Food & Beverage News

Fast-growing food delivery company Chowbus raised $33 million in a Series A funding round, the company announced. The funding was led by venture capital firms Altos Ventures, based in Silicon Valley, and Left Lane Capital, based in New York City. Other contributors were Hyde Park Angels, Fika Ventures, FJ Labs and Silicon Valley Bank. Founded…

The quirky, oft maligned “quick response” barcodes have found a niche in restaurants amid the coronavirus, when social distance is the name of the game and human contact is best kept to a minimum. Operators are placing the codes at the hostess stand, on table tents or outside the door, allowing guests to scan them with…

When restaurants were forced to close dine-in operations at the start of the coronavirus crisis, a number converted their spaces into grocery stores. Since supermarkets were deemed essential businesses, a storefront selling food and other staples for housebound consumers fell under the same umbrella. In the beginning, most operators offered a limited selection of produce, meat,…

Startup restaurant matchmaker Franklin Junction finds restaurants with spare kitchen space, and marries them with brands that want to expand their delivery-only reach. Ruby Tuesday, which has permanently closed several restaurants in recent months, has found a new way to generate revenue during the pandemic: sell hot dogs from Nathan’s Famous. Dozens of Ruby Tuesday restaurants…

Sales of plant-based meat alternatives increased by 23% when merchandised in the meat department at grocery stores, according to new research from the Plant Based Foods Association and the Kroger Co. The placement of plant-based proteins was tested during a 12-week period prior to the coronavirus pandemic at 60 stores in Colorado, Indiana and Illinois.…

The 100+-location, Annapolis, Md.-based regional pizza franchise Ledo Pizza has announced Will Robinson as the company’s first chief marketing officer. With 12 years of experience as Ledo Pizza’s vice president of restaurant marketing, Robinson was promoted to CMO where he will oversee the company’s sales and marketing budget and technology, manage franchise partners and third-party…

The new restaurant is covered in solar panels and has a 1,700 square foot living wall that naturally cools the building and collects rain water. The restaurant is already open for drive-thru and delivery from 8 am to 10 pm. The 8,024 square foot restaurant is covered in solar panels and features eco-friendly design features…

Ruth’s Hospitality Group, one of the largest upscale steakhouse companies in the world, today announced that Michael O’Donnell, the Company’s current executive chairman, will retire effective December 9, 2020. Following this date, O’Donnell will remain as member of the board of directors. Mike O’Donnell stated, “It’s been a privilege to serve as Executive Chair of Ruth’s Chris for…

In my coaching and consulting sessions with executives during the pandemic, we’ve discussed critical issues such as speed, agility, resilience, pivoting, adaptability, prioritizing, change, strategy, scenario planning, transformation, rebuilding, rethinking and much more. Excellence in customer service As we enter the new normal, excellence in customer service will be an imperative! In an era where…

In 1975, 17-year-old Peter Cancro bought Mike’s Subs with the financial help of his football coach, Rod Smith, who was also an executive at the local town bank. Cancro had worked at the New Jersey sub shop for three years. The handshake deal would lead to Cancro building an empire of sandwich stores under the…