juice, the first and only national USDA-certified organic juice bar franchise in the U.S., celebrated another successful year of growth with its entire Franchise Partner family during the company’s annual Juice Jam event held at the Omni Champions Gate Resort in Orlando, FL, the brand’s first in-person event since the beginning of the global COVID-19 pandemic. The event welcomed approximately 300 Clean Juice family members including Franchise Partners, 60+ Vendor Partners, and the entire Clean Juice Home Office support team.

Though there were many memorable moments, the highlight of the three-day event was the presentation of multiple scholarships to store employees during the Awards Banquet. Clean Juice awarded $17,500 in scholarship funds including three $5K and five $500 scholarships to help Juiceristas offset the costs of postsecondary education. Two of the $5,000 winners including Daniel Bernharden (Lincoln, NE) and Rocco Lavarone (Tampa, FL) were invited to attend the event and be recognized on stage by co-Founders Kat and Landon Eckles.

A special live FaceTime call was arranged to celebrate the $5,000 Mission Trip Scholarship winner, Clara Mount (Houston, TX), who joined for a few minutes before departing on her Operation Mobilization trip to Africa. Operation Mobilization is a Christian missionary organization founded by George Verwer to mobilize young people to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ by serving those in need through medical care, emergency relief, education, and job skills. Clara received a standing ovation from the attendees for her commitment to serve others and for being a shining example of Clean Juice’s core values.

Store owners from each of the winning scholarship recipients were invited to the stage to share their positive experiences and personal celebrations of each winner.  To cap off the Awards Banquet, a special video from Clean Juice’s newly named National Ambassador, Tim Tebow, was played for the recipients.

“The Clean Juice brand has so much to be thankful for as we continue to grow and innovate at a record pace year after year,” said Landon Eckles, CEO, Clean Juice. “We would definitely not be where we are today without the dedication of our Franchise Partners and Juiceristas like Daniel, Rocco, and Clara who continue to deliver our organic products with a smile and a servant’s heart to millions of guests a year. This is what Juice Jam is all about and why we were so thrilled to do it in person in Florida.”

Clean Juice heads into Q4 with a momentum that will mark another record-breaking year of substantial growth within the fast-casual/QSR market.  Through the end of August, the company’s year-to-date same stores exceeded 16 percent from last year. Clean Juice proudly reported at Juice Jam that the company is on pace to see more than 1.1 million more guests in 2021.  During the event, the company unveiled multiple new initiatives and products including new organic sandwiches, which will launch in October 2021.

“Menu innovation and seasonality was a key topic of discussion during our many breakout sessions with Franchise Partners,” added Eckles. “We are inspired by their passion to continue the Clean Juice tradition of developing new flavors and on-the-go menu items for our millions of guests including the launch of our new organic sandwich line menu item coming out very soon.”

During the event, Franchise Partners were celebrated for being “Stars So Far,” including Tauni Roberts, multi-store owner in Boise, ID, who was recognized for a “Year Over Year Increase” performance of 99.4 percent increase in sales from the previous year; “Best Guest Count Growth“ award went to the Koessl family from Dallas, TX who saw a 182 percent increase from last year; and the “Quarters 4 Kids” cause marketing award went to Jessica Hose from Glen Mills, Pennsylvania who raised nearly $2500 for community programs geared toward enriching the lives of children through health, wellness, and nutritional programming.

Clean Juice Energizes at Annual Juice Jam Event

Clean Juice’s rise from an experiment in the kitchen of Landon and Kat Eckles to one of the nation’s fastest-growing USDA-certified, organic, fast-casual brands is one for the record books. Its impressive and continuous growth is attributed to the power of its brand recognition, which is synonymous with living a clean, healthy, nutritious lifestyle. Recently named to the Inc. 5000 for the third consecutive year and #21 of the top fast-food brands to watch, Clean Juice was founded on product innovation that focuses on organic fruits and vegetables with no additives, GMOs, or chemicals and making healthy, fast food accessible to all communities.

Landon and Kat Eckles started Clean Juice in 2016 as the first and only USDA-certified organic juice bar franchise and is rooted in the “healthy body and a strong spirit” (3 John 1-2) scripture and highlights the importance of an organic, plant-based diet. Clean Juice offers organic cold-pressed juices, smoothies, wraps, açaí bowls, toasts, salad bowls, and other healthy foods in a warm and welcoming retail experience. In its short history, Clean Juice has amassed dozens of achievements and awards, including most recently being named #154 in Entrepreneur Magazine’s 2021 Franchise 500® ranking and the #1 spot as Franchise Gator’s 2021 Fastest-Growing Franchises list. Clean Juice continues to seek and welcome qualified franchisees to its family of franchise partners. In 2021, professional athlete and philanthropist, Tim Tebow, became the first Clean Juice national ambassador after signing a multi-year agreement. For more information about Clean Juice, its leadership team, its core values, and franchising opportunities, please visit www.cleanjuice.com or www.cleanjuicefranchising.com. 

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Food & Dining

Modern Training Joins Council of Hotel and Restaurant Trainers (CHART) as New Bronze Partner

by Jessica Woods
By: Jessica Woods

Modern Training Joins Council of Hotel and Restaurant Trainers (CHART) as New Bronze Partner

Westfield, NJ  (-)  The Council of Hotel and Restaurant Trainers (CHART) is pleased to announce a new sponsor relationship with Modern Training, a provider of innovative, digital training programs with custom and off-the-shelf content.

 “Digital delivery is helping hospitality trainers deploy content where and when employees need it, while keeping messaging consistent and making updates easier than ever before,” said CHART President Monique Donahue, CHT. “Modern Training’s approach, with visually impactful design and interactive learning, engages teams with learning they enjoy. This translates into tangible performance improvement.”

“Everyone is changing their training strategy in some way right now. Moving from in-person to digital training, adding and updating content quickly, making learning interactive and entertaining – these are all big challenges that we love to help with,” said Matt Nelson, CEO of Modern Training. “I believe our approach of meeting brands where they are, acting as a virtual training department, is valuable for CHART member trainers who need additional resources to get everything done.”

CHART currently has the following partners who support its mission:

Platinum: ServSuccess/National Restaurant Association and the America Hotel and Lodging Educational Institute (AHLEI)

Silver:  DiscoverLink, Inkling, Legacy Event Productions, Schoox, Wisetail, World Manager, Restaurant Playbooks, and SparkLearn

Bronze: Creative Restaurant Solutions, People & Performance Strategies, the Wine and Spirits Education Trust, and Modern Training

Alliance:  Dine Out for No Kid Hungry/Share our Strength, HR in Hospitality Conference, International Food and Beverage Technology Association (IFBTA), Multicultural Foodservice Hospitality Alliance (MFHA), and Children of Restaurant Employees (CORE)

Contact:
Lisa Marovec
CHART
312-405-2634
[email protected]

About CHART

CHART (chart.org), a non-profit professional association founded in 1970, is the leading resource for the development and advancement of hospitality training professionals and their organizations. With more than 500 members from more than 350 restaurant, foodservice, and lodging companies, CHART represents a workforce of almost three million. CHART includes all facets of hospitality training, learning, and performance professionals; from entry level to senior executive. CHART’s mission is to develop hospitality training professionals to improve performance through access to networks, education, and resources. Follow CHART on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter at @CHARTtrainers.

About Modern Training & Development, Inc.

Modern Training builds innovative training programs with custom and off-the-shelf content, new approaches to learning, and ongoing support. They help brands execute their L&D strategy by acting as an extension of their training team, whether it’s 1 person or dozens. Modern Training is located in Loveland, Colorado and works with partners in foodservice, hospitality, breweries, retail, logistics, and more across the United States. Say hello and find out more at moderntd.com.

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Food & Dining

The Toasted Yolk Cafe Hosts Cups for the Cure Fundraiser

by Jessica Woods
By: Jessica Woods

The Toasted Yolk Cafe Hosts Cups for the Cure Fundraiser

Popular full-service neighborhood eatery to donate $5 for every specialty mug sold starting Oct. 1 to Susan G. Komen

The Toasted Yolk Cafe Hosts Cups for the Cure FundraiserHouston, TX  (-)  The Toasted Yolk Cafe is inviting guests to come enjoy reimagined interpretations of traditional classics while supporting a great cause.

In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Toasted Yolk is hosting a Cups for the Cure fundraiser featuring its special pink mug. Starting Oct. 1, Toasted Yolk will donate $5 to Susan G. Komen for every limited-edition pink mug sold. The mugs will be available in-store at all locations while supplies last.

“Community support is incredibly important to everyone at Toasted Yolk and we’re honored to have the opportunity to host this fundraiser in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month,” said Toasted Yolk CEO and Co-Founder Chris Milton. “Susan G. Komen is a life-saving organization that has invested nearly $1.1 billion in breast cancer research and has given financial assistance and support to more than 220,000 people. We invite everyone to come out and join us as we try to reach our goal of raising $3,000 for Susan G. Komen this year.”

What:             The Toasted Yolk Cafe hosts Cups for the Cure fundraiser benefitting Susan G. Komen

When:             Starting Oct. 1

Where:           All 17 Toasted Yolk locations throughout Texas

For more information and the location nearest you, visit thetoastedyolk.com and follow The Toasted Yolk on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

The Toasted Yolk Cafe: It’s Never Too Early To Get Toasted.

The Toasted Yolk Café franchise opportunities

About The Toasted Yolk Cafe

The Toasted Yolk Cafe is a full-service neighborhood eatery featuring reimagined interpretations of traditional breakfast, brunch and lunch classics. Founded by longtime friends Chris Milton and Mathew DeMott in Houston, Texas in 2010, The Toasted Yolk is committed to unwavering quality of food, farm-to-table freshness and unmatched service. Its menus are tailored to meals enjoyed throughout the day, allowing diners to enjoy egg specialties and coffee in the morning, boozy cocktails and savory pancakes at brunch, and a variety of delicious salads, sandwiches and soups at lunch. The Toasted Yolk has more than doubled its size over the last 24 months and currently operates 17 locations throughout the Lone Star State.  For more information, visit thetoastedyolk.com and follow The Toasted Yolk on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Contact:
Blake Heckel
Champion Management
972-930-9933
[email protected]

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Food & Dining

Layne’s Chicken Fingers Targets Jacksonville, Florida for Brand Expansion

by Jessica Woods
By: Jessica Woods

Layne's Chicken Fingers Targets Jacksonville, Florida for Brand Expansion

CEO Garrett Reed highlights a lucrative market for prospective franchisees and discusses the brand’s proven business model.

Layne's Chicken Fingers Targets Jacksonville, Florida for Brand ExpansionJacksonville, FL  (-)  Layne’s Chicken Fingers, an emerging Texas-based franchise, is seeking a team of dedicated franchisees in Jacksonville, Florida to expand its loyal following. The brand seeks to open 100 units across the country by 2025, with early plans in Jacksonville to match and eventually surpass the current brand presence in College Station, Texas.

“The Jacksonville area and that part of Florida is a ripe market,” said Garrett Reed, CEO of Layne’s Chicken Fingers. With a metro area population of more than 1.5 million people, the market in Jacksonville comes equipped with a growing consumer audience and a productive real estate outlook.

“The availability of real estate is abundant there, and it’s a market that can easily be developed quickly,” Reed said. “I think the Florida market is full of the same kinds of people who are already in our target market.”

Layne’s Chicken Fingers has captured a cult-like following since its first location opened in 1994 in College Station, Texas. The flagship location has garnered attention with immediate proximity to Texas A&M University, and Reed believes the brand will quickly establish itself in Florida throughout markets with similar demographics.

“Jacksonville is ‘SEC country’ too, if you will. We do very well in Texas, and there are a lot of commonalities between the target audiences in both states,” he said. Jacksonville is home to the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars and 67,000-seat TIAA Bank Field, while also the host city for college football’s annual Gator Bowl and the highly-attended University of Georgia/University of Florida football rivalry. The city is accustomed to popular weekend crowds, much like the influx of people upon College Station each fall on Saturdays.

To only further the popularity of Jacksonville, it is a frequent tourist destination for residents in SEC markets. The brand seeks to capitalize on the home city of many collegiate alumni with ties and matching interests to those in its flagship city.

Jacksonville provides a similar comparison to College Station and its beloved Kyle Field, but with a greater market capacity for franchise expansion. College Station has a metro population of under 300,000, less than a fifth of the people in Jacksonville. With a phase of targeted Florida expansion, Layne’s Chicken Fingers might even anticipate more locations in Florida than in Texas within a few years.

Reed further stated how the Jacksonville area will allow Layne’s Chicken Fingers to corner an underserved market of chicken-concept restaurants while staying close to home. As part of the brand’s expansion plans in Florida, they are targeting free-standing drive-thru locations in high-traffic areas.

The brand targets upper-end blue-collar workers, families and high school students in search of a great place to eat after school, or anyone in simple pursuit of great service at a chicken brand concept. “We see this brand as a family across the board, and that’s the way we want everybody to feel,” he added.

This emphasis has led the brand to target a curated audience of passionate franchisees. Layne’s Chicken Fingers entertains both multi- and single-unit franchise deals, but the brand’s emphasis is placed more on the integrity of each franchisee rather than their financial motives. “We’re a fun brand and are all about our guests, and we’re looking for franchisees who fit into our mission,” Reed said.

“We aren’t as concerned about the number of units a franchisee wants to open in Florida, whether a franchisee is a one-unit operator or a 10-unit operator. Really what we look for is if a franchisee is a cultural fit,” he added.

At a corporate level, Reed highlighted how the brand seeks to prioritize employee wellness all the way down to each individual franchise. “I want to go to each restaurant and hear employees talk about how much they love working for the franchise owner,” he said.

In seeking motivated and well-intentioned franchisees, Layne’s Chicken Fingers has launched a priority to put all of its employees in good hands. This has been an ongoing mission of the brand since opening in 1994, and something the brand emphasizes as it entertains its Florida expansion.

Total franchise investments range from $737,000 to $1,217,500. Learn more about franchising here: https://www.layneschickenfingers.com/franchising/.

About Layne’s Chicken Fingers

Founded in 1994 in College Station, the original Layne’s Chicken Fingers location became a Texas A&M legend known for its small-town charm, friendly service, iconic chicken fingers and secret sauce. While opening corporate locations across the Dallas-Fort Worth area, the leadership team focused on fine-tuning its operations and starting to franchise. Now, the company is planning to bring Layne’s Soon to be Famous™ Chicken Fingers to the rest of the world with plans to open 100 locations in the next four years.

Contact:
Noelle Goebel
Mainland
312-526-3996
[email protected]

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Food & Dining

Mountain Mike’s Pizza Proudly Opens in Brea

by Jessica Woods
By: Jessica Woods
Mountain Mike's Pizza Proudly Opens in Brea
The New Mountain Mike’s Pizza Brea, California Crew

Leading Family-Style Pizza Chain Continues Impressive Growth Throughout Orange County

Mountain Mike's Pizza Proudly Opens in BreaNewport Beach, CA  (-)  Mountain Mike’s Pizza, a leading California-based family-style pizza chain for more than 40 years, known for its legendary crispy, curly pepperonis, Mountain-sized pizzas, and dough made fresh daily, is excited to announce that its first Brea, Calif., location is now open for business. The new restaurant in Northern Orange County is owned by franchisee Raj Lehl, who also owns and operates a Mountain Mike’s Pizza 30 miles to the south in Lake Forest. A dedicated franchisee and passionate Mountain Mike’s brand ambassador, Lehl anticipates opening future restaurants in Orange, Anaheim and elsewhere throughout Southern California. Located in the Brea Union Plaza near Home Depot, the new Brea Mountain Mike’s Pizza is making it even easier for Orange County locals to enjoy the brand’s signature experience of “Pizza the Way it Oughta Be!®”

“It’s exciting and rewarding to help expand Mountain Mike’s throughout Orange County, which has become a focal point for the brand due in large part to the region’s strong sense of community and emphasis on family values,” said Lehl. “While we got our start up north, our Southern California guests have been embracing Mountain Mike’s Pizza, and we’re thrilled to now be serving our legendary mountain-sized pizzas and crispy, curly mini pepperonis to the vibrant Brea community.”

The 2,000-square-foot Mountain Mike’s Pizza in Brea features the welcoming, family-friendly atmosphere the brand is known for, and it’s bound to be a go-to destination for sports fans this fall as football season kicks off. Featuring 10 big-screen televisions (7 indoor and 3 outdoor), the Brea location is the perfect venue no matter which team guests want to root for. Ideal for dining alfresco, the location offers a large patio that can accommodate two-dozen restaurant-goers, and it also features a seated bar counter and kids play area. Clearly, there’s something for everyone at the Mountain Mike’s in Brea, making it an ideal spot for sports fans of all ages, team parties, family get-togethers, office gatherings and group fundraising events alike.

Mountain Mike’s makes delicious pizzas the way you remember – hand-made and with the freshest and finest ingredients. From its legendary crispy, curly pepperoni, 100% whole milk mozzarella cheese and a variety of fan-favorite specialty pizzas, Mountain Mike’s has something to satisfy every taste. Whether it’s dine-in, carryout or delivery, guests can always count on Mountain Mike’s to deliver on quality, freshness, flavor and value. Orders may also be placed through any of the brand’s third-party delivery partners.

The new Brea Mountain Mike’s is located at 2435 E. Imperial Highway, Unit A, Brea, Calif., 92821. It can be reached by telephone at (714) 784-6274. The restaurant is open Sunday – Thursday from 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., and on Fridays and Saturdays from 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. For additional information about Mountain Mike’s Pizza, visit www.mountainmikespizza.com.

About Mountain Mike’s Pizza

Since 1978, Mountain Mike’s Pizza, a leading California-based family-style pizza chain known for its legendary crispy, curly pepperonis, Mountain-sized pizzas, and dough made fresh daily has been a popular choice for families, serving “Pizza the Way it Oughta Be!®” up and down the West Coast. In addition to offering carryout, its own in-house delivery, and four third-party delivery options, Mountain Mike’s provides a family-friendly dine-in environment making it easy for guests to enjoy the brand’s signature experience wherever they are. Most of its more than 240 locations feature a kids’ activity area with arcade games, dedicated party rooms and big screen TVs throughout, making Mountain Mike’s an ideal place for sports teams, family gatherings, group fundraising events and private parties alike. With a menu of signature pizzas, bone-in wings, garlic bread, salads, mozzarella sticks, and a selection of beer and wine, there’s something for everyone at Mountain Mike’s. For a complete list of locations and the full menu, visit www.mountainmikespizza.com or follow Mountain Mike’s on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Media Contact:
Jandalee Pham
Powerhouse Communications
[email protected]

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Food & Dining

Ledo Pizza Celebrates National Pizza Month by Supporting Local Charities

by Jessica Woods
By: Jessica Woods

Ledo Pizza Celebrates National Pizza Month by Supporting Local Charities

Popular Maryland-based pizza brand to donate a portion of sales for all 18-inch pizzas sold in the month of October to cancer-fighting organizations

Ledo Pizza Celebrates National Pizza Month by Supporting Local CharitiesAnnapolis, MD  (-)  Committed to giving back to the communities it serves, Ledo Pizza is bringing back its limited-time Pink Pizza Box fundraiser during National Pizza Month!

Throughout October, the Maryland-based pizza brand will turn its 18-inch pizza boxes pink as a way to show its support for local cancer-fighting charities and raise awareness for their efforts. For every 18-inch Pink Pizza Box sold, Ledo Pizza will donate a portion of the proceeds to eligible nonprofit organizations in its communities in November. Each charity will be selected by the Ledo Pizza Franchise Advisory Board.

What:             Ledo Pizza is celebrating National Pizza Month by giving back to local charities. A portion of proceeds from every 18-inch Pink Pizza Box sold will benefit cancer-fighting nonprofit organizations in Ledo Pizza’s communities.

When:             Oct. 1-31.

Where:           All Ledo Pizza locations.

At Ledo Pizza, every pizza is rolled to order with fresh handmade dough topped with high-quality ingredients, like its famous thick pepperoni and fresh sausage. The menu also features freshly baked subs, lasagna, spaghetti, jumbo wings, soup, salad and cheesy garlic bread. To learn more about Ledo Pizza, visit ledopizza.com.

About Ledo Pizza

Founded in 1955 in the suburbs of Maryland and now headquartered in Annapolis, Maryland, Ledo Pizza is a regional pizza franchise that is dedicated to offering a fresh, affordable menu served in a family-friendly atmosphere. Frequently awarded “Best Pizza” recognition in communities across the U.S., Ledo Pizza currently has more than 100 locally owned locations in seven states with multiple new restaurants in the pipeline. Ledo Pizza believes strongly in community involvement and the brand is a proud partner of the Baltimore Ravens. Ledo Pizza is also the Official Pizza of the Maryland Terrapins. For more information, visit ledopizza.com and follow the brand on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Contact:
Kathryn Ward
Champion Management
972-930-9933
[email protected]

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Food & Dining

Restaurants to Congress: Our Recovery is Moving in Reverse

by Jessica Woods
By: Jessica Woods

New data shows delta variant bringing greater instability to restaurants, likely extending recovery through 2022

Restaurants to Congress: Our Recovery is Moving in ReverseWashington, DC  (-)  The National Restaurant Association today sent a letter to Congressional leaders sharing discouraging new operator survey findings and warning of harm that provisions of the Build Back Better Act (BBBA) could inflict on restaurant industry rebuilding.

In a new national survey of restaurant operators, research indicates that deteriorating business conditions are impacting operators’ outlook in such a way that they believe a recovery from the pandemic will be prolonged well into 2022. Overall, a majority of fullservice and limited-service operators say business conditions are worse now than three months ago. Additionally, 44% of operators think it will be more than a year before business conditions return to normal and 19% believe they never will.

The survey also found:

  • 78% of operators say their restaurant experienced a decline in customer demand for indoor, on-premises dining in recent weeks because of the delta variant spike.
  • 63% of operators say their sales volume in August, historically one of the busiest months for restaurants, was lower than it was in August 2019.
  • Costs are up – 91% of operators are paying more for food; 84% have higher labor costs; 63% are paying higher occupancy costs – but profitability is down; 85% of operators reported smaller margins than before the pandemic.
  • Although the industry has added back many of the jobs lost during the pandemic, 78% of operators say their restaurant doesn’t have enough employees to support current customer demand.
  • 95% of restaurant operators say their restaurant experienced supply delays or shortages of key food or beverage items during the past three months.

“Our nation’s restaurant recovery is officially moving in reverse,” said Sean Kennedy, executive vice president of Public Affairs for the National Restaurant Association. “The lingering effects of the delta variant are a further drag on an industry struggling with rising costs and falling revenue. We support many of the goals of the Build Back Better Act, but the legislation is too large and too expensive a check for small businesses to take on. Restaurants still need help today and overwhelming them with costly new obligations will only prevent progress in turning the tide of recovery.”

The letter outlined the Association opposition to several tax changes being considered as part of the budget reconciliation bill that significantly increase tax obligations and an effort to make drastic changes to the enforcement of the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA). It also urged Congress to replenish the Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF).

Specifically, the Association opposes:

  • Any cap on the Section 199A Small Business Tax Deduction, which would deny small businesses earning over $400,000 or $500,000 in annual income the ability to preserve more of their working capital. Capping the Sec. 199A deduction would worsen the ongoing financial struggle of many small and midsize restaurants and inhibit restaurants’ growth in the years to come.
  • The repeal of the stepped-up basis, which would make death a taxable event for family-owned businesses. If implemented, this would lead to a restaurant reducing operations, scaling back employment, and selling off assets or locations – causing more heartbreak in the community it serves.
  • An increase in the corporate tax rate will cost companies – including restaurants – over $540 billion. As the second-largest private sector employer in the nation, restaurants will have fewer opportunities to invest in employee growth and expansion.
  • The addition of fines for NLRA violations, which would overturn 85 years of precedent. Allowing fines of $50,000 to $100,000 for each labor violation upsets the longstanding and well-established balance in labor management law.

Read the full letter to congressional leaders here.

The National Restaurant Association Research Group conducted the COVID-19 Restaurant Impact Survey of 4,000 restaurant operators Sept. 7-15, 2021. Read the report of key findings here.

About the National Restaurant Association

Founded in 1919, the National Restaurant Association is the leading business association for the restaurant industry, which comprises 1 million restaurant and foodservice outlets and a workforce of 15.6 million employees. We represent the industry in Washington, D.C., and advocate on its behalf. We sponsor the industry’s largest trade show (National Restaurant Association Show); leading food safety training and certification program (ServSafe); unique career-building high school program (the NRAEF’s ProStart). For more information, visit Restaurant.org and find us on Twitter @WeRRestaurants, Facebook and YouTube.

Contact:
Vanessa Sink
202-331-5900

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Papa John’s Announces Brand’s Largest Domestic Development Deal Ever With Leading Multi-Brand Franchisee Operator Sun Holdings

by Jessica Woods
By: Jessica Woods

Papa John's Announces Brand’s Largest Domestic Development Deal Ever With Leading Multi-Brand Franchisee Operator Sun Holdings

Sun Holdings to oversee opening of 100 stores through 2029, targeting high-growth Texas markets

Founded by Guillermo Perales in 1997, Sun Holdings supports multiple brands and concepts, with over 1,000 locations across 12 states

Second major development deal announced this quarter is another sign of Papa John’s brand momentum and accelerating development opportunity

Papa John's Announces Brand’s Largest Domestic Development Deal Ever With Leading Multi-Brand Franchisee Operator Sun HoldingsLouisville, KY and Dallas, TX  (-)  Papa John’s International, Inc. (NASDAQ: PZZA) today announced it has signed its largest domestic franchisee development agreement in the company’s history with top U.S. franchisee operator Sun Holdings, Inc. Under the terms of the deal, Sun Holdings will oversee the opening of 100 new stores in high-growth markets across Texas by 2029. The partnership is another sign of Papa John’s accelerating development momentum, as both current and prospective franchisees show strong interest in opening new locations around the world.

Founded by Guillermo Perales and based in Dallas, Sun Holdings supports more than 1,000 locations across 12 states and has helped create more than 22,000 jobs. Mr. Perales’ organization has been ranked the third largest franchisee in the U.S. and awarded the MUFSO Golden Chain Award and Nation’s Restaurant News’ Top 10 Power List. He has also been named Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year and IFA’s Entrepreneur of the Year, as well as appearing on Latino Leaders Magazine’s 101 Most Influential Latinos for several consecutive years.

“Papa John’s development flywheel has started to take off,” said Amanda Clark, Papa John’s Chief Development Officer. “With industry leading paybacks and our key strategy of making it easy for franchisees to say yes to developing, we can attract great new partners to our brand. We’re excited to launch this milestone partnership with Guillermo and his team at Sun Holdings in Texas. Sun Holdings is a successful and well-financed operator who understands the Texas market and brings deep expertise within the QSR space that will benefit the entire Papa John’s system.”

Guillermo Perales, President and CEO of Sun Holdings, added, “Since its founding, Sun Holdings has taken a long-term, disciplined approach when making growth investments. Papa John’s fits our criteria perfectly. We see tremendous potential in this premium brand, backed by an innovative culture and highly attractive economics. We know Texas well and see an immense opportunity to grow Papa John’s across this dynamic region. We look forward to working with the corporate development team and our fellow franchisees to grow the system for everyone’s benefit, delivering BETTER INGREDIENTS. BETTER PIZZA.® to our customers.”

In the first half of 2021, Papa John’s reported record net unit growth, as franchisees accelerate their opening plans for new locations within the current development pipeline. In addition to strong interest from prospective franchisees, the company continues to add to its development pipeline through agreements with proven, current Papa John’s franchisees. Recently, the company announced that Drake Food Service International, which operates more than 280 locations across Latin America, Spain and Portugal, will open over 220 new restaurants across Latin America, Spain, Portugal and the UK, in addition to acquiring over 60 locations in the UK.

About Papa John’s

Papa John’s International, Inc. (NASDAQ: PZZA) opened its doors in 1984 with one goal in mind: BETTER INGREDIENTS. BETTER PIZZA.® Papa John’s believes that using high quality ingredients leads to superior quality pizzas. Its original dough is made of only six ingredients and is fresh, never frozen. Papa John’s tops its pizzas with real cheese made from mozzarella, pizza sauce made with vine-ripened tomatoes that go from vine to can in the same day and meat free of fillers. It was the first national pizza delivery chain to announce the removal of artificial flavors and synthetic colors from its entire food menu. Papa John’s is headquartered in Louisville, Ky. and is the world’s third-largest pizza delivery company with more than 5,500 restaurants in 49 countries and territories as of June 28, 2021. For more information about the Company or to order pizza online, visit www.PapaJohns.com or download the Papa John’s mobile app for iOS or Android.

About Sun Holdings

Sun Holdings, Inc. was founded in 1997 by Guillermo Perales, funded by an SBA loan. Sun’s portfolio has been ranked as the third largest franchisee group in the U.S. by Mega 99, 2018 Rankings. Mr. Perales has developed a portfolio that includes companies that own and operate 1,000 locations in 12 states creating more than 22,000 jobs. He has also overseen the development of over 200 new stores and completed 200 store remodels in the last three years. Today, his companies own and operate Taco Bueno and also operate Burger King, Popeyes, Arby’s, T-Mobile, McAlister’s, IHOP, GNC and several airport restaurant locations.

Contacts:
Harrison Sheffield
Sr. Communications Manager
Papa John’s International
[email protected]
205-657-3613

Gagnier Communications
Jeffrey Mathews / Lindsay Barber
[email protected]
646-569-5711

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Spicy Bourbon Dippers Are Back for a Limited Time at Participating Lee’s Famous Recipe Chicken Locations

by Jessica Woods
By: Jessica Woods

Spicy Bourbon Dippers Are Back for a Limited Time at Participating Lee's Famous Recipe Chicken Locations

Franchisee innovation leads to a new Famous Fan favorite

Spicy Bourbon Dippers Are Back for a Limited Time at Participating Lee's Famous Recipe Chicken LocationsShalimar, FL  (-)  Lee’s Famous Recipe® Chicken is bringing back its Famous Fan favorite Spicy Bourbon Dippers at 45 of the brand’s locations. The popular menu offering was introduced for the first time last year as an innovation of one of Lee’s longtime franchisees.

“We appreciate our creative thinking operators who can take proven menu items and develop new and different flavor pairings,” says Lee’s CEO Ryan Weaver. “Who better than local franchisees to know what established products appeal to their customers? While this product was initially ideated in the Dayton market, we saw last year that it had much broader market appeal. Tossing our already delicious Spicy Jumbo Dippers, which are big bites of our famous boneless chicken, in this Kickin’ Bourbon Sauce with a side of cool ranch for dipping is the perfect fall pairing no matter where you live and enjoy your Lee’s.”

