Atlanta-based Huddle House to buy Perkins Restaurant & Bakery | Noodles to give staffers instant access to pay | Chick-fil-A will update packaging to tout antibiotic-free chicken
Huddle House will acquire Perkins Restaurant & Bakery for an undisclosed amount, in a deal scheduled to close Oct. 21, the companies said. Memphis, Tenn.-based Perkins has 342 restaurants in North America and Huddle House, based in Atlanta, has no plans to change the names of any Perkins eateries.
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Noodles & Company will team with Even, a pay-advance app, to give employees instant payment options and other perks. Starting Sept. 25, the app will also offer employees tools to help them budget and manage their money.
Chick-fil-A met its goal of eliminating antibiotics from its chicken supply in May, earlier than expected. The chain will revamp its packaging next month to reflect its "No Antibiotics Ever" commitment.
US Foods has earned conditional approval for its acquisition of the Services Group of America, according to the Federal Trade Commission. US Foods will have to sell distribution centers in three states to finalize the deal.
Restaurant chain Just Salad will add plant-based Beyond Beef Meatballs to the menu at its approximately 40 units. The company will substitute the meatballs for grilled steak as a protein option in its Keto Zoodle Bowl, and will also offer it as an add-on for other salads and bowls.
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Dunkin' Brands will add as many as 250 new units annually for the next three years and increase its focus on espresso drinks and other beverages as it grows its brand in key US markets. The company's rebranding efforts have included a $100 million investment in espresso machines and equipment upgrades.
Chef Ann Kim is the first woman and person of color from Minneapolis to win the James Beard Foundation award for Best Chef: Midwest. The former actress runs three Minneapolis-area restaurants in partnership with her husband, and the menus reflect an eclectic mix of her Korean heritage and her favorite foods, which include pizza and soft-serve ice cream.
How restaurants can make the most of National Dumpling Day Sept. 26 marks National Dumpling Day, and restaurants can celebrate with traditional dishes rooted in authentic Asian flavors or modern applications that play with the global fusion trend. The executive corporate chef for TMI Trading shares menu ideas designed to let any concept capitalize on diners' love for dumplings. Learn more.
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Most Clicked: Take a look at this week's hottest food and beverage industry stories with SmartBrief
Wendy's plan to roll out a national breakfast menu and create about 20,000 new jobs resonated with SmartBrief readers this week, as did news of a corporate name change at Famous Dave's and the launch of a larger pie at Blaze Pizza. Halo Top's planned sale to Wells Enterprises was this week's most-read food-and-beverage story, and plant-based product launches by Kellogg, Hormel and Kroger also proved popular.
Autumn ushers in cooler weather and a bounty of seasonal produce that inspire heartier dishes featuring the flavors of the season, according to Datassential's Mike Kostyo. Braised meats, roasted vegetables, savory pumpkin dishes and a burst of brightness from pomegranate are among the flavors chefs can utilize as they transition menus into fall.
