Archived postings from July, 2008...

Los Angeles gives Doritos and Oreos a reprieve...but bans fast food restaurants

Posted: Wed, July 30, 2008 at 6:56am (CDT)

Los Angeles has banned the opening of fast food restaurants in south Los Angeles for one year.
Los Angeles Times July 30, 2008

Irish Proverb: Put silk on a goat and it's still a goat

Posted: Tue, July 29, 2008 at 12:52pm (CDT)

Bakers Square, Village Inn and Old Country Buffet are the first inning leaders in the bankruptcy game. Now it\'s Bennigan\'s and Steak and Ale\'s turn at the plate.
Bloomberg July 29, 2008

Have commodity prices peaked?

Posted: Thu, July 24, 2008 at 6:24am (CDT)

Restaurants that survive the current downturn may benefit if commodity prices fall further.
Financial Times July 24, 2008

Minimum wage rises today

Posted: Thu, July 24, 2008 at 6:16am (CDT)

The federal minimum wage rises today from from $5.85 to $6.55 an hour.
Charlotte Observer July 24, 2008

Chipotle's fresh ingredients strategy and local sourcing of food is good business

Posted: Thu, July 24, 2008 at 5:56am (CDT)

Steve Els: \"We are changing the way the world thinks about and eats fast food, a compelling vision that we believe sets Chipotle apart.\" It may be working. For the second quarter of 2008, the company reported that comparable sales grew by 7.1% despite a lousy economy.
Seeking Alpha July 24, 2008

GE Capital and LRG Provide Financing to Lyons Group

Posted: Mon, July 21, 2008 at 11:03am (CDT)

Burger King acquires 72 restaurants from franchisee, Simmonds Restaurant Management

Posted: Mon, July 21, 2008 at 8:58am (CDT)

Can you imagine a franchisor acquiring a franchisee? In recent years, franchisors have shown little interest in owning company stores. Maybe this is the start of a new trend.
South Florida Business Journal July 18, 2008

Fall Monitor Conference Economist Brian Wesbury on Inflation

Posted: Mon, July 07, 2008 at 12:05pm (CDT)

Brian Wesbury argues that the longer it takes the Federal Reserve to hike rates and tighten monetary policy, the weaker the dollar will become and the higher inflation will climb.
Brian Wesbury July 7, 2008

Fall Monitor Conference Economist Brian Wesbury on Interest Rates

Posted: Thu, July 03, 2008 at 12:13pm (CDT)

Although a rate hike at the August meeting is not guaranteed, it will be hard for the Fed to refrain from raising rates unless economic growth slows or inflation suddenly declines between now and then, neither of which we expect.
Brian Wesbury June 25, 2008

What could anyone possibly see in Krispy Kreme?

Posted: Thu, July 03, 2008 at 9:52am (CDT)

A $500 million enterprise value for Krispy Kreme seems like a stretch. Could this signal the return of buyout funds to the restaurant space?
Forbes Magazine July 1, 2008

The Copeland Connection

Posted: Thu, July 03, 2008 at 9:46am (CDT)

What does the fate of the Popeyes-Church\'s Chicken Merger have to do with the future of Applebee\'s, Maggie Moo\'s and Ponderosa? More, we fear than their owners would like to admit.
Julie Bennett Jun 17, 2008