Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc., is a chain of 557 "Old Country Stores" (as of 2007), each combining a retail store and a restaurant.
As of June 2006, the company, founded and based in Lebanon, Tennessee, was operating 577 full service locations located in 41 states in the United States. [1] In 2007, Cracker Barrel was ranked as the top "family dining" chain for the 17th consecutive year in Restaurants & Institutions magazine "Choice in Chains" annual consumer survey.
The Cracker Barrel chain serves traditional Southern comfort food. Their outlets have traditionally been located along interstate highways, though the company policy on this appears to be changing. Breakfast is served all day, though the breakfast menu is kept separate from the one for lunch and dinner. Both menus include a low-carb section.
The outer porch of a Cracker Barrel store has rows of rocking chairs for guests to enjoy before or after eating, and there is usually a fireplace and a checkers table within the dining area for an added country feel. The interior walls of the dining area are decorated with antiques such as photographs, advertisements, and household items.
The retail store carries mainly nostalgic merchandise, collectibles, old time toys, classic candies, scented candles, and items used in making Cracker Barrel entrees. Also, a lot of merchandise sold at Cracker Barrel is holiday themed, depending on the time of year. It is known for selling Christmas ornaments and other decorations.
Cracker Barrel has been embroiled in controversy through the years, first with gay rights groups and then with claims of racial discrimination and sexual harassment.
In 1991, Cracker Barrel instituted a policy requiring employees to display "normal heterosexual values which have been the foundation of families in our society." According to the text of Understanding and Managing Diversity, by Carol Harvey, 17 LGBT workers were fired because they admitted or were assumed to be gay after the first few months that the policy was created. The company refused to change their policy in the face of protest demonstrations by gay rights groups. However, after 10 years of efforts by the New York City Employees Retirement System, a major shareholder, in 2002 the company's stockholders, in a proxy vote of historic proportion, voted 58% to rescind the practice. While a formal shareholder vote was never taken, immediately after that, the board of directors added sexual orientation to the company's nondiscrimination policy.
In the early 2000s and again in 2006, Cracker Barrel faced accusations including a pattern of racial discrimination in its treatment of customers. After national press attention to these accusations, the company announced explicit policies intended to address the charges, and paid$2 million for race and sexual harassment at three Illinois restaurants.[5] Stores now display a sign in their front foyer clarifying this policy, as has become the policy after a similar incident involving Denny's restaurants.
Cracker Barrel was one of eight companies indicted and accused of making alleged illegal corporate campaign contributions to the Texans for a Republican Majority political action committee (TRMPAC), started by Rep. Tom DeLay.[7][8] Less than five months later, however, all charges against Cracker Barrel were dropped.
In May 2007 Cracker Barrel temporarily removed hamburgers from its menu at most locations after a patron ate a metal fragment resembling part of a razor blade in her hamburger at a restaurant in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
Monday, June 30, 2008
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Red Lobster
Red Lobster is a U.S. chain of seafood restaurants. It also operates in Canada and Japan. It is aimed at the mid-level "casual dining" segment of the market. The menu includes a variety of specialty seafood and non-seafood entrees, appetizers, salads, and desserts.
Company growth and franchises
Red Lobster was founded in 1968 by entrepreneur Bill Darden. Originally billed as a "Harbor for Seafood Lovers", the original restaurant in Lakeland, Florida was followed by several others throughout the Southeast. General Mills acquired Red Lobster in 1970 as a five-unit restaurant company and rapidly expanded the company nationwide. Today, there are over 600 Red Lobster locations throughout the United States and Canada. There are also a small number of Red Lobster restaurants located in Japan.
In 1995, Red Lobster (along with the Olive Garden, Smokey Bones (Smokey Bones was sold to Sun Capital Partners Inc. in 2007), and Bahama Breeze chains) became part of Darden Restaurants, which was spun off from General Mills as an independent, publicly traded corporation. Seasons 52 has since been added to the list of Darden owned and operated restaurants.
Red Lobster twice offered an endless snow crab leg promotion. However, in 2003 the promotion resulted in parent company Darden Restaurants taking a $3 million charge to third quarter earnings resulting in CEO Edna Morris' departure from the company. The ill-timed promotion was launched amid high wholesale crab legs prices. The chain also underestimated how many times guest would order more.[1] Further complicating matters at the restaurant level was the amount of time guests spent tableside in the restaurant cracking crab legs which increased wait times in the lobby and overall diminished guest capacity per hour.
In more recent years, the chain has usually offered an endless shrimp promotion once per year. This promotion was featured on an episode of the television comedy The New Adventures of Old Christine. [2]
There are currently 31 Red Lobsters in Canada (Red Lobster closed its Quebec locations in 1996), as well as Red Lobsters in 44 of the 50 states in the United States.
Red Lobster.com
Red Lobster.com offers a variety of features including information on restaurant locations, sea food recipes, and menu items. This can aid a first time visitor by allowing them to get an example of menu items that are found in their local restaurant. One may also view allergy information, to help prevent any unfortunate complication from shell fish allergies.
