Food & Beverage News

If customers aren’t on a first name basis with Dunkin’ Donuts by now, the Canton, Mass-company hopes they will be soon. “It’s time we take our relationship with our consumers to the next level,” said the company’s chief marketing officer Tony Weisman on a call discussing the plan to formally rebrand as Dunkin’. Dunkin’, which…

Crate & Barrel has long sold items to help shoppers prepare and serve meals at home, from dinnerware and drinkware to cutlery and kitchen tools. But for those who’d rather take a night off from home cooking, next spring its Oakbrook Center store will get a full-service restaurant. The restaurant is a partnership between the Northbrook-based home…

As part of its new “Starbucks Greener Stores” initiative, the coffee retailer plans to have 10,000 environmentally friendly stores worldwide by 2025. Among the goals of the program, announced Thursday, is for the company to generate enough energy by solar and wind power to offset all the electricity needed to run the chain’s stores in U.S.…

Emboldened by the MeToo movement, McDonald’s workers have voted to stage a one-day strike next week at restaurants in 10 cities in hopes of pressuring management to take stronger steps against on-the-job sexual harassment. Organizers say it will be the first multistate strike in the U.S. specifically targeting sexual harassment. Plans for the walkout —…

Taco Bueno Restaurants L.P. is closing 16 locations across four states, reducing its total unit count to 172, the quick-service Tex-Mex brand said. The Farmers Branch, Texas-based company said 10 of the closures, effective Monday, were in the North Texas, three were in Okla., two in Mo. and one in Kan. “We continually review our…

The workforce is getting grayer, and it appears that business practices have yet to catch up to the trend. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that workers 55 years and older are the fastest growing segment of the working population. Pair that with the fact that less than 6% of companies have a specific plan…

Skip’s Kitchen is a family owned restaurant in Sacramento, California. It’s constantly packed and was recently named one of America’s top hamburger restaurants. Yet, in the nine years its been open, Owner Skip Wahl has never spent one dollar on advertising. How? Word of mouth. Skip’s Kitchen is popular because its customers are compelled to tell other…

Mountain Mike’s Pizza LLC, parent to the nearly 200-unit franchise brand, has named Jim Metevier to the new position of president and chief operating officer, the company announced. The Newport Beach, Calif.-based Mountain Mike’s said Metevier will oversee franchisee sales, operational systems, brand marketing and guest experience. Metevier most recently served as president of the…

Kelli Valade, president of Chili’s Grill & Bar, is leaving the company to become CEO and president of analytics firm TDn2K LLC, and Wyman Roberts, CEO and president of parent Brinker International Inc., will return to head the casual-dining brand, the company announced. Valade had served as Chili’s president, succeeding Roberts in the role, since…

Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurants is bringing on Michael Coyne as chief financial officer, effective October 1. Coyne arrives with more than three decades of leadership experience, including a six-month stint as interim CEO at Potbelly Corp. last year before Alan Johnson assumed permanent duties. He served as CFO of the fast casual since 2005…