Spicy Bourbon Dippers take Lee’s signature menu item of Spicy Jumbo Dippers and toss them in a spicy bourbon barbeque sauce with a side of ranch for dipping. Lee’s dippers are always freshly marinated in a special blend of seasonings, then hand breaded twice.

Spicy Bourbon Dippers are available now through November 14. For participating locations, visit LeesFamousRecipe.com.

About Lee’s Famous Recipe® Chicken

For more than 55 years, Lee’s Famous Recipe® Chicken, a casual dining franchise founded in Lima, Ohio, has specialized in fresh, never frozen chicken. Today, there are 131 Lee’s Famous Recipe Chicken locations in 12 U.S. states and in Canada that are all individually owned and operated. For additional information, please visit LeesFamousRecipe.com.

Media Contact:
Dana Dussing Berry
[email protected]
501-772-6141

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MOOYAH Inks Largest-Ever Development Deal for 15 Units in Palm Beach County With Golden Corral Franchisee Marc Verderame

by Jessica Woods
By: Jessica Woods

MOOYAH Inks Largest-Ever Development Deal for 15 Units in Palm Beach County With Golden Corral Franchisee Marc Verderame

Franchising is a family business for Verderame, who hopes to one day grow beyond the 15 new MOOYAH locations he’ll be opening over the next decade.

MOOYAH Inks Largest-Ever Development Deal for 15 Units in Palm Beach County With Golden Corral Franchisee Marc VerderameWest Palm Beach, FL  (-)  Marc Verderame, MOOYAH Burgers, Fries & Shakes’ newest Franchise Owner, has signed the brand’s largest development deal to date. Originally from New York, the restaurant industry veteran is bringing his expertise to the better-burger franchise, opening 15 new locations in Palm Beach County over the next 10 years.

MOOYAH has been riding a wave of expansion and is currently on track to add 45 new locations by the end of 2023 to its 90-unit, fast-casual franchise system. Verderame saw this expansion as a chance to turn his years of experience in franchising into a new opportunity in the Palm Beach area.

As the son of the owner of multiple New York City pizzerias, Verderame grew up around the restaurant business. After working in construction, he branched out into franchising, eventually becoming a multi-unit franchisee for Golden Corral in Palm Beach County. Now, he plans to open the first of 15 new MOOYAH Palm Beach locations in the first quarter of 2022.

“The construction industry was changing, and we always had little restaurants up in New York, but we were looking to relocate to Florida,” he said. “We were already in the restaurant business, so we wanted to pursue it more. In 2012, we were the first franchisees to open a store for another big burger chain in South Florida. Wanting to expand our portfolio in the area, we were looking at another brand when we found MOOYAH, and it was perfect.”

Why make the choice to partner with MOOYAH? For Verderame, it came down to all-around quality – quality food, quality atmosphere, quality time and a top-notch, high-quality corporate team providing support.

“The first time I visited a MOOYAH, everything looked and tasted so fresh,” Verderame said. “It felt like a fun, family environment, and the burgers were really good. The whole crew was great through all our meetings. They have a great training system to get all the coworkers and managers to buy into the brand and do it the right way.”

Of course, the brand’s ongoing success factored into his decision to sign MOOYAH’s biggest development deal yet. In 2020, an otherwise challenging time for the restaurant industry, 18 MOOYAH stores joined the franchise’s Million Dollar Club — a group of restaurants that have brought in at least $1 million in sales.

“Systemwide, MOOYAH grew by 10% during the pandemic, while also finalizing our new drive-thru concept,” said Mike Sebazco MOOYAH Vice President of Operations and Development. “With two drive-thrus projected to open this year, MOOYAH continues to offer more convenience to its loyal and enthusiastic Guests.”

Verderame urged other potential MOOYAH owners to focus on what they believe in when choosing a brand to partner with.

“I’m hoping for more than 15 stores in this county eventually, and I know we’ll grow with MOOYAH and be very successful together,” Verderame said. “There’s a huge population down here to serve, and we look forward to finally introducing MOOYAH to Palm Beach County.”

With locations currently in 22 states from California to Virginia and Montana to Texas, a full pipeline of new locations and a Guest base that’s more loyal than ever, MOOYAH is riding a wave of expansion in 2021. And even with its monumental growth, the brand still has opportunities for exclusivity in some major markets for qualified Franchise Owners. Target markets include Columbus, Houston, Las Vegas, Tampa, Orlando, Phoenix, Raleigh/Durham, Nashville, Atlanta and Richmond.

For more information on MOOYAH, please visit http://www.MOOYAH.com. Connect with MOOYAH on Facebook.com/MOOYAH, follow MOOYAH on LinkedIn, Twitter @MOOYAHburgers and Instagram @MOOYAHburgers, and TikTok @mooyahburgers.

For franchising opportunities, please visit franchise.mooyah.com.

MOOYAH Inks Largest-Ever Development Deal for 15 Units in Palm Beach County With Golden Corral Franchisee Marc Verderame

About MOOYAH Burgers, Fries & Shakes

MOOYAH Burgers, Fries & Shakes is a fast-casual, “better burger” concept offering mouthwatering made-to-order burgers, French fries hand cut from Idaho potatoes, and real ice cream shakes. Founded in 2007, the Plano, Texas-based company serves fresh, 100% Certified Angus Beef® brand burgers, all natural turkey burgers and Dr. Praeger’s black bean vegan burgers. MOOYAH’s non-GMO potato and multigrain buns are baked in-house daily, and Guests can choose from five real cheeses, bacon, avocado and 19 free sauces and toppings made from garden-fresh veggies. MOOYAH Guests can choose from eight flavors of 100% real ice cream shakes, including vanilla, Hershey’s chocolate, Reese’s, Oreo and more. While many Guests dine in-restaurant, MOOYAH also offers online ordering, delivery and carry out for Guests on the go as well as a loyalty app. In 2021, MOOYAH ranked on Entrepreneur Magazine’s Franchise 500 list, #41 on Fast Casual’s Top 100 Movers and Shakers, and its Leadership Team was recognized by the Dallas Business Journal as 2021’s Most Inspiring Leaders. In 2020, MOOYAH ranked #38 on Fast Casual’s Top 100 Movers and Shakers. In 2018, MOOYAH was ranked among Entrepreneur Magazine’s Top 200 Food and Restaurant Franchises of 2018 and landed at #7 in the Top 10 Fast Casual Restaurant Franchises by FranchiseRankings.com. In 2017, MOOYAH was named to Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500 list, Franchise Times’ Fast & Serious list of the smartest growing franchise brands and was ranked #11 on Fast Casual Magazine’s annual Top 100 Movers & Shakers, a list the brand has been included on every year in the last ten years of rankings. For more information on MOOYAH, its menu or franchising opportunities, please visit www.MOOYAH.com. Connect with MOOYAH on Facebook.com/MOOYAH, follow MOOYAH on LinkedIn, Twitter @MOOYAHburgers and Instagram @MOOYAHburgers, and TikTok @mooyahburgers.

Contact:
Lauren Turner
Mainland
312-526-3996
[email protected]

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Food & Dining

The Peach Cobbler Factory Making Big Moves With New Nashville & Louisville Corporate Stores

by Jessica Woods
By: Jessica Woods

The Peach Cobbler Factory Making Big Moves With New Nashville & Louisville Corporate Stores

Louisville, KY  (-)  Peach Cobbler Factory recently continues strong growth with two new corporate stores in both Nashville and Louisville. This brings the ever expanding nine year brand to (5) corporate entities with additional corporate stores planned with over (20 new franchise locations) committed to in their first six weeks of franchising.

The Peach Cobbler Factory Making Big Moves With New Nashville & Louisville Corporate Stores

The company is investing in corporate stores to build value in their corporate side but also expanding rapidly via franchising in five states.

The Peach Cobbler Factory Making Big Moves With New Nashville & Louisville Corporate Stores

The company will also be rolling out delivery in all new markets in Ky, Tn, La, Ga and Louisiana.

The Peach Cobbler Factory Making Big Moves With New Nashville & Louisville Corporate Stores

The Peach Cobbler Factory has multiple revenue streams from quick service dessert bar, catering, mobile units and delivery options. The startup for a Peach Cobbler Factory is $65,000.00 to $125,000.00 and the startup time is 60-120 days.

The Peach Cobbler Factory Making Big Moves With New Nashville & Louisville Corporate Stores

About Peach Cobbler Factory

The Peach Cobbler Factory was founded in Nashville, TN in 2013 by Tamira Edgerton. The company offers a family style dessert shop with old fashioned cobbler, cinnamon rolls and banana pudding.

Contact:
U.S. Franchise Development
Peach Cobbler Factory
615-578-1963
[email protected]

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Food & Dining

Mexican Inspired Restaurant on a Mission to End World Hunger Opens in Cary, NC

by Jessica Woods
By: Jessica Woods

Mexican Inspired Restaurant on a Mission to End World Hunger Opens in Cary, NC

The new franchise restaurant serving feel-good food with a feel-good purpose is opening its doors in Cary’s popular Parkside Town Commons on September 29

Mexican Inspired Restaurant on a Mission to End World Hunger Opens in Cary, NCCary, NC  (-)  Zambrero, is opening a new location in Cary, North Carolina, located at 1151 Parkside Main St. on Wednesday, September 29 in the Parkside Town Commons shopping center. Zambrero is holding a drawing for one lucky winner to win ‘Free Bowls or Burritos for a Year,’ available for customers to enter from September 29 through October 13*.

The restaurant will celebrate its grand opening with formal festivities on Saturday, October 23 that includes a giant burrito-cutting with franchisee Michael Olander and Cary business leaders, as well as a giveaway of free bowls and burritos to the first 1,000 customers who visit throughout the weekend**. The festivities will also include a prize wheel for customers to spin-to-win free Zambrero swag/deals, and the announcement of the ‘Free Bowls or Burritos for a Year’ winner.

Zambrero’s indoor dining room will be open to the public, in accordance with social distancing measures and mask requirements, and also has available outdoor patio seating for guests to enjoy their meal outside.

Zambrero partners with Rise Against Hunger, an international humanitarian organization working to end world hunger, for its Plate 4 Plate initiative. For every bowl, burrito or bottled water purchased, Zambrero donates a meal to someone facing hunger. Since inception, the concept has donated more than 51 million nutritious meals to affected communities across Africa, Asia and the Americas, and is working toward a goal of 1 billion meals by 2025.

“After seeing great success at our Durham location, we’re confident the Cary community will be equally as welcoming of our feel-good food with a feel-good purpose,” said Susie Deatherage, chief operating officer of Phoenix Restaurants, LLC, which owns the Cary location. “It’s one thing to go out to eat and enjoy delicious cuisine, but it’s another thing entirely when the meal has a mission. Not only is our food healthy and good for you, but you can also feel good about yourself for contributing to a great cause and helping someone in need.”

Mexican Inspired Restaurant on a Mission to End World Hunger Opens in Cary, NC

“Throughout our partnership, Zambrero has played an invaluable role in Rise Against Hunger’s mission to end world hunger, and the opening of the new Zambrero location in Cary enables us to further support this mission,” said Barry Mattson, Rise Against Hunger’s CEO. “The meals contributed by Zambrero provide crucial nourishment and impact the lives of the children and families who receive them.”

Zambrero’s customizable bowls, burritos and tacos are topped with fresh produce, proprietary sauces, salsas prepared fresh daily, handmade guacamole and unique superfood options like black rice. Meats are prepared using the sous-vide method – a slow cooking process that cooks meats for up to 18-hours to lock in nutrition, flavor and moisture. Zambrero uses no grills or fryers.

Zambrero is opening within Parkside Town Commons, an outdoor shopping center with more than 55 shops, ranging from national brands to local specialty stores. Parkside features many retailers and eateries, plus a bowling alley and movie theater.

* The winner of the raffle will receive 52 coupons, which can be redeemed for a free bowl or burrito at Zambrero.

** Offer valid for standard bowls and burritos from October 23-24. Limited to one bowl or burrito per person. Additional toppings may cost extra. Favorites not included. Valid for in-person orders only, while supplies last.

Mexican Inspired Restaurant on a Mission to End World Hunger Opens in Cary, NC

About Zambrero

Founded in Canberra, Australia in 2005, Zambrero is a healthy, Mexican-inspired fast-casual restaurant that also helps stop world hunger by donating a meal to someone in need with every burrito, bowl or bottled water purchased through the Plate 4 Plate initiative. With a menu including customizable bowls, burritos, tacos, nachos, dos capas and quesadillas, all meat options are prepared using the sous-vide method, salsas are prepped fresh daily and guacamole is handmade. Zambrero has more than 200 restaurants around the globe through franchising initiatives. For more information, visit www.zambrero.com.

Contact:
Katie Davis
Largemouth Communications
[email protected]
919-418-6272

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The Sauciest Season of the Year is Here … The McRib is Back at McDonald’s USA This Fall

by Jessica Woods
By: Jessica Woods

The Sauciest Season of the Year is Here ... The McRib is Back at McDonald's USA This Fall

This iconic sandwich marks its 40th anniversary as it returns nationwide Nov. 1

The Sauciest Season of the Year is Here ... The McRib is Back at McDonald's USA This FallChicago, IL  (-)  McRib fans to the front of the line; the tangy and tantalizing sandwich you’ve been waiting for all year is almost back! The legendary McRib will make its triumphant return to McDonald’s® USA menus this fall – you can grab the craveable sandwich beginning Nov. 1 for a limited time at participating restaurants nationwide.

The McRib made its debut 40 years ago and quickly became a fan-favorite thanks to the unmistakable flavor of the seasoned boneless pork patty slathered in BBQ sauce and topped with slivered onions and tart dill pickles, all on a homestyle bun.

“In the 80s, the masterminds behind McDonald’s food innovation had a truly unique idea: an undeniably delicious sandwich that could be enjoyed during the colder seasons,” said Mike Bullington, Senior Archives Manager at McDonald’s. “Whether you’re a McRib loyalist or first timer, there is no denying that the McRib is one of the most iconic sandwiches of the last four decades and we have thousands of emails and tweets from fans to prove it.”

The McRib started as a regional favorite following its 1981 debut in Kansas City, Kansas and launched into international fandom when it was paired with the promotion of a major motion picture, along with innovations like the McRib Jr. It has since become an international sensation that has appeared in Germany, New Zealand and France. The internet boom and emergence of social media solidified the McRib’s icon status. The love of the saucy sandwich connected fans online, and tools like the ‘McRib Locator’ allowed even more people to join the frenzy.  The hype around its annual return even gave birth to the phrase ‘McRib Season.’

Set your calendar reminders, the McRib makes its U.S. nationwide return to menus on Nov. 1 for a limited time at participating McDonald’s restaurants via carry-out, at the Drive Thru, on the McDonald’s App and through McDelivery. And don’t forget to sign up for MyMcDonald’s Rewards* to earn points on every dollar you spend at McDonald’s—unlocking additional free menu items to enjoy.

* Program available at participating McDonald’s. Excludes delivery. Download and registration required.

About McDonald’s USA

McDonald’s USA, LLC, serves a variety of menu options made with quality ingredients to nearly 25 million customers every day. Ninety-five percent of McDonald’s 14,000 U.S. restaurants are independently owned and operated by businessmen and women. For more information, visit www.mcdonalds.com, or follow us on Twitter @McDonalds and Facebook. www.facebook.com/mcdonalds.

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Food & Dining

Oktoberfest Is Back at Kings Family Restaurant!

by Jessica Woods
By: Jessica Woods

Oktoberfest Is Back at Kings Family Restaurant!

Oktoberfest Is Back at Kings Family Restaurant!Pittsburgh, PA  (-)  Kings Family Restaurants across the greater Pittsburgh area brought back their guest favorite, Oktoberfest limited time menu. The Oktoberfest menu is available until Sunday, November 28th.  

Kings’ Oktoberfest menu includes favorites like the Oktoberfest Dinner which includes Pierogies, Kielbasa and made from scratch potato pancakes, Potato Pancake Breakfast, Apple Cinnamon French Toast, Pierogi Dinner and Pumpkin Pie.

The Oktoberfest menu is available for dine in, take out and across 3rd party delivery sites like Doordash and Uber Eats.

“We are excited to bring back the Oktoberfest limited time menu for our guests. This is a fan favorite at Kings and this year we added a new item, the Apple Cinnamon French Toast that’s made with Jenny Lee’s Cinnamon Apple Swirl bread.” said Alisha Merico, Marketing Manager with Kelly Restaurant Group, Kings Family Restaurant parent company. “Our partnership with Jenny Lee is special for us and it’s nice being able to add another one of their products to our menu lineup.”

In addition to the Oktoberfest favorites Kings is also offering quarts of homemade soup to go for just $5.99 this includes the Beef Vegetable, Cheese Broccoli, and their weekly features. They have quarts of their homestyle Chili available for $6.99 per quart.

“Our soups are just outstanding; we make all of them from scratch and the recipes have been around since the beginning. The Beef Vegetable soup contains nine different vegetables and tastes just like the recipe your grandma made” said Alisha Merico, Marketing Manager with Kelly Restaurant Group. “We love to see all of the quarts of soup fly out of our kitchens, especially during this time of the year.”

Kings Family Restaurant is serving their Oktoberfest menu every day, all day. Kings Family Restaurant is open for dine in, take out, 3rd party delivery and now offering catering at all 14 locations.

Oktoberfest Is Back at Kings Family Restaurant!

About Kings Family Restaurant

Kings Family Restaurant is Western Pennsylvania based and is a chain of family dining restaurants. Founded in 1967.

To check out the other promotions and offers at Kings Family Restaurants visit  https://www.kingsfamily.com.

Contact:
Alisha Merico
412-646-5455
[email protected]

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New Survey Finds 36% of TikTok Users Have Visited or Ordered Food From a Restaurant After Seeing That Restaurant on the Platform

by Jessica Woods
By: Jessica Woods

New Survey Finds 36% of TikTok Users Have Visited or Ordered Food From a Restaurant After Seeing That Restaurant on the Platform

Additionally, 65% of TikTok content creators have visited or ordered food from a restaurant after seeing videos posted on TikTok

Owings Mills, MD  (-)  MGH, a full-service marketing and communications agency for franchise restaurants and more, today released the results of a national TikTok survey about restaurants, which found that 36% of TikTok users have visited or ordered food from a restaurant after seeing that restaurant on the platform. Additionally, 65% of TikTok content creators have visited or ordered food from a restaurant after seeing videos posted on TikTok. There are currently 65.9 million monthly active TikTok users in the U.S. and 1 billion global active users.

The survey further examined what exactly inspires visits to new restaurants, and whether or not users would be influenced to travel to or visit a new restaurant based on viewed content.

Videos showing food are the key drivers

For these TikTok’ers, the food matters, serving as the key driver behind why people visit or order food from restaurants after seeing TikTok restaurant content. Of the surveyed users, 55% said they wanted to visit the restaurant because the food looked appetizing, and 51% wanted to because the video showed a unique food item.

“As TikTok continues to grow in popularity, many restaurant marketers have been left wondering if the platform is worth the investment. The results of our survey show it is,” said Ryan Goff, EVP, Social Media Marketing Director at MGH. “Often restaurants and other businesses are hesitant to invest in new platforms, but the increasing popularity and breadth of users – coupled with direct feedback from users – demonstrate the power of TikTok and should encourage restaurant owners to add this platform to their marketing mix.”

Other notable TikTok restaurant stats include:

  • More than 45% of surveyed TikTok users also said they would be interested in visiting a restaurant in a different state based on a TikTok video, with 35% saying they have already done so;
  • 38% of users surveyed said they wanted to visit a restaurant they saw on TikTok because the video showed a cool atmosphere;
  • 36% said they wanted to visit the restaurant because the TikTok video showed a cool way of serving food or beverages; and
  • Nearly 30% cited a great view as the driver for their interest in visiting.

For more insights on our survey visit our blog: https://www.mghus.com/blog/how-tiktok-influences-restaurant-dining-behavior. 

About this Survey

Results are based on a national survey of 701 U.S. residents who watch videos on TikTok. The survey was conducted Aug. 25, 2021 using SurveyMonkey Audience.

About MGH

Based in Owings Mills, Md., MGH is an integrated marketing and communications agency offering advertising, public relations, media planning/buying, creative design and production, interactive (design, strategy, development and marketing), market research, direct response, relationship marketing and social media marketing to franchised restaurants and more. MGH was selected to the Ad Age 2019 and 2020 Best Places to Work list.

MGH maintains a diverse client base spanning multiple industries. Some of the agency’s current clients include Nestle Toll House Cafe by Chip, Which Wich, Mason’s Famous Lobster Rolls, Shari’s Cafe & Pies, Coco’s Bakery, Books-A-Million, Hendrick Automotive Group, Mannington, Smyth Jewelers, STANLEY BLACK & DECKER, DTLR, Spring Education Group, Inc., Successories, and Santa Monica Brew Works.

Visit http://www.mghus.com for more information on MGH and its services or connect with MGH via: Facebook at https://facebook.com/mghus; Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/mghmarketing; Twitter at https://twitter.com/mghus; or YouTube at https://youtube.com/mghtv.

Media Contact:
Kerry Owens
410-902-5035
[email protected]

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Food & Dining

PDQ Announces First-Ever International Deal

by Jessica Woods
By: Jessica Woods

PDQ Announces First-Ever International Deal

First unit to open this month in Kazakhstan as People for Quality

PDQ Announces First-Ever International DealTampa, FL  (-)  Award-winning PDQ restaurants (People Dedicated to Quality) has signed a Master Franchise Agreement, and is launching its first international presence with EIC (Eastern Investment Company) based in Dubai – UAE. EIC has the rights to own, operate and open PDQ locations among 40 countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS/FSU) and Baltic/EU regions. EIC group will launch PDQ starting this month with the first location under PQ (People for Quality), one of the PDQ trademarks, in Kazakhstan.

The partnership with EIC group will see more than 15 PDQ units opened overseas in the next five years. The first location is slated to open on September 30 inside the Mega Center mall in Almaty Kazakhstan. To learn more, visit the PQ Kazakhstan page.

PDQ Announces First-Ever International Deal

“This is an exciting time for our brand as we have signed our first international Master Franchise with some incredible partners,” said PDQ CEO and Co-Founder Nick Reader. “Our team of People Dedicated to Quality is looking forward to introducing our brand to the region as we have seen the enormous growth in the fast casual space in that area.”

“We are very excited to announce the opening of the first PDQ location in Almaty Kazakhstan as a first of many more cooperation with our amazing business partners at the PDQ team,” said EIC CEO Emam Anwar.

EIC’s Management has a long history of success, having opened and operated more than 1,500 American franchise restaurants in a region that spans across 15 counties. The agreement is more than two and a half years in the making, with both teams making visits to the region as well as current PDQ restaurants in the United States.

“We are proud of the unparalleled support we have been receiving from our partners at the PDQ team, making us want to accelerate both a local and regional execution plan,” said EIC President Ahmed Al Alfi.

PDQ Announces First-Ever International Deal

PDQ Announces First-Ever International Deal

About PDQ

Founded in 2011, award-winning PDQ – “People Dedicated to Quality” – offers chef-driven recipes and mindful ingredients typically found in a fine casual restaurant with the value, speed and convenience of the fast food and fast casual segment. Outback Steakhouse co-founder Bob Basham and MVP Holdings CEO Nick Reader are the two principal owners of PDQ. Beloved throughout the Southeast and now beyond for its famous hand-breaded chicken tenders and signature sauces, PDQ also crafts delicious sandwiches and salads fresh in store, every day. PDQ is committed to creating deep roots in its local communities and has given over $6 million in dollars and in-kind donations to local charities, schools, and organizations since its inception. On October 30, 2011, the original PDQ restaurant opened its doors in Tampa (FL) and the concept now has locations throughout Florida, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina and South Carolina. For more information, visit www.eatPDQ.com.

Contact:
Kelly Jones
Legend
646-459-9652
[email protected]

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Food & Dining

On The Border Launches Major Menu Enhancements with New Mouthwatering Bold Offerings

by Jessica Woods
By: Jessica Woods
On The Border New Smokehouse Fajitas
New Smokehouse Fajitas

Texas-Sized Smokehouse Fajitas, Honey-Chipotle Shrimp Tacos, freshly prepared Tortas, Loaded Queso Burger and more now available at world’s largest Mexican casual dining brand

On The Border Launches Major Menu Enhancements with New Mouthwatering Bold OfferingsDallas, TX  (-)  On The Border Mexican Grill & Cantina is making more bold and exciting improvements to the brand by introducing a long list of crave-worthy menu items including appetizers, tacos, tortas, burgers and desserts!

Starting today, the world’s largest Mexican casual dining brand is revamping fan-favorites like its Tortilla Soup with even bolder flavors and is taking its iconic sauces to the next level, including green chili, sour cream sauce and spicy avocado ranch. On The Border is even amping up its fajitas with more steak on the sizzling plate and offering tasty add-ons like a mesquite-grilled shrimp skewer.

On The Border will also bring back guest favorites like Chipotle Ribs, which were served when the brand first opened its doors. Plus, On The Border is introducing 10 new hand-crafted Tex-Mex cocktails to the menu including an ultra-premium Diamante Margarita with Maestro Doble Diamante Tequila, Ranch Water and Maker’s ‘Rita.

On The Border Launches Major Menu Enhancements with New Mouthwatering Bold Offerings
New Margaritas

On The Border aficionados can start their authentic Tex-Mex dining experience with the brand’s new Honey Chipotle Shrimp Appetizer and top it all off with the new Tres Leches Cake. Of course, On The Border didn’t stop there. The brand has introduced over 20 new menu items this last year, including the following that launch next week:

  • Smokehouse Fajitas – Texas-sized fajita platter with chipotle ribs, jalapeño sausage, braised carnitas and shredded beef brisket with honey chipotle and jalapeño-BBQ sauces on the side, topped with a grilled jalapeño
  • Honey-Chipotle Shrimp Tacos– Crispy-fried shrimp, hand-tossed in honey-chipotle sauce with cilantro, spicy avocado ranch and shredded cabbage.
  • Tacos Al Pastor – Braised and seasoned carnitas with pineapple salsa.
  • Tacos Al Carbon – Corn tortillas with fajita chicken or steak, served with Jack cheese, pico de gallo, fresh guacamole and roasted red chile-tomatillo salsa.
  • Monterey Ranch Chicken Torta– Mesquite-grilled chicken smothered in melted Jack cheese, crumbled bacon and ranch dressing in a toasted bolillo roll.
  • Braised Carnitas Torta – Braised carnitas with creamy red chili sauce and honey-chipotle sauce, topped with shredded cabbage and pickled red onions in a toasted bolillo roll.
  • Loaded Queso Burger– On The Border’s Tex-Mex burger loaded with fresh guac, pico de gallo, tortilla strips, pickled jalapeños, Mexican white cheese and covered in Smoky Queso, served on a toasted bun.

Committed to creating fresh, vibrant flavors for its guests, On The Border is bringing innovation to its lunch menu with Torta Sandwiches and a new Queso Burger, as well as a new $9 lunch special which includes a Pick Two Combo and drink. Affordable never tasted so good.

“We are excited to continue to go bolder with our menu and serve new delicious items to our guests,” said On The Border Head Chef and Senior Director of Culinary Daniel Camp. “Our menu innovations, special marinades and wood grilling have been the driving forces that have made On The Border a fan favorite for more than 40 years. We look forward to introducing these refreshing flavors to our guests!”

To learn more about On The Border or to view the menu, visit ontheborder.com.

On The Border Launches Major Menu Enhancements with New Mouthwatering Bold Offerings
New Apps
On The Border Launches Major Menu Enhancements with New Mouthwatering Bold Offerings
New Tacos
On The Border Launches Major Menu Enhancements with New Mouthwatering Bold Offerings
New Tortas
On The Border Launches Major Menu Enhancements with New Mouthwatering Bold Offerings
New Desserts

About On The Border

On The Border Mexican Grill & Cantina is the world’s largest Mexican casual dining brand. Known for its award-winning margaritas, house-made salsa, and sizzling mesquite-grilled fajitas, On The Border is a fan-favorite destination for authentic, contemporary Mexican food and vibrant good times. With over 125 restaurants in 31 states and Asia, there’s always a fiesta waiting at On The Border. For more information, visit ontheborder.com and follow the brand on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Contact:
Blake Heckel
Champion Management
972-930-9933
[email protected]

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Food & Dining

Fazoli’s Debuts the Ultimate Mac and Cheese for Fall

by Jessica Woods
By: Jessica Woods
Fazoli's Panko-crusted Mac & Cheese
Panko-crusted Mac & Cheese

Angus Beef Mac & Cheese, Lobster Mac & Cheese, The Cheesecake Factory Bakery’s Pumpkin Cheesecake and more available at iconic Italian brand for a limited time

Fazoli's Debuts the Ultimate Mac and Cheese for FallLexington, KY  (-)  The temperature outside is dropping, so Fazoli’s is heating things up with the addition of craveable and comforting new menu items!

The iconic Italian brand is celebrating the change in season by introducing three new ultimate mac and cheese dishes! Available now for a limited time, fans of the renowned, Lexington-based brand can indulge in these delicious dishes:

Panko-crusted Mac & Cheese* – Cavatappi noodles topped with a rich and creamy cheddar cheese sauce and baked with mozzarella and cheddar cheeses and savory, crispy Parmesan panko breadcrumbs.

Angus Beef Mac & Cheese – Cavatappi noodles smothered with a rich and creamy four-cheese sauce and baked with mozzarella and cheddar cheese, topped with slow-cooked tender Angus beef.

Fazoli's Debuts the Ultimate Mac and Cheese for Fall
Angus Beef Mac & Cheese

Lobster Mac & Cheese – Cavatappi noodles covered with a rich and creamy lobster cheddar sauce, then baked with savory langostino meat and mozzarella and cheddar cheeses. The ultimate in indulgence.

Fazoli's Debuts the Ultimate Mac and Cheese for Fall
Lobster Mac & Cheese

For the perfect sweet, seasonal finish, Fazoli’s is also serving up The Cheesecake Factory Bakery’s Pumpkin Cheesecake. A decadent dessert featuring smooth pumpkin cheesecake on a graham cracker crust and drizzled with Ghiradelli Salted Caramel Sauce.

Fazoli's Lobster Mac & Cheese
The Cheesecake Factory Bakery’s Pumpkin Cheesecake

 “At Fazoli’s, we’re committed to offering craveable Italian dishes at an incredible value,” said Fazoli’s Director of Culinary Innovation Rick Petralia. “There are very few places where guests can indulge in the ultimate mac and cheese with premium toppings like Angus beef and lobster for less than $10. Our guests love when we feature Mac & Cheese, and these new dishes are even saucier and creamier. We can’t wait for our fans to try these cheesy, indulgent new dishes with, of course, Fazoli’s signature, hot, fresh breadsticks.”

These indulgent menu items are only available for a limited time at participating locations. For location details, hours, menus and more information, visit www.fazolis.com.

