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	McD’s pushes for a 5 a.m. start time OAK BROOK, Ill. (Jul. 27) — McDonald’s is urging all of its 13,700 U.S. restaurants to open at 5 a.m. daily to meet customers’ increasingly earlier breakfast times.
	McD’s says it has its trans-fat-free oil OAK BROOK,, Ill. (Jan. 29) — After five years of testing, McDonald’s Corp. says it has found a trans-fat-free frying oil that will not negatively affect the taste of its food. A spokesman would not divulge a timetable for a changeover to the new frying medium, a blend of canola, soybean and corn oils. But The Chicago Tribune reported that the company intends to complete the switch in all 13,700 domestic stores by early 2008. Some 1,200 units in the United States are already using the blend, the paper said.
	McD’s tests on-demand music, videos SCHAUMBURG, Ill. (Oct. 12) - A test of a digital entertainment service at a franchised McDonald’s in busy Woodfield Mall here has boosted food and beverage sales about 17 percent, according to franchisee John O’Keefe.
	Movie-theater giant said to be opening restaurants KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (Apr. 14) — The nation's largest operator of movie theaters is going into the foodservice business, according to press reports. Regal Entertainment Group, operator of the Regal, United Artist and Edwards movie-theater chains, has reportedly formed a joint venture with Texas entrepreneur Terrell Braly to open a string of cinema/restaurant combination facilities called Cinebarres, starting with an outlet this June in Asheville, N.C.
	Mrs. Fields claims 60% sales boost at new Ohio prototype NORTH OLMSTED, Ohio (Sept. 29) - Mrs. Fields, the franchise brand with 364 U.S. cookie outlets, has tallied a nearly 60-percent sales increase at a newly modernized and relocated outlet here in the Westfield Great Northern shopping mall, according to a published report.
	N.J. to follow N.Y.C. with trans fat ban? TRENTON, N.J. (Oct. 6) - Just weeks after New York City’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene introduced a proposal to limit trans fats in restaurant fare, New Jersey state Sen. Ellen Karcher, D-Monmouth, said she intends to introduce a similar measure here Oct. 12.
	The New $6,000 Combo Meal at the Palms [2006-12-01] Carl’s Jr.® recently made waves when it partnered with the Palms Casino Resort to debut the $6,000 Combo Meal, offered exclusively on the Vegas hot spot’s room service menu.
	New civic IDs confuse restaurateurs looking to avoid illegal hires NEW HAVEN, Conn. (Sept. 20) — A new program of awarding residency cards to local inhabitants regardless of their immigration status may be confusing restaurateurs when they attempt to verify workers’ employment eligibility under federal law, according to an industry official.
	New promotion at Pizza Patron causes uproar DALLAS (Jan. 12) — The 59-unit Pizza Patron chain, which targets the Hispanic market in Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada and Texas, has received death threats and hate mail from immigration opponents incensed at its new promotional offer to accept Mexican pesos through February.
	New twists in Lone Star takeover as more doubters arise, buyer is said to be indicted WICHITA, Kan. (Nov. 26) - The pending $600-million-plus buyout of Lone Star Steak House & Saloon Inc. took several more twists and turns last week as an independent observer advised shareholders to vote against the deal, and the would-be buyer was indicted overseas for alleged stock manipulation related to a 2003 acquisition in South Korea.
	New York restaurant co. to pay $50,000 in sex-harassment suit NYACK, N.Y. (Jun. 22) — A restaurant operator in the suburbs of New York City has agreed to pay $50,000 to a former teen-aged female employee to settle a sexual harassment lawsuit brought by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in a Manhattan federal court
	Norovirus said to affect Ann Arbor restaurant-caterer ANN ARBOR, Mich. (Dec. 14) - Fifty-two people who ate at events catered by the Afternoon Delight Café here were found by health officials to be infected with the norovirus, the Associated Press reported Thursday.
	NRA shifts to more favorable view of immigration bill WASHINGTON (Jun. 1) — After meeting with President Bush, officials of the National Restaurant Association voiced support Friday for the so-called immigration reform bill currently being considered in the Senate, but expressed hopes of nudging certain provisions in a direction more favorable to the trade.
	NRN names 2006 Golden Chain, Pioneer and Innovator honorees NEW YORK (Aug. 13) - Counting down to this fall's MUFSO summit conference of chain leaders, Nation's Restaurant News has selected six multi-unit executives as its 2006 Golden Chain Award recipients, and named the White Castle-founding Ingram family winner of NRN's Pioneer Award for 2006.
	NY restaurant group sues to avert menu labeling NEW YORK (Jun. 15) — The New York State Restaurant Association has filed suit against New York City, claiming the city’s health department had overstepped its authority late last year when it ruled that some restaurant chains must list calorie counts on menus and menu boards.
	NYC co-op restaurant gives rise to a court fight NEW YORK (Jul. 26) — The Restaurant Opportunities Center of New York, a restaurant-employee advocacy group likened by some to a union, said it will seek dismissal of a lawsuit filed against the organization by eight ex-members who contend they were cheated out of ownership in Colors, a restaurant formed under ROC's auspices as a workplace for former staffers of Windows on the World.
