Food & Beverage News

To Our Valued Subscribers: On behalf of me and my colleagues at American Recruiters, we hope you are all safe and healthy. We also hope you had a safe and secure Easter or Passover. This is certainly not what any of us were envisioning at the start of 2020! With the NRA show being cancelled, and…

Mason Smoot, a 26-year McDonald’s Corp. veteran, has been named senior vice president and chief restaurant officer. He replaces Charlie Robeson, who is retiring, the Chicago-based quick-service chain said. Smoot starts May 1 in the new role, where he will oversee franchising, U.S. operations, and restaurant development. His previous role was senior vice president of strategic…

Dave & Buster’s announced Tuesday that it has an agreement to sell up to $75 million in shares as part of an “at-the-market” equity offering program. Jefferies, an investment bank, will serve as the sales agent. Dave & Buster’s is using the program to build its cash flow amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Jefferies will use…

Right now, operators in the restaurant industry are focused on staying afloat and making it through the next few weeks. Jon Taffer, star of Bar Rescue and owner of full-service concept Taffer’s Tavern, understands the pressure. But he’s concerned that not enough restaurateurs are thinking about the post-pandemic future. “What I’m worried about is that not…

In her new role, Ms. Doty will be responsible for all U.S. and international Chili’s brand marketing, including menu innovation, using the brand’s insights to better understand Chili’s customers and employees, and harnessing digital marketing, social media, public relations and more to promote the Chili’s brand. Ms. Doty joined Brinker in 2017 as vice-president of…

Amid consumers’ heightened focus on immune health during the coronavirus pandemic, Smoothie King is launching a new variety of its Immune Builder Smoothie. Made with organic spinach, kale, carrots, bananas and dates, the Immune Builder Veggie Superfood Smoothie features an electrolyte blend and apple pineapple juice. The new smoothie joins the mixed berry variety in…

The National Restaurant Association is offering two programs to help members and their employees stay healthy and safe. Through its new partner, Healthiest You, the Association is making a telemedicine option available to its members. The service is $7/month per employee. There are no co-pays, and all family members can use the service. Those interested…

With same-store sales falling 65.2% for the week ended April 12, Red Robin Gourmet Burgers and Brews has temporarily shut 35 company-run restaurants, eliminated 35 headquarters jobs and reduced the pay of remaining home-office staff members by 20%. The company said it is currently working with landlords to restructure its leases. Employees of the closed…

Up until late March, The Winery Restaurant & Wine Bar had only dabbled with takeout at its three Southern California fine-dining restaurants. Carryout at the concept was mostly geared towards VIP diners looking to take home jumbo Maine scallops, shrimp risotto and mahi mahi dishes during a busy work week. “As a fine-dining establishment, it’s…

As Americans continue to shelter in place, home cooking continues to rise. That trend, coupled with a scarcity of some items on supermarket shelves, is motivating more restaurants to start selling groceries. Both Potbelly Sandwich Shop and Subway started selling deli meats, cheeses, condiments and other sandwich fixings in bulk last week, and prior to that,…