*Available as part of Fazoli’s unbeatable 5 Under $5 line-up at participating locations.

Fazoli’s: Fast. Fresh. Italian.

Fazoli's franchise

About Fazoli’s

Founded in 1988 in Lexington, Ky., Fazoli’s owns and operates nearly 220 restaurants in 27 states, making it the largest premium QSR Italian chain in America. Fazoli’s prides itself on serving premium quality Italian food, fast, fresh and friendly. Menu offerings include freshly prepared pasta entrees, Submarinos® sandwiches, salads, pizza and desserts – along with its unlimited signature breadsticks. Fazoli’s is a winner of FastCasual and Steritech’s 2020 Excellence in Food Safety Award and was named one of the “Top 50 Global Fast Casual Innovators in 2021” by Foodable, a “Top 200 Franchises in 2021” by Franchise Business Review, a FastCasual “Brand of the Year,” and an Entrepreneur 2018 “Franchise 500.” CEO Carl Howard was named among the most influential restaurant CEOs in the country in 2020 by Nation’s Restaurant News, was recognized as one of the top 25 industry leaders on FastCasual’s 2020 Top 100 Movers and Shakers list, and he and his team were recipients of the 2021 American Business Awards Gold Stevie Awards in Food & Beverage for Company of the Year and Achievement in Management.

Contact:
Kathryn Ward
Champion Management
972-930-9933
[email protected]

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Food & Dining

Dream Dinners Announces DoorDash Partnership

by Jessica Woods
By: Jessica Woods
Dream Dinners Announces DoorDash Partnership
Thanksgiving Burger with Rosemary Shoestring Fries

Popular Family Meal Kits Now Available On-Demand

Sample kits are available for review

Dream Dinners Announces DoorDash PartnershipSeattle, WA  (-)  Dream Dinners, which pioneered the meal kit concept nearly 20 years ago, and DoorDash (NYSE: DASH), the nation’s leading last-mile logistics platform, are announcing a new partnership that will make Dream Dinners’ family meal kits available on-demand for the first time.

Dream Dinners operates 69 franchised and company-owned local kitchens in 22 states. Co-founder/CEO Tina Kuna is credited with creating the retail meal prep concept in suburban Seattle in 2002. What began as a casual gathering of working moms to assemble family meals quickly grew into the nation’s first meal kit chain.

While some customers still assemble kits themselves, most pick up ones made for them or have them delivered. Kits are prepared by hand from fresh ingredients then frozen, eliminating planning, shopping and chopping. Cooking the meals takes as little as 30 minutes.

According to Statista, meal kit sales are expected to grow to over $7.6 billion in U.S. dollars by 2024. They totaled about $2.5 billion in 2017. 

Local Dream Dinners kitchens are offering DoorDash customers a box of three ready-to-cook medium meals, which feed up to three people for $75 (fees apply), or three large meals, which feed up to six, for $150 (fees apply). Customers choose from five family-friendly options.

October’s menu features:

Layered Ravioli Bake – Cheese ravioli, Italian sausage, fresh mozzarella, and mushrooms, tossed in a robust marinara sauce.

Thanksgiving Burger with Rosemary Shoestring Fries – Stuffing seasoned turkey burgers with a cranberry mayo spread and French fried onions on a brioche bun served with a gravy dip.

Caribbean Pork Tenderloin with Honey Mustard Glaze – Juicy roasted pork tenderloin in savory honey glaze with mustard and Caribbean herbs and spices.

Countryside Chicken Fricassee – Sautéed chicken breasts cooked in a creamy French white wine sauce with mushrooms, carrots, and celery.

Chicken Yakitori Over Jasmine Rice – Diced chicken stir-fried and simmered in an Asian-infused sauce of soy, sesame, ginger and brown sugar served over jasmine rice.

“As Dream Dinners heads into our 20th year, we are excited to partner with DoorDash as its first national meal kit offering on the Marketplace,” Kuna said. “This opportunity allows us to reach a new, younger customer base, increase our brand awareness and serve a wider audience of families as they gather around the table and enjoy pre-prepped homemade meals.”

Prior to partnering with DoorDash, customers needed to order meal kits in advance. “This move to on-demand service is an important step in making the Dream Dinners concept more relevant to today’s consumers,” Kuna added. “It also will benefit franchisees.” Kuna noted that Dream Dinners customers may still place monthly orders directly with local kitchens.

“We are excited to continue our mission of empowering businesses to thrive online and provide a new way for Dream Dinners fans to order and enjoy their family meals,” said Jack Momeyer, Senior Director of Sales at DoorDash. “Dream Dinners has built an incredible product and we are proud to be their partner and help bring their vision to more customers nationwide.”

Local kitchen participation and menu choices may vary.

Dream Dinners meals are now available in 48 of the 50 U.S. states. Customers not served by a local kitchen or DoorDash may take advantage of Dream Dinners’ recently expanded online home delivery program.

About Dream Dinners, the Original Meal Kit Company™

Founded in 2002, Dream Dinners’ mission is to make gathering around the family table a cornerstone of daily life. Guests choose from seasonal, rotating monthly menus, with meal kits prepared from fresh ingredients then frozen until cooked. They are available in the Continental United States at one of 69 retail kitchens or through Dream Dinners’ home delivery service. Learn more at www.DreamDinners.com and www.dreamdinnersfranchise.com.

About DoorDash

DoorDash is a technology company that connects consumers with their favorite local and national businesses in more than 4,000 cities and all 50 states across the United States, Canada, Australia and Japan. Founded in 2013, DoorDash enables local businesses to address consumers’ expectations of ease and immediacy and thrive in today’s convenience economy. By building the last-mile logistics infrastructure for local commerce, DoorDash is bringing communities closer, one doorstep at a time.

Contact:
Brad Ritter
Ritter Communications
740-815-1892
[email protected]

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Food & Dining

El Pollo Loco Hears the Call for the Crunch and Celebrates National Taco Day with the Return of the Crunchy Taco

by Jessica Woods
By: Jessica Woods
El Pollo Loco Hears the Call for the Crunch and Celebrates National Taco Day with the Return of the Crunchy Taco
Starting Oct. 4, the beloved fan-favorite is back on the menu for a limited time.

Starting Oct. 4, the beloved fan-favorite is back on the menu for a limited time

El Pollo Loco Hears the Call for the Crunch and Celebrates National Taco Day with the Return of the Crunchy TacoCosta Mesa, CA  (-)  In honor of National Taco Day, El Pollo Loco, Inc. (“El Pollo Loco” or “Company) (Nasdaq: LOCO), the nation’s leading fire-grilled chicken restaurant chain, is bringing back its popular Crunchy Taco as its first-ever, digital-only menu item, available for purchase through the El Pollo Loco app and website, Oct. 4 through Nov. 1. To kick off the festivities, every Crunchy Taco order on National Taco Day will come with a free, ice-cold Mexican Coke®. In addition, Loco Rewards members will receive a special BOGO offer in their account that can be used to get another Crunchy Taco for free that day.

“Our customers have been very vocal on social media about how much they love and miss our Crunchy Taco, and we’ve been listening,” El Pollo Loco President and Chief Executive Officer, Bernard Acoca said. “We’re thrilled to be bringing back this much-loved classic just in time for National Taco Day, and we’re also excited to continue our digital evolution with its rollout as the very first El Pollo Loco menu item that can only be purchased online or through the app.”

El Pollo Loco’s Crunchy Taco packs smoky Tinga sauce and shredded chicken, lettuce and Jack cheese into the same crispy tortilla shell fans have always loved. And to celebrate its highly anticipated return on National Taco Day, El Pollo Loco has teamed up with Coca-Cola to offer customers an extra perk.

“Coca-Cola is very excited to pair one of our fan-favorite products with one of El Pollo Loco’s most popular menu items for this National Taco Day partnership,” said Pamela Stewart, president of Coca-Cola’s West Zone operations and North America operating unit. “It’s a fantastic way to mark the occasion, because an ice-cold Mexican Coke® is the perfect complement to a delicious El Pollo Loco Crunchy Taco.”

And in keeping with its commitment to offer customers meaningful benefits through its nationally recognized Loco Rewards loyalty program, Loco Rewards members who purchase a Crunchy Taco on National Taco Day will score a second Crunchy Taco for free, in addition to receiving a free Mexican Coke®.

The El Pollo Loco Crunchy Taco can be ordered online or via the El Pollo Loco app from Oct. 4 through Nov. 1. To learn more, visit ElPolloLoco.com.

About El Pollo Loco

El Pollo Loco (Nasdaq:LOCO) is the nation’s leading fire-grilled chicken restaurant with a mission to bring people together around food, family, and culture in the communities it serves. El Pollo Loco is renowned for its handcrafted L.A. Mex food, an innovative blend of traditional Mexican cuisine and better-for-you eating, that Los Angeles is known for. Since 1980, El Pollo Loco has successfully opened and maintained more than 480 company-owned and franchised restaurants in Arizona, California, Nevada, Texas, Utah, and Louisiana while remaining true to its Mexican-American heritage. El Pollo Loco continues to grow and evolve, nourishing connections to tradition, culture, and one another through fire-grilled goodness that makes us feel like familia. For more information, visit us at ElPolloLoco.com.

About The Coca-Cola Company

The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO) is a total beverage company with products sold in more than 200 countries and territories. Our company’s purpose is to refresh the world and make a difference. We sell multiple billion-dollar brands across several beverage categories worldwide. Our portfolio of sparkling soft drink brands includes Coca-Cola, Sprite and Fanta. Our hydration, sports, coffee and tea brands include Dasani, smartwater, vitaminwater, Topo Chico, Powerade, Costa, Georgia, Gold Peak, Honest and Ayataka. Our nutrition, juice, dairy and plant-based beverage brands include Minute Maid, Simply, innocent, Del Valle, fairlife and AdeS. We’re constantly transforming our portfolio, from reducing sugar in our drinks to bringing innovative new products to market. We seek to positively impact people’s lives, communities and the planet through water replenishment, packaging recycling, sustainable sourcing practices and carbon emissions reductions across our value chain. Together with our bottling partners, we employ more than 700,000 people, helping bring economic opportunity to local communities worldwide. Learn more at www.coca-colacompany.com and follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn. 

