The Boston City Council has approved a sanitation grading system for restaurants on a letter scale and requires the establishments to clearly display their grades. Boston Mayor Marty Walsh is likely to approve the ordinance since he filed the proposal. Under the new system, biannual sanitation grades will be issued by the Boston Inspectional Services […]
Tag: restaurants
Posted in, Northeast
McDonald’s Recalls Fitness Tracker Wristbands, And More…
Foodservice News In Brief… McDonald’s has recalled all fitness tracker wristbands distributed in kid’s meals after reports of skin irritations and blisters. McDonald’s issued a statement asking parents to take the wristbands away from children and return them for a replacement toy or a yogurt tube and a bag of apple slices… Flirtey and Domino’s […]
Posted in, C-Store News, Home Page Latest News, Southeast
Couche-Tard Buying 53 Sites In Louisiana
Just off its announcement that it planned to merge with CST Brands, Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc. has signed, through its wholly-owned indirect subsidiary Circle K Stores Inc., an agreement to purchase 53 sites held by American General Investments and North American Financial Group (together, “Cracker Barrel”). These sites are located primarily in the Baton Rouge market […]
Posted in, Northeast
Dickey’s Barbecue Commits To Responsibly Raised Meats, And More…
Foodservice News In Brief… Dickey’s Barbecue Pit says that all meats sold in every location now contains “No B.S.” (Bad Stuff) by sourcing only responsibly raised, quality meats; all chicken sold is now raised without antibiotics. The chicken used is 100 percent vegetarian fed and humanely raised. The company also uses humanely handled and sustainably raised […]
Posted in, Northeast
Boston Salad Shop Reopens After Health Violations Are Fixed
Boston health inspectors temporarily closed Sweetgreen, an upscale salad shop in the Back Bay section of Boston until 20 health code violations were fixed. The cited location reopened late last week after a re-inspection by health inspectors. Sweetgreen, located at 659 Boylston Street, was cited for issues related to improper sanitation, improper food temperatures and […]
Posted in, Northeast
Ruby Tuesday To Close 95 Underperforming Restaurants, And More…
Foodservice News In Brief… Ruby Tuesday plans to close approximately 95 underperforming restaurants by September. As of May 31, 2016, full- and part-time employees impacted by closures will be offered positions in nearby restaurants where possible. Ruby Tuesday’s system includes 724 restaurants, of which 646 were company-operated… The Massachusetts Restaurant Association Education Summit will be […]
Posted in, Northeast
Report: Restaurants Are Hungry For Tech Without The Headache
The National Restaurant Association (NRA) set out to explore the landscape of current technology adoption in restaurants, plans for future adoption and restaurant operators’ thoughts and opinions on restaurant technology in its just-released Mapping the Restaurant Technology Landscape report. “Restaurant operators and consumers generally agree on the benefits of technology use in restaurants, but they’re also in […]
Posted in, Northeast
Group Praises Action On Blanket Music Licensing, And More…
Foodservice News In Brief… The National Restaurant Association (NRA) praised the Department of Justice’s decision to uphold protections against anti-competitive music licensing practices: “We are also pleased that the Department of Justice has reaffirmed the concept of 100 percent or blanket licensing. Our members have been and continue to be sold blanket licenses, allowing them […]
Posted in, Northeast
Boston City Council Reviews Mayor’s Restaurant Grading System
The Boston City Council is reviewing an ordinance filed by Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh to establish a restaurant and food truck letter grading system to protect consumers and provide them with information about recent health inspections. If passed, the policy will allow inspectors to transmit violations noted into a numerical point system, which in turn will […]
Posted in, Northeast
Subway And U.S. Labor Department Reach Pact On Fair Wages, And More…
Foodservice News In Brief… Subway and the U.S. Department of Labor have signed an agreement that boosts franchisees’ compliance with labor laws and ensures that workers get paid the wages to which they are legally entitled. David Weil, U.S. Labor Wage & Hour Division administrator, said the agreement builds upon the division’s ongoing work to […]
Posted in, Northeast
RIHA Says Paid Sick Leave Bill Would Damage Rhode Island Businesses
The Rhode Island Hospitality Association (RIHA) is urging its members to contact state legislators to oppose the proposed paid leave bill under review. Five states in the country have approved such a bill, including Massachusetts, Connecticut and Vermont. According to the RIHA, the Rhode Island bill is more generous than any of the five other states. The […]
Posted in, Northeast
Dunkin’ Donuts Expands Test Delivery In Metro Boston, And More…
Foodservice News In Brief… Dunkin’ Donuts has expanded its test delivery service to the Boston metro area. Dunkin’ Donuts is partnering with delivery companies DoorDash and delivery app Favor to launch the service. Product delivery is aimed at less than 45 minutes. The company is continuing to evaluate a possible national rollout in the future. […]
Posted in, Northeast
NRA Suggests Three Operator Steps For Continued Sustainability
In recognition of Earth Day on April 22, the National Restaurant Association’s (NRA) Conserve Program encouraged restaurant operators to take simple sustainability steps that can have a significant impact on their environmental footprints and their bottom lines. Suggestions included: • Create a start-up and shut-down schedule; • Fix leaky sinks; and • Donate leftover food. “The three […]
Posted in, Northeast
Ginsberg’s Foods Upgrades Routing Solutions, And More…
Foodservice News In Brief… Ginsberg’s Foods, a family-owned and -operated independent foodservice distributor in the eastern U.S., is upgrading its fleet routing, scheduling, web reporting and GPS tracking capabilities by implementing Appian DirectRoute and DRTrack Operations solutions from TMW Systems. Ginsberg’s Foods serves customers across a six-state region from its Hudson, New York, headquarters and […]
Posted in, Northeast
Boston’s Taste Of The North End Set For April 29, And More…
Foodservice News In Brief… More than 40 North End restaurants and bakeries as well as area wine vendors will participate in A Taste of the North End beginning at 7 p.m. Friday, April 29, at the DCR Steriti Memorial Rink in Boston. The event benefits several local nonprofit organizations, schools and senior programs, including North […]
Posted in, Northeast
RIHA, NRA Issue Alert On Proposed National Overtime Regulations
The Rhode Island Hospitality Association (RIHA) and National Restaurant Association (NRA) recently issued an action alert on proposed national overtime regulations, urging members to contact legislators to support the “Protecting Workplace Advancement and Opportunity Act.” The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) recently proposed significant changes to the nation’s overtime regulations. If the DOL regulations go into effect, […]
Posted in, Northeast
Gov. Baker Touts Foodservice Trade During NEFS Keynote
Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker stopped by the New England Food Show (NEFS) on Monday at the Boston Convention Center and praised the foodservice industry for its creativity, diversity and flexibility to adapt to many challenges. Long-term friend Joe Piantedosi Jr. of Piantedosi Baking Co. personally invited Baker to the show. Baker was called a friend of […]
Posted in, Northeast
Federal Menu Labeling Regulations Delayed Again
The FDA is delaying the Dec. 1 date for enforcement of the government’s menu-labeling regulations. The agency issued a statement March 9 indicating federal menu-labeling requirements will not be enforced until one year after the FDA publishes its final guidance on the rule. The rule will require restaurants and similar retail food establishments with 20 […]
Posted in, Northeast
Gregg’s Restaurants & Pubs Selected As NRA Restaurant Neighbor Award Winner, And More…
Foodservice News In Brief… Gregg’s Restaurants & Pubs of East Greenwich, Rhode Island, has been selected as one of three to receive the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation 2016 Restaurant Neighbor Award. For the past 20 years, the company has worked with nonprofit groups to support families, the homeless, the forgotten and the elderly. Through an annual event called the […]
Posted in, Home Page Latest News, Northeast
New England Food Show Kicks Off Sunday At Boston Convention Center
Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker and musician Joey Kramer will serve as keynote speakers at the New England Food Show (NEFS), sponsored in part by the Massachusetts Restaurant Association (MRA), which begins Sunday, March 13. Kramer will kick off the show at 12:30 p.m. Sunday. Kramer, drummer for Aerosmith, launched his own 100 percent USDA Organic […]