There always seems to be restaurant news on the menu. As I do every Friday, let's take a look at some of this week's more appetizing stories.
1. On the Brinker of danger
Casual dining bellwether Brinker International
The reporting year is off to a bad start, with Brinker expecting to post a profit of just $0.19 a share or $0.20 a share for its fiscal first quarter that concluded two weeks ago. The company is calling its new Honey Chipotle Chicken Crispers promo "successful," but with comps off by 3% at its flagship concept, winning diners with sweetened, spicy poultry isn't enough.
2. International House of Pound Cake
Is any table service concept actually growing at the unit level? Sure. DineEquity's
The same can't be said for DineEquity's Applebee's acquisition. Comps there fell by 3.1% during the quarter that ended in September. It kind of makes you wonder if IHOP bit off more than it can top with maple and fork down when it teamed up with Applebee's to create DineEquity.
3. Don't tell China
How do you say "Hot Doughnuts Now" in Mandarin? Krispy Kreme
4. Goodbye, Ruby Tuesday
Casual dining chain Ruby Tuesday
If the chain needs a new Rolling Stones song to inspire a more fitting moniker, I think "Start Me Up" is a good fit.
5. Belly up to the burger bar
The Whopper Bar is coming. Burger King
It's a great location, out in the Citywalk entertainment complex that straddles the entrance turnstiles to the resort's two theme parks. It will give Burger King a great cross-section of locals and out-of-towners to see if there is enough demand in the concept to take it to the next level.
6. Taking out the Landry's
Remember when Landry's
There's a big lesson on risk to learn in the Landry's fallout. With the stock down in the low teens before Fertitta went public with resetting his buyout price, speculators probably thought they were getting a great deal in buying a stock at $14 that would be cashed out at $21 in a few months. Wide spreads don't lie, though. The market knew that something was up. What's down? Landry's stock, for starters.
7. Doing the Colonel proud
Let's close on an upbeat note, as Yum! Brands
Clearly the fast-food chains are doing better than their pricier casual-dining cousins. Are we now just months away from fine-dining bistros and upper-crust chophouses beginning to install drive-thru lanes and dollar menus? Let's hope not.
Check out this week's dessert specials: