Fast casual Stonefire Grill orders up digital menu boards

Fast casual Stonefire Grill orders up digital menu boards
Fast casual eatery Stonefire Grill has opened its eighth location, in Lakewood, California, featuring digital menu boards from Wand Corp., according to an announcement from the digital signage provider. As a family-style restaurant concept focused on …
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20-20 insights look into the future of digital signage in the drive-thru
Digital displays will recognize that a vehicle has entered the property and identify if the customer needs to view a menu board or if the order was already placed using a mobile app. The display will direct the vehicle to an order point, holding area …
Read more on Digital Signage Today

Dunkin Donuts: Adios Combo Meals
Dunkin Donuts is testing a way to boost the check average by unbundling sandwiches, sides and coffee. The test, underway in a franchised unit in northern New Jersey, features new digital menu boards that list items and prices a la carte, according to …
Read more on Restaurant Finance Monitor (blog)

Smashburger Named Top Brand and Fazolis CEO Named Top Executive in 2014 Fast Casual Top 100 Movers & Shakers

LOUISVILLE, KY (PRWEB) May 19, 2014

The 2014 Fast Casual Top 100 Movers & Shakers” publication was released this morning for download, after an awards gala last night in Chicago, timed to coincide with the National Restaurant Association tradeshow. Both “The Top 100” and the event were sponsored by restaurant equipment manufacturer, Henny Penny.

Judges determined the top 50 brands based on industry nominations and subsequent debate on the significance of the nominees to the segment. Criteria included innovation, growth, social responsibility and overall contribution. In addition, the judges acknowledged the 20 industry executives who have most contributed to the evolution and health of fast casual, the most influential menu innovations, and the most impactful food and technology trends.

Smashburger, Chipotle Mexican Grill and Fazoli’s were recognized as the first, second and third brands, respectively. Carl Howard, CEO of Fazoli’s, was named the industry’s No. 1 executive. The top menu trend was bite-sized food and snacks. The most influential technology trend went to mobile apps.

“This year’s competition was fiercer than ever; we had nearly 900 nominations,” said Cherryh Butler, senior editor of FastCasual.com. “In the end, the judges could not ignore Smashburger’s success. With more than 250 restaurants worldwide and a new CEO at the helm, the chain’s growth isn’t stopping, with plans to open another 70 to 80 units by the end of 2014. Combine that with its dedication to menu innovation and its focus on each local community in which it resides — every city has a special burger honoring its customs and serves local craft beers — and you have a fun, innovative brand that people love.”

“This award means a lot to us. Fast casual dining has been, and continues to be, the fastest growing segment of the restaurant industry,” said Greg Creighton, chief operating officer of Smashburger. “We saw a need for better burgers in this segment seven years ago. People were looking for quality, service and atmosphere that the fast food burger chains couldn’t answer.”

“We are the leader in the fast casual burger business,” continued Creighton. “There is a healthy appetite for our quality burgers, chicken and salads. It’s the reason we are 267 units in seven short years. We plan to have about 400 restaurants open by the end of next year.”

“The Fast Casual Top 100 Movers & Shakers represent those brands, individuals and trends that are truly moving the needle in our industry,” said Jason Moles, field marketing manager of Henny Penny. “We are excited to partner once again with Networld Media Group and FastCasual.com to recognize these innovative brands.”

Of the $ 231 billion limited-service category, fast casuals now account for $ 34.5 billion, according to Technomic. The fast casual segment is driving the majority of growth in the restaurant industry, increasing sales 11 percent in 2013, compared to the industry average of 3.5 percent.

This year’s Top 100 report can be downloaded here.

ABOUT FASTCASUAL.COM

FastCasual.com is the world’s most-read news and information source to cover fast casual restaurants, which combine the speed of quick-service brands with an atmosphere and food quality typically associated with casual dining establishments.

