The Big News
Schultz replaces CEO at Starbucks Nation's Restaurant News SEATTLE — Starbucks Corp. chairman Howard Schultz has resumed day-to-day responsibility for the coffee chain, succeeding Jim Donald as chief executive and promising in a letter to "all partners" to reverse the company's lapse into "bureaucracy."
Viewpoint
Who Pulled the Pickles?
If as most profess the market leads the economy, we in the restaurant sector need to brace for a most challenging year. Bear Stearns downgraded the restaurant industry to "market underweight" while Banc America Securities cut its stock price targets for Darden, Brinker, Ruth's Chris and Ruby Tuesday by more than 30%.
Marketing
Is Your Operation Ready for the Great 2008 Restaurant Price War?
If you listen, you can hear the hints of the next price storm approaching. This time, though, the war won’t just be fought in the quick-service segment as it was last time (1997-2003).
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Marketing Too
Did You Make Your Customers Smarter Today?
On Friday, Starbucks rolled out its first-ever national television ad campaign--a surprising change-up from its history of pioneering new approaches to word-of-mouth marketing and brand building.
FYI Candidates
New Year’s Resolutions:
8 Things You Can Do Today To Energize Your Career And Your Life
My father taught me at a very young age that life is all about setting goals and attaining them. One must be resolute and clear with what their goals are and how they want to achieve them. Ultimately, you are in charge and it is only you that can take the first step.
Executive Movements
DALLAS — LA MADELEINE BAKERY, CAFE & BISTRO has named MICHAEL R. SHUMSKY chief executive of the 61-unit chain. Shumsky succeeds Greg Buchanan, who left in August to become chief executive at Buffet Partners Holding Co., parent of the Furr’s cafeteria chain.
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WINSTON-SALEM , N.C. - Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Inc. said today that president and chief executive Daryl G. Brewster has resigned for personal reasons after less than two years on the job. Krispy Kreme's board elected chairman James H. Morgan to fill his positions.
Financial Overview
Darden to sell Smokey Bones for $80M
Dublin, Ohio -
Shares of WENDY'S INTERNATIONAL INC. fell to a 52-week low on Friday after the company reported disappointing preliminary fourth-quarter same-store sales results, including its first quarterly drop in more than a year in corporate same-store sales.