	NYC disputes claims by Wendy's, White Castle to labeling loophole NEW YORK (Mar. 2) — New York City officials said the attempts by Wendy's International and White Castle to dodge the menu-labeling requirement that takes effect in the city this summer are not going to work.
	NYC health officials to monitor dining habits with customer meal receipts NEW YORK (Mar. 30) — Looking to benchmark New Yorkers' dining habits prior to the enactment of a law intended to alter the pattern, the city's Department of Health and Mental Hygiene is offering customers of some chain restaurants here $2 MetroCards, which buys a one-way ride on the city's subway or bus system, if they turn over their meal receipts. The health department said it is attempting to assess the dining habits of city residents before and after a controversial menu-labeling regulation takes effect July 1.
	NYC: Failures handed out in 25% of health inspections NEW YORK (Sept. 21) — New York City's Department of Health and Mental Hygiene said its health inspectors failed approximately one-quarter of the restaurants they examined during the year that ended in June, with almost half of them flunked because of problems with rats.
	O'Charley's Inc. Announces Quarterly Dividend and $50 Million Share Repurchase Authorization NASHVILLE, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--O’Charley’s Inc. (NASDAQ/NM: CHUX), a leading casual-dining restaurant company, announced today that its Board of Directors approved a quarterly dividend on the Company’s common stock of $0.06 per share. The dividend is payable on June 29, 2007 to shareholders of record on June 15, 2007. The Company also announced that its Board of Directors approved an increase in the Company’s share repurchase authorization to $50 million of the Company’s common stock.
	Officials say spinach from most areas OK to eat, but new labeling effort likely to delay supplies WASHINGTON (Sept. 23) - Clearing the way for restaurants to return fresh spinach to their menus, federal and state officials gave the go-ahead Friday for consumers to resume eating any spinach grown outside of three counties in California.
	Olive Garden shuts Indiana unit after outbreak of unidentified illness CASTLETON, Ind. (Dec. 15) - Olive Garden said it will close its unit here temporarily to give health inspectors a chance to determine if employees exhibiting flu-like symptoms were the source of an illness that has afflicted consumers in the area. The Darden Restaurants division did not say how many people have reported getting ill after eating in the outlet, but local news reports have pegged the tally at 300.
	On The Border airs first television commercials in two years (Jul. 13) — On The Border, the 161-unit Mexican casual-dining division of Brinker International Inc., started airing its first television commercials in two years as part of its new advertising campaign.
	Operator of another Blue Coral wants rights fees from OSI TAMPA, Fla. (Aug. 24) — The operator of an independent restaurant in Chatham, Mass., wants Outback Steakhouse parent OSI Restaurants Partners to pay for the use of the name “Blue Coral,” but so far Anthony Gullotti’s attempts to negotiate a settlement over rights to the name have been fruitless.
	OSI continues to seek support for buyout TAMPA, Fla. (May 11) - The future of Outback Steakhouse parent OSI Restaurants Partners Inc. currently is uncertain. Two days after postponing a special meeting of shareholders for a vote on a $3.2 billion buyout proposal because the company needed more time to solicit support for the transaction, reports indicate that shareholders may be holding out for a higher buyout offer or for a stake in the new company.
	OSI names Bonefish ops specialist as Outback president TAMPA , Fla. (Apr. 12) — OSI Restaurant Partners Inc. has promoted Jeff Smith to president of its 953-unit Outback Steakhouse brand. In addition, OSI promoted Steve Erickson to the position of senior vice president of national operations for Outback.
	OSI names Glowacki president of Outback TAMPA, Fla. (Dec. 8) - OSI Restaurant Partners Inc. has hired Curt Glowacki to serve as president of its troubled Outback Steakhouse brand, succeeding Paul Avery, who had shouldered the duties while also serving as chief operating officer for OSI. Avery continues as OSI’s COO.
	OSI rebuffs investors on selling chains TAMPA, Fla. (July 27) - TAMPA, Fla. - OSI Restaurant Partners Inc., parent here of the Outback Steakhouse chain, said this morning that it has decided not to divest its Carrabba's, Fleming's and Bonefish Grill brands, setting up a possible proxy fight with an activist shareholder.
	OSI's $3.5B buyout is completed TAMPA, Fla. (June 14) - After several setbacks and speculation the deal might never close, OSI Restaurant Partners, Inc. today announced the completion of its $3.5 billion acquisition by an investor consortium. The group consists of private equity firms Bain Capital Partners LLC and Catterton Management Co. LLC, as well as company founders Chris Sullivan, Bob Basham and Tim Gannon and certain members of OSI management. With the transaction complete, Bain Capital owns a majority interest in OSI, and Catterton Management and the company founders share a minority stake.
	Outback president resigns TAMPA, Fla. (Mar. 30) — After less than four months on the job, Curt Glowacki has resigned as president of the 953-unit Outback Steakhouse chain for personal reasons, parent company OSI Restaurant Partners Inc. said late Friday.

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