For the weight conscious, Red Lobster.Com offers a nutritional calculator for various menu items, so that patrons may see what they are eating before they venture into the restaurant.
Cheddar Bay Biscuits
Aside from its seafood and kids' toy treasure chest (since discontinued), Red Lobster is also known for its signature Cheddar Bay Biscuits which accompany a purchased entree; they are also available ala carte for carry out. The biscuits were introduced in the early 1990s; prior to that, Red Lobster served either garlic bread or hushpuppies.
The ingredients in the biscuits include a commercially available preblended biscuit mix and shredded cheddar cheese. After baking (in a convection oven which results in the finished product being of lighter consistency than using a conventional oven) they are brushed with a combination of "buttery sauce," consisting mostly of vegetable oil, salt, sugar and artificial coloring, and the same garlic seasoning powder used in the chain's shrimp scampi.
The preparation of the Cheddar Bay Biscuits is a complicated process. The biscuits must be mixed with ice water chilled to nearly 35 degrees. This is done to ensure that the biscuits rise properly. The cheese is preportioned and the biscuits arrive at Red Lobster in a bag, similar to how one would find cake mix in a store. This package is then added to a bowl with the preportioned cheese and chilled water then mixed. The batter is scooped onto a pan and placed into the oven where they bake. The biscuits, in their final preparatory stage, are rubbed with scampi butter, the same as found on the "shrimp scampi,".
The Cheddar Bay Biscuits contain 160 calories and 9 grams of fat per biscuit.
Company growth and franchises
Red Lobster was founded in 1968 by entrepreneur Bill Darden. Originally billed as a "Harbor for Seafood Lovers", the original restaurant in Lakeland, Florida was followed by several others throughout the Southeast. General Mills acquired Red Lobster in 1970 as a five-unit restaurant company and rapidly expanded the company nationwide. Today, there are over 600 Red Lobster locations throughout the United States and Canada. There are also a small number of Red Lobster restaurants located in Japan.
In 1995, Red Lobster (along with the Olive Garden, Smokey Bones (Smokey Bones was sold to Sun Capital Partners Inc. in 2007), and Bahama Breeze chains) became part of Darden Restaurants, which was spun off from General Mills as an independent, publicly traded corporation. Seasons 52 has since been added to the list of Darden owned and operated restaurants.
Red Lobster twice offered an endless snow crab leg promotion. However, in 2003 the promotion resulted in parent company Darden Restaurants taking a $3 million charge to third quarter earnings resulting in CEO Edna Morris' departure from the company. The ill-timed promotion was launched amid high wholesale crab legs prices. The chain also underestimated how many times guest would order more.[1] Further complicating matters at the restaurant level was the amount of time guests spent tableside in the restaurant cracking crab legs which increased wait times in the lobby and overall diminished guest capacity per hour.
In more recent years, the chain has usually offered an endless shrimp promotion once per year. This promotion was featured on an episode of the television comedy The New Adventures of Old Christine. [2]
There are currently 31 Red Lobsters in Canada (Red Lobster closed its Quebec locations in 1996), as well as Red Lobsters in 44 of the 50 states in the United States.
Red Lobster.com
Red Lobster.com offers a variety of features including information on restaurant locations, sea food recipes, and menu items. This can aid a first time visitor by allowing them to get an example of menu items that are found in their local restaurant. One may also view allergy information, to help prevent any unfortunate complication from shell fish allergies.
For the weight conscious, Red Lobster.Com offers a nutritional calculator for various menu items, so that patrons may see what they are eating before they venture into the restaurant.
Cheddar Bay Biscuits
Aside from its seafood and kids' toy treasure chest (since discontinued), Red Lobster is also known for its signature Cheddar Bay Biscuits which accompany a purchased entree; they are also available ala carte for carry out. The biscuits were introduced in the early 1990s; prior to that, Red Lobster served either garlic bread or hushpuppies.
The ingredients in the biscuits include a commercially available preblended biscuit mix and shredded cheddar cheese. After baking (in a convection oven which results in the finished product being of lighter consistency than using a conventional oven) they are brushed with a combination of "buttery sauce," consisting mostly of vegetable oil, salt, sugar and artificial coloring, and the same garlic seasoning powder used in the chain's shrimp scampi.
The preparation of the Cheddar Bay Biscuits is a complicated process. The biscuits must be mixed with ice water chilled to nearly 35 degrees. This is done to ensure that the biscuits rise properly. The cheese is preportioned and the biscuits arrive at Red Lobster in a bag, similar to how one would find cake mix in a store. This package is then added to a bowl with the preportioned cheese and chilled water then mixed. The batter is scooped onto a pan and placed into the oven where they bake. The biscuits, in their final preparatory stage, are rubbed with scampi butter, the same as found on the "shrimp scampi,".
The Cheddar Bay Biscuits contain 160 calories and 9 grams of fat per biscuit.
Sunday, June 8, 2008
Applebees
Applebee’s International, Inc. is a United States company which develops, franchises, and operates the Applebee's Neighborhood Grill and Bar restaurant chain. As of November 25, 2007, there were 1,965 restaurants operating system-wide in 49 states, 17 international countries, and one U.S. territory.
In November 2007, IHOP announced that it had completed a $1.9 billion purchase of the Applebee's chain.[2]
History
The Applebee's chain was started by Bill and T.J. Palmer who opened their first restaurant, T.J. Applebee’s Rx for Edibles & Elixirs, in Atlanta, Georgia in 1980. After opening their second restaurant the pair sold their company to W. R. Grace and Company in 1983. As part of the transaction, Bill Palmer was named president of the Applebee's Division an indirect subsidiary of W. R. Grace and Company. In that capacity, Palmer guided the operation from its entrepreneurial beginnings to a full-fledged franchise system. He became an Applebee's franchisee in 1985 and today owns more than three dozen Applebee's restaurants.
Logo used from 1980-2007.
In 1986, the name of the concept was changed to Applebee's Neighborhood Grill & Bar to reflect the Palmers' original concept of a place people could call their own.
In 1988, Applebee's International, Inc. became the restaurant chain's franchiser when Kansas City franchisees Abe Gustin and John Hamra purchased the rights to the Applebee's concept from W. R. Grace. The First Applebee's in Kansas City is located at 103rd street; the third ever.
Today, with more than 1,900 restaurants, Applebee's is the world's largest casual dining restaurant chain.[3] From 1993 to 2005, Applebee's opened 100 or more new restaurants each year. The company estimates the development potential of the Applebee's concept in the United States to be at least 3,000 restaurants.
On July 16, 2007, IHOP Corp. announced that it agreed to buy Applebee's International for about $2.1 billion. Applebee's shareholders would receive $25.50 in cash per share, representing a 4.6 percent premium to the closing price on July 13, 2007. IHOP, which franchises nearly all of its restaurants, said it hoped to employ that strategy with Applebee's. “We believe we have an opportunity to re-energize the brand and get franchisees, employees and guests all sort of thinking about the brand in a different way,” Julia Stewart, IHOP's chairman and chief executive officer, said. “Obviously, we have opportunities to find points of differentiation – things that no one has but Applebee’s – and I think the future is very bright.”
As part of the company's new marketing campaign and slogan, Wanda Sykes was hired to voice the chain's new mascot, the Applebee's Apple.[4] The character currently appears in new commercials touting Applebee's various specials and stating the new slogan, "Together is good." or saying, "Get it together, baby!" as the slogan appears at the bottom right of the screen. A new campaign started on February 25, 2008, without Wanda Sykes' character (the spokesapple) with its most recent slogan, "It's a whole new neighborhood." The commercials used both the company's original and new logos.
In November 2007, IHOP announced that it had completed a $1.9 billion purchase of the Applebee's chain.[2]
History
The Applebee's chain was started by Bill and T.J. Palmer who opened their first restaurant, T.J. Applebee’s Rx for Edibles & Elixirs, in Atlanta, Georgia in 1980. After opening their second restaurant the pair sold their company to W. R. Grace and Company in 1983. As part of the transaction, Bill Palmer was named president of the Applebee's Division an indirect subsidiary of W. R. Grace and Company. In that capacity, Palmer guided the operation from its entrepreneurial beginnings to a full-fledged franchise system. He became an Applebee's franchisee in 1985 and today owns more than three dozen Applebee's restaurants.
Logo used from 1980-2007.
In 1986, the name of the concept was changed to Applebee's Neighborhood Grill & Bar to reflect the Palmers' original concept of a place people could call their own.
In 1988, Applebee's International, Inc. became the restaurant chain's franchiser when Kansas City franchisees Abe Gustin and John Hamra purchased the rights to the Applebee's concept from W. R. Grace. The First Applebee's in Kansas City is located at 103rd street; the third ever.
Today, with more than 1,900 restaurants, Applebee's is the world's largest casual dining restaurant chain.[3] From 1993 to 2005, Applebee's opened 100 or more new restaurants each year. The company estimates the development potential of the Applebee's concept in the United States to be at least 3,000 restaurants.
On July 16, 2007, IHOP Corp. announced that it agreed to buy Applebee's International for about $2.1 billion. Applebee's shareholders would receive $25.50 in cash per share, representing a 4.6 percent premium to the closing price on July 13, 2007. IHOP, which franchises nearly all of its restaurants, said it hoped to employ that strategy with Applebee's. “We believe we have an opportunity to re-energize the brand and get franchisees, employees and guests all sort of thinking about the brand in a different way,” Julia Stewart, IHOP's chairman and chief executive officer, said. “Obviously, we have opportunities to find points of differentiation – things that no one has but Applebee’s – and I think the future is very bright.”
As part of the company's new marketing campaign and slogan, Wanda Sykes was hired to voice the chain's new mascot, the Applebee's Apple.[4] The character currently appears in new commercials touting Applebee's various specials and stating the new slogan, "Together is good." or saying, "Get it together, baby!" as the slogan appears at the bottom right of the screen. A new campaign started on February 25, 2008, without Wanda Sykes' character (the spokesapple) with its most recent slogan, "It's a whole new neighborhood." The commercials used both the company's original and new logos.
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