ABOUT HENNY PENNY

Henny Penny continues more than 50 years of innovation that began in Eaton, Ohio, USA with the first commercial pressure fryer in 1957. Today, Henny Penny offers a wide range of high quality foodservice equipment designed for easier operation, greater flexibility and lower operating costs. Product lines include pressure and open fryers, combi ovens, rotisseries, holding cabinets, and display merchandisers. These products and complete start-up, service, training and technical support, are available through Henny Penny’s exclusive worldwide distributor network. For more information on the company, visit http://www.HennyPenny.com.

ABOUT NETWORLD MEDIA GROUP

Founded in 2000, Networld Media Group is a leading business-to-business (B2B) media communications company specializing in digital media, associations and events in the mobile, self-service, digital signage, retail, food service and financial services industries. Online properties include ATMmarketplace.com, DigitalSignageToday.com, FastCasual.com, KioskMarketplace.com, MobilePaymentsToday.com, PizzaMarketplace.com, QSRweb.com, RetailCustomerExperience.com, SelfServiceWorld.com and ChurchCentral.com. The company produces executive summits in the fast casual, retail, ATM and mobile payments industries. Its custom media division develops premium content and marketing services for associations such as the ATM Industry Association.

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Larry Winget to Keynote 9th Annual Fast Casual Executive Summit

Louisville, KY (PRWEB) April 03, 2014

Larry Winget, AKA The Pitbull of Personal Development®, will keynote the 9th annual Fast Casual Executive Summit, Oct. 12-14 in Denver.

His presentation will pull material from three of his six bestselling books, Shut Up, Stop Whining & Get a Life, It’s Called Work for a Reason and People Are Idiots and I Can Prove It. Each share principles for success that can be applied to life, money, customer service, sales, leadership and more, said Cherryh Butler, host of the event and editor of FastCasual.com, the online magazine that not only covers the fast casual industry, but also produces the Summit.

The Summit brings together CEOs and other high-level executives of fast casual restaurant brands — big and small — for networking opportunities and educational sessions to help them grow their brands.

Larry attacks traditional business wisdom and offers simple truths in his caustic, thought-provoking and hilarious style. He offers a realistic approach that will work for anyone, at any time and in any business, Butler said.

“Our attendees are some of the most respected and brightest in the industry, so we knew we had to bring in someone who would be direct and ‘real’ with them,” she said.

Attendees of the Fast Casual Executive Summit will enjoy an exclusive Sunday evening Q&A session and a post-discussion cocktail party with Winget, who has starred in his own television series and appeared in national television commercials.

The two-and-a-half day event also features a fast casual restaurant food tour, other keynote and breakout educational sessions, sponsor demonstrations of the latest products and an dinner party at Coors Field, home of Major League Baseball’s Colorado Rockies.

This Summit has been created specifically for C-level executives, VPs, and directors for restaurant operators in the fast casual and QSR segments. Registration is now open at fastcasualsummit.com, and early-bird pricing is in effect.

ABOUT THE FAST CASUAL EXECUTIVE SUMMIT

Networld Media Group, publisher of FastCasual.com, created this exclusive event for top-level restaurant executives, leaders and innovators of the fast casual industry. In its ninth year, the Summit’s goal remains to bring together an experienced group of restaurant professionals whose common interests and concerns are brought to the table for open discussion in a fun and relaxing environment.

ABOUT NETWORLD MEDIA GROUP

Founded in 2000, Networld Media Group is a leading business-to-business (B2B) media communications company specializing in digital media, associations and events in the mobile, self-service, digital signage, retail, food service and financial services industries. Online properties include ATMmarketplace.com, DigitalSignageToday.com, FastCasual.com, KioskMarketplace.com, MobilePaymentsToday.com, PizzaMarketplace.com, QSRweb.com, RetailCustomerExperience.com, SelfServiceWorld.com and ChurchCentral.com. The company produces executive summits in the fast casual, retail, ATM and mobile payments industries. Its custom media division develops premium content and marketing services for associations such as the ATM Industry Association.