Like: www.facebook.com/ElPolloLoco
Follow on Twitter: @ElPolloLoco
Follow on Instagram: @ElPolloLoco
Follow on TikTok: @ElPolloLoco
Subscribe: www.youtube.com/OfficialElPolloLoco
Join Loco Rewards: www.elpolloloco.com/rewards
Join our team: www.elpolloloco.com/careers

Media Contact:
Rosie Herzog
Edible
213-878-7867
[email protected]

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Food & Dining

Ovation Adds Custom Questions to Actionable Guest Feedback Loop

by Jessica Woods
By: Jessica Woods

Ovation Adds Custom Questions to Actionable Guest Feedback Loop

3-Year-Old Survey Company Defies the Odds

Orem, UT  (-)  Ovation, the #1 restaurant guest feedback platform, has announced the release of Custom Questions, a new product as part of their customer experience suite.

Ovation has redefined the feedback space by using 2-question, SMS-based surveys which get straight to the heart of the customer by simply asking, “How was your experience?” Guests and restaurant owners love this Digital Table Touch™ because of its ease-of-use and the straightforward data that follows. With the addition of Custom Questions, restaurant owners will gain a more detailed level of dialogue with guests while maintaining the frictionless experience that Ovation is known for.

Custom Questions is a data-driven approach to asking follow-up questions. 24 hours after guests have eaten and interacted with management through the Digital Table Touch™, the Ovation system uses their original survey to identify which questions should be sent to them, based on hyper-targeting (e.g., location, survey score, or order source) now available to restaurants. The customer is sent a text asking if they will answer a couple more questions, and the restaurant can analyze responses using the Ovation dashboard. Because the questions are brief and will be based on the customer’s specific experience, Custom Questions receive upwards of 42% response rate, as opposed to traditional receipt-surveys which see a less than 0.5% completion rate.

According to Bill Crawford, Owner of Righteous Slice Pizza and one of the first Custom Questions users, “The first time we checked our custom question responses we were surprised to see so many replies from our most satisfied customers. We could clearly see themes from their comments that helped us know which products were missing from our menu and how we need to improve.”

Custom Questions’ unique data-driven approach will allow restaurant owners to ask the right question, to the right person, at the right time. Zack Oates, CEO of Ovation said, “It is odd that we are a three-year-old survey company that has just launched the ability to ask more than 2 questions–but it speaks to our commitment to focus on the guest and make sure it is as frictionless for them while keeping the needs of the operations at the forefront”.

To learn more, visit: www.ovationup.com/custom-questions/.

Ovation Adds Custom Questions to Actionable Guest Feedback LoopAbout Ovation

Voted the #1 guest feedback platform in a nationwide RestaurantOwner.com survey, Ovation uses a 2-question SMS-based survey as a “digital table touch” that has redefined guest feedback. Through frictionless integrations with online ordering platforms and other tools, Ovation allows restaurants to easily resolve guest concerns in real-time, get more 5-star reviews, discover insights to improve, and drive revenue. To learn more, visit www.ovationup.com or email [email protected].

Related links: www.ovationup.com.

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Food & Dining

Ruby Tuesday Celebrates 50th Anniversary with Big New Flavors

by Jessica Woods
By: Jessica Woods

Ruby Tuesday Celebrates 50th Anniversary with Big New Flavors

Big, better, bolder menu now available

Ruby Tuesday Celebrates 50th Anniversary with Big New FlavorsMaryville, TN  (-)  Ruby Tuesday is kicking off its 50th anniversary in a big way with the introduction of the brand new big, better, bolder menu. The 50th anniversary menu, available now at all participating locations, celebrates what Ruby Tuesday has been rooted in for nearly five decades – big burgers, bold flavors and great service.

“Since 1972, Ruby Tuesday has been recognized for its big burgers, bold dishes and cold beer, and today is no different,” said Ruby Tuesday chief marketing officer Jenifer Boyd Harmon. “Our guests love to get their crave on at Ruby’s, so for our 50th birthday we have created big, better, bolder burgers, out of this world sauced and tossed boneless wings, and a crazy loaded mac ‘n cheese to celebrate with our guests. But we aren’t stopping there. Serving guests for 50 years is a big deal to us, so in celebration of our 50th birthday, we want our guests to share their own big deals and we’ll award 50 lucky guests with big prizes!”

The new menu features two new mouthwatering burgers, irresistible boneless wings and a cheesy loaded mac ‘n cheese with smoked sausage, grilled peppers and onions. The new Big Philly Cheeseburger features grilled shaved steak with signature RT burger sauce and is topped with peppers, onions and baby bellas, all smothered in cheese for a savory finish. For cheese and bacon lovers, the new Double Cheese Bacon Crunch Burger will satisfy cravings with cheddar bacon cream cheese, crispy onions and RT burger sauce all loaded on Ruby Tuesday’s legendary classic burger. The all-new boneless wings come in two irresistible flavors including Parmesan Garlic and So Sassy Honey, a special honey-pepper-garlic sauce that provides a bold finish to a sweet start.

In celebration of its 50th birthday, Ruby Tuesday has also launched #NowThatsABigDeal $5K Sweepstakes that will applaud and award guests for submitting their own big deals. The sweepstakes will award 50 total winners with prizes ranging from $25 in Ruby Big Bucks to $5,000 in cash! Guests can visit the Ruby Tuesday website to submit an entry Oct. 1 through Oct. 31.

In addition to the new menu options, guests can always enjoy Ruby Tuesday signature menu items, including Fall-Off-The-Bone Tender Baby-Back Ribs, Asiago Bacon Chicken, Parmesan Shrimp Pasta and the Endless Garden Bar, available as an add-on or an entree. For the everyday value seeker, Ruby Tuesday continues to offer its “2 for $22” deal, which includes one appetizer and two meals for just $22, available every day for lunch or dinner. Guests can choose from a selection of Ruby Tuesday’s most popular dishes to build their perfect meal.

All new big, better, bolder menu items and classic menu selections can be enjoyed at all local Ruby Tuesday restaurants or guests can take it to go through Ruby TueGo and local delivery partners for a convenient lunch or dinner to share with family and friends.

Ruby Tuesday is dedicated to providing guests with an exceptional, affordable and friendly casual dining experience while also protecting the health and safety of its diners and employees. Ruby Tuesday is continuing to adhere to its high cleaning standards and sanitation procedures, as well as following the guidance of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

About Ruby Tuesday

Founded in 1972 in Knoxville, Tennessee, Ruby Tuesday, is dedicated to delighting guests with exceptional casual dining experiences that offer uncompromising quality paired with passionate service every time they visit. The company currently owns, operates, and franchises casual dining restaurants in the United States, Guam, and five foreign countries under the Ruby Tuesday® brand. For more information, visit www.rubytuesday.com.

For Ruby Tuesday interviews or images, contact:
Miranda Anderson, [email protected]

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Food & Dining

HUNGRY Closes $21MM Series C Round with “A-List” Backing

by Jessica Woods
By: Jessica Woods

Led by notable VCs and celebrity investors, the new funding will propel HUNGRY’s geographic and service-based expansion

HUNGRY Closes $21MM Series C Round with "A-List" BackingArlington, VA  (-)  HUNGRY, one of the fastest growing food tech startups in the U.S., today announced the close of its $21 million Series C funding. The round brings together a new team of passionate and diverse supporters, including award-winning actress, writer, and producer Issa Rae; “America’s Got Talent” host Terry Crews; NFL wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins; NBA superstar Lonzo Ball, and heavyweight boxing champion Deontay Wilder.

The new group adds to HUNGRY’s already impressive roster of noteworthy investors, like Jay-Z’s Marcy Venture Partners; stand-up comedian, actor, and producer Kevin Hart; internationally-acclaimed music luminary Usher; NFL five-time all-pro Ndamukong Suh; six-time all-pro linebacker Bobby Wagner; celebrity chefs Tom Colicchio and Ming Tsai; and former co-CEO of Whole Foods Market Walter Robb.

Additional VC backing for the round came from an all-star group of investors, including Sands Capital Global Venture Fund, Motley Fool Ventures, Evolution VC Partners, Marcy Venture Partners, Stonewall Robb Investments, Studio Management, Bread and Butter Ventures, Ames Watson LLC, The Syndicate Fund, James Madison Innovations, GP Ventures, the Center for Innovative Technology, Private Access Network, The Torch Fund, The Heritage Fund, Flight VC and Robert G. Hisaoka.

HUNGRY will use the new infusion of capital to accelerate its geographic and service-based expansion.

“Since the outset of the pandemic, interest in HUNGRY has increased exponentially,” said Jeff Grass, CEO of HUNGRY. “This round of funding came together in record time with overwhelming interest from new and past supporters, which will enable us to help even more chefs and communities across the country.”

Over the past 18 months, HUNGRY has thrived under the pressure of a global pandemic, broadening its offerings to include Virtual Xperiences and last mile food delivery and logistics services, both of which already have a national footprint. These new offerings helped enable HUNGRY to double its year ending annualized revenue run rate in 2020.

“What started as a mission to disrupt the $60 billion office catering industry has become an adaptable and multi-pronged business – revolutionizing the way chefs work,” said HUNGRY co-founder and COO Eman Pahlavani. “Our pandemic response demonstrated the power, agility and flexibility of our tech platform, chef network, and incredible team.”

Since its inception, HUNGRY has donated one meal for every two meals sold to help end hunger in the U.S. To date, the company has donated more than half a million meals through its own efforts and in partnership with Feeding America’s nationwide network of food banks.

The startup’s food solutions business currently operates in Boston, New York City, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., Atlanta, Austin and Dallas. The company plans to expand its onsite services to Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area this September. HUNGRY’s Virtual Xperiences are available nationwide.                                         

About HUNGRY

HUNGRY was founded in 2017 by serial entrepreneurs Eman Pahlavani, Shy Pahlevani and Jeff Grass as a revolutionary platform engaging the $60 billion business and events catering market. The technology-enabled marketplace provides curated experiences to groups and businesses throughout the US via catering, chef pop-ups, snack packs, virtual cooking experiences, and food delivery services.

Notable investors in HUNGRY include Jay-Z’s Marcy Venture Partners, Kevin Hart, Usher, Todd Gurley, Bobby Wagner, Ndamukong Suh and celebrity chefs Tom Colicchio and Ming Tsai. Through its partnerships, HUNGRY has donated more than half a million meals to people in need. The company also promotes environmental waste reduction through its Food Solutions programs.

HUNGRY is headquartered in Washington, D.C. and has rapidly growing operations in Philadelphia, Atlanta, Boston, New York City, Austin, Dallas and Los Angeles. For more information, visit tryhungry.com.

Contact:
Mary Eva Tredway
Butin Integrated Communications
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