Personnel Updates:

Bloomin’ Brands’ Chief Brand Officer Jodi Bilney resigned effective 3/29.

Bojangles’ hired Tammy Kravitz as Coordinator for Local Store Marketing in the Knoxville region.

Captain D’s named Michael Arrowsmith as Chief Development Officer and promoted Jim Stevens to COO.

Culver’s named Kim Letizia as Director of Menu Development; she was most recently in a similar position with Cosi Inc.

Domino’s Pizza appointed Jane Walker as Head of Marketing.

Dunkin’ Brands Group Inc. appointed Paul Twohig to President of Dunkin’ Donuts U.S. and Canada, succeeding Nigel Travis, Bill Mitchell to President of Baskin-Robbins U.S. and Canada, John Costello to the position of President, Global Marketing & Innovation, and Scott Murphy to Senior VP, Chief Supply Officer.

El Pollo Loco appointed Richard Pineda as VP of Supply Chain Management and Jeff Little as VP of Development; Pineda was most recently at Sizzler USA and Little was at Yum! Brands.

Fairmont Hotels & Resorts Exec VP of Business Strategy Thomas Storey resigned.

Freddy’s Frozen Custard and Steakburger promoted Ben Simon to VP of Operations.

Logan’s Roadhouse reported the departure of Chief Development Officer, Robert Effner.

MTR Gaming Group, Inc. announced that Jeffrey J. Dahl has provided his notice of resignation from his position as CEO/President.

Papa John’s International’s Chief Marketing Officer Andrew Varga resigned.

Red Robin Gourmet Burgers named Steph Steil Hoppe as VP of Menu Innovation and Implementation, responsible for Culinary, R&D, Quality Assurance, and Food & Beverage functions. She was most recently as LS Management (dba Lone Star Steakhouse).

Sbarro announced that Chairman J. David Karam has assumed the additional role of CEO following last year’s resignation of James Greco.

Schwartz Brothers Restaurants appointed Peter Coulter as Corporate Executive Chef.

Starbucks Coffee Company appointed Sharon Rothstein as Global Chief Marketing Officer.

SYSCO Corporation hired Tom Bené effective 4/15, as its new Chief Merchandising Officer/Exec VP.

Vail Resorts named Michael Barkin to Exec VP/CFO.

White Lodging Services promoted Nikki Thomas to Director of Sales and Marketing for IL, IN, and TN.

Financial Focus:

AMC Entertainment reported total revenues of $2,654,007,000 for the year ending 12/31/12; concession sales were $743,468,000.

American Restaurant Concepts reported total revenue of $450,946 for the year ending 12/30/12.

Canterbury Park Holdings Corporation reported net operating revenues of $45,460,647 for the year ending 12/31/12.

Carmike Cinemas reported total operating revenues of $539,324,000 for the year ending 12/31/12.

CEC Entertainment (dba Chuck E. Cheese’s) reported total revenues of $803,480,000 for the year ending 12/30/12.

Cosi Inc. reported total revenues of $97,952,000 for the year ending 12/31/12.

Crumbs Bake Shop reported net sales of $43,028,842 for the year ending 12/31/12.

Dave & Buster’s reported total revenues of $608,067,000 for the year ending 2/3/13; F&B sales were $298,421,000.

Gamehost Inc. reported operating revenue of $76,557,136; F&B sales were $19,169,678 for the year ending 12/31/12.

Granite City Food & Brewery Ltd. reported restaurant revenue of $120,931,643 for the year ending 12/25/12.

Krispy Kreme Doughnuts reported revenues of $435,843,000 for the year ending 2/3/13.

Noble Roman’s reported total revenue of $7,300,132 for the year ending 12/31/12.

Reading International reported total sales of 234,703,000 for the year ending 12/31/12.

TravelCenters of America reported revenues of $7,995,724,000 for the year ending 12/31/12.

Mergers & Acquisitions:

Buffalo Wild Wings bought a minority interest in PizzaRev.

Regal Entertainment Group reported the closure of its previously-announced acquisition of Hollywood Theaters.

Trump Entertainment Resorts, Inc. entered into an Asset Purchase Agreement providing for the sale of the Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino located in Atlantic City, New Jersey, to Meruelo Gaming. The transaction is subject to customary closing provisions and is expected to close by the end of May 2013.

Industry Insight:

Auntie Anne’s opened its first location in Vietnam.

Baristas Coffee Company moved its shares to the NASDAQ exchange.

Buffalo Wild Wings signed agreements to open restaurants in Mexico in 2013.

Dairy Queen opened its first location in Trinidad.

Domino’s Pizza opened its first location in Bangkok, Thailand.

KFC Corp. plans to open more than 40 restaurants across the United Kingdom and Ireland.

Krispy Kreme Doughnut Corporation entered into an agreement for 10 location in Taiwan over the next five years.

Marble Slab Creamery will open its first location in Pakistan in a deal for 10 stores in 10 years.

Pizza Fusion announced an agreement for 25 locations throughout the United Arab Emirates.

Pyramid Breweