QSR Ones to Watch

One to Watch: Salsarita’s Fresh Cantina

QSR magazine — Tue, 14 May 2013 04:06:00 +0000

Former McAlister’s Deli exec gives the fresh-Mex concept a new lease on life and opportunities for growth.

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Salsarita’s Fresh Cantina

Prior to purchasing Salsarita’s Fresh Cantina from its founder in 2011, CEO Phil Friedman spent 11 years expanding McAlister’s Deli from 27 to 300 units.

These days, he and Salsarita’s president and COO Larry Reinstein are looking to grow the fresh-Mex concept. And grow it has, with a double-digit percentage growth in average unit volume that Friedman attributes to menu refinements he’s pushed forward since taking over the chain.

One to Watch: Muscle Maker Grill

QSR magazine — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 04:00:00 +0000

Smoothie-concept-turned-fast-casual spreads healthy options to diners across the country.

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Muscle Maker Grill

Rod Silva, founder of Muscle Maker Grill, says making America healthier requires diners increasing the number of healthy choices they make each day. And Muscle Maker Grill is helping them do just that.

In fact, it’s difficult to make an unhealthy choice at a Muscle Maker Grill restaurant. There are no fryers on the premises; the veggies are fresh, the rice is brown, the meat is lean, and the pasta is whole wheat.

U-Swirl Teams Up with Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory

QSR magazine — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 15:30:00 +0000

U-Swirl Inc., parent to U-SWIRL International Inc., the owner and franchisor of U-SWIRL Frozen Yogurt cafes, announces that the first U-Swirl and Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory co-branded location is open for business in Collierville, Tennessee.

One to Watch: Teriyaki Madness

QSR magazine — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 10:00:00 +0000

Budding Japanese fast casual hopes to deliver a Seattle staple nationwide.

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Teriyaki Madness

Rod Arreola, along with his brother Alan and cousin Eric Garma, grew up in Seattle, where teriyaki restaurants are commonplace. When they learned the rest of America didn’t have the same access to the Japanese flavors they loved, they decided to bring teriyaki to the masses, starting in Las Vegas.

Rachel's Kitchen Expands its Horizons at Multiple Locations

QSR magazine — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 14:02:36 +0000

The paint is barely dry at the brand new Rachel’s Kitchen Trails location in Summerlin North, work is almost done at a fourth restaurant to be located in downtown Las Vegas, and The District location in Green Valley has just expanded to meet customer demand.

The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis

QSR magazine — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 05:00:00 +0000

Indianapolis, Indiana

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Thanks to the Kids LiveWell program, children can eat healthy while visiting the museum.

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The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis

At the world’s largest children’s museum, healthy eating is on display.

Spurred by the National Restaurant Association and Healthy Dining—an organization dedicated to helping people maintain healthier lifestyles—The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis became the globe’s first museum to embrace the Kids LiveWell initiative when it debuted a revised, nutritionally tuned menu last summer.

The Counter Named on Forbes’ Most Promising Companies List

QSR magazine — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 19:00:00 +0000

The Counter Custom Built Burgers is pleased to announce that it has been named on Forbes’ second annual list of America’s Most Promising Companies.

Franchise Industry Veteran Launches McKeeCo Services

QSR magazine — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 16:20:17 +0000

Franchise industry veteran Lynette McKee, CFE, announces the launch of McKeeCo Services LLC, a franchising and development strategic advisory firm. McKeeCo Services will provide insightful franchise consulting to foodservice, hospitality, retail, and service brands seeking to grow or improve their system’s performance.

Spanish Fro-Yo Concept Brings Out Guests' Inner Kid

QSR magazine — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 21:22:02 +0000

For one young frozen-yogurt brand, age is just a number.

Yooglers, an international self-serve fro-yo concept—which opened its first location in Madrid, Spain, in 2011—has set up its first stateside shop in New York City’s Union Square.

And according to Manuel Fernandez, president of Otsu Group and Yooglers, Union Square’s opening is just the start of the chain’s international development.

One to Watch: 16 Handles

QSR magazine — Sun, 03 Feb 2013 05:00:00 +0000

Self-serve frozen-yogurt concept takes over the East Coast, 16 handles at a time.

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16 Handles / qsrmagazine

The Big Apple’s first self-serve frozen-yogurt concept may be a New York City brand, but it has its roots planted on the West Coast. Founder Solomon Choi learned the quick-service ropes while working for a gelato concept in his native California.

“That’s how my exposure to frozen desserts started in 2005,” he says. “But I began to notice an increase in the popularity of frozen yogurt. The idea for a self serve came from a family friend.”