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Cover Story:

Innovation Puts Chains Ahead of the Curve
Whether they're new menu items, service enhancements or online offerings, all innovations serve the same purpose: to bond cus

Features:

Interior Design: Eyes on the Pies

TV Ads Present a Roll Model for O'Charley's

Limited Time Offers: Seasons Eatings

P.F. Chang's Beverage Menu Gets Oriented

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Recession Survival Kit for Growing Chains
Whether you call it a recession or merely an economic slowdown, the operating environment has taken its toll on restaurant chains. Chain Leader spoke to some operators about growing in the midst of an economic downturn, including areas they are cutting back in and what they are still investing in.
Research: Customers Paying Through the Pain
Sure tightwads spend less money. The question is why, and what to do with that knowledge. A recent academic article examines how the pain of paying drives them to spend conservatively, even more than they would ideally like to.

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Restaurant News

Restaurant pager debate: The buzz on both sides

Rubio's(R) Restaurants, Inc. Enters Into $20 Million Credit Facility W

Jack in the Box stock falls on outlook

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BUYER'S GUIDE

Compare prices for point of sale systems.
Chain Leader has partnered with BuyerZone to offer you free price quotes. Complete a simple form and find the restaurant point of sale system that fits your business needs.

Marketing Marketing RSS Feed Morton's The Steakhouse Fires Up Guest Recipe Contest (Press Release) Hit the Road this Summer with Cracker Barrel and the Greatest Family Road Trip Game (Press Release) T.G.I. Friday's Restaurants Make 'Right Portion, Right Price' Permanent Part of Menu (Press Release) View All Stories	Operations Operations RSS Feed U.S. House Committee Takes a Closer Look at Credit Card Fair Fee Act (Press Release) Cornell Restaurant Report Shows How to Calculate Revenue Accurately (Press Release) Wolfgang Puck Files Suit against New Restaurant for Trademark Infringement (Press Release) View All Stories
Expansion Expansion RSS Feed Veteran's Small-Business Program Hits New Milestone (Press Release) Organic To Go Acquires Seattle Cafe Chain Comprised of Mel's Market, Joelle's and Simon's (Press Release) Rubio's Restaurants, Inc. Enters Into $20 Million Credit Facility With Pacific Western Bank (Press Release) View All Stories	Human Resources Human Resources RSS Feed IHOP Corp. Appoints Mike Archer President of Applebee's International (Press Release) bd's Mongolian Grill Acquired by New Owners with Aggressive Growth Plans (Press Release) John Gainor to Succeed Charles Mooty as President, Chief Executive Officer at International Dairy Queen, Inc. (Press Release) View All Stories
Menu Development Menu Development RSS Feed Research Demonstrates Growing Desire for Ethnic Food (Press Release) Taco Bell Gives Consumers More Variety for Less Money with New 79-89-99 Why Pay More Value Menu (Press Release) Hardee's to Offer Its Most Decadent Burger Yet (Press Release) View All Stories	Research Research RSS Feed Research Demonstrates Growing Desire for Ethnic Food (Press Release) Cornell Restaurant Report Shows How to Calculate Revenue Accurately (Press Release) NPD Reports Restaurants Will Benefit From Tax Rebate, If History Repeats Itself (Press Release) View All Stories

EXPERT BUSINESS SOURCE

When Charitable Requests Get Out of Hand
Dear Suzanna:My wife and I make a few small annual gifts to charity, but we made one bigger gift last year and ...
What is the Fed, Anyway?
As the economic consequences of the current credit crunch continue to unfold, an unlikely celebrity has emerged: The Federal R ...
Belt Tightening in Tough Economic Times
“Forget the big summer vacation,” said a friend of mine last week, “I’m just trying to keep my car filled up wi ...

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Dave's Dispatch
David Farkas, Senior Editor, Chain Leader
May 14, 2008
Friends of gay people
What do Cracker Barrel, Starbucks and Dunkin' Donuts have in common with Wal-Mart, Le...
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The Next Big Thing
Lane Cardwell, Partner, The Chain Gang
May 14, 2008
QSR+
I have grown up eating in quick service restaurants. When I was younger they were cal...
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Organic Growth
Vaughan Lazar, Co-founder and CEO, Pizza Fusion
May 5, 2008
Navigating the Franchising Journey
I wanted to apologize to everyone for my delay on my follow-up post. I just returne...
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My wife and I have been going to the Sweet Tomatoes in Scottsdale for several years. ...
Saul Saulson - 5/13/2008 11:30:23 AM PT
in response to Restaurant Tour: Raw Ingredients

test...
test test - 5/12/2008 9:41:19 AM PT
in response to Web Exclusive: Restaurants Unlimited Poised for Expansion

If American people aren't good enough to work in his restaurants, I don't think Ameri...
Lanny Dick - 5/2/2008 12:38:07 PM PT
in response to On The Money: Foreign Policy

from previous articles on daphnes restaurant, i am amazed how the company founder act...
joseph - 4/28/2008 12:08:03 AM PT
in response to Web Exclusive: Daphne's Launches Franchising Program

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Adriano Paganini: A New Direction
Adriano Paganini

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Coffee Trends

Fresh-Brewed News: Current articles from national media outlets on coffee topics.

Consumption Trends: 37% of adults aged 18 to 24 drink coffee, up from 31% the prior year.

Pick a Pairing: Many coffee aficionados are curious to learn how their favorite blends match up with food. Restaurants have the opportunity to teach them.

Full Coverage: Coffee Trends

MOST POPULAR PAGES

Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers Receives $30 Million from GE Capital Solutions, Franchise Finance (Press Release)

How to Survive a Recession

Today's R&D Requires Theoretical Math

Innovation Puts Chains Ahead of the Curve

IHOP Corp. Appoints Mike Archer President of Applebee's International (Press Release)

Rules of Engagement at Jamba Juice

Tech 2.0

Taking Orders:
Wendy’s data-management software, hooked to the POS system, eases purchasing and saves time.

View Tech 2.0 Current Issue

OPERATOR POLL

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High Potentials
63% of restaurant chains offer training for hourlies interested in becoming managers. (People Report).

Cattleman's starts with new hires.

How To Grow To 100 Units

Web Exclusive: You Can Succeed in a Recession: Small restaurant chains face different challenges than large companies as the country enters a recession. To grow during an economic slowdown, small chains need to build their organizations from the inside out.

Upstarts: Flying Biscuit Seeks Better Aerodynamics: The Flying Biscuit Cafe has developed a cult following in Atlanta and earned kudos from the national press. Now it hopes to build on that success by expanding in the Southeast.

Web Exclusive: Marketing on a Small Budget: Marketing is critical to having your restaurant stand out from the competition--especially when you're not the mega-chain on the busy corner. But good marketing tactics don't have to break the bank.

Marketing on a Dime: Operators and experts say effective marketing doesn't have to cost a lot of money or time.

Full Coverage: How to Grow to 100 Units