There always seems to be restaurant news on the menu. As we do every week, let's take a look at some of this week's more appetizing stories.
1. Less dough in doughnuts
There is still no turnaround at Krispy Kreme
Then again, how many people walk into a Krispy Kreme with dieting on their minds?
All hope isn't lost here. Krispy Kreme -- despite all of the fiscal turbulence in recent years -- is still a killer brand.
2. From IHOP to I stop
There will be less tip money in the pockets of DineEquity
Have we given DineEquity enough time with its Applebee's integration to brand the deal a mistake? IHOP investors seemed perfectly happy reaping the benefits of a consistent franchisee juggernaut, before it bit off more than it could chew in picking up the reeling Applebee's. The move is starting to parallel Hewlett-Packard's
Pancakes aren't printers. Dinners aren't desktops. Still, DineEquity had better hope that it can tackle its debt effectively to offset the defection of yield-chasing income investors.
3. Combat Carl action figures
CKE Restaurants
It's not that bad, though. For starters, the top-line drop is the result of the company handing off some of its company-owned restaurants to franchisees. Comps for both concepts actually inched higher during the period. Over on the bottom line, the company took a $4.9 million hit in interest expense to mark-to-market its interest-rate swap agreements. In other words, the top and bottom lines were weighed down by unique factors.
The company clearly isn't doing as well as McDonald's
4. It's all about the pursuit of more dough
Remember when Nigel Travis stepped down as CEO of Papa John's
Well, Travis is going to a real gig. He was named the new CEO of Dunkin' Brands, the company behind Dunkin' Donuts and Baskin-Robbins. Yes, that's right: He is going from one dough maker to another.
5. Growing beyond the chihuahua
Growth is alive and well at Yum! Brands
That is certainly good news, given that some fast food chains that are posting top-line gains are still facing pressure on the way down to the bottom line. Yum! is doing quite well in China, where it sees 15% to 20% operating income growth next year, before factoring in the yuan-vs.-dollar fluctuations.
Well done, Yum! I'm almost warming up to your corporate moniker.
Check out this week's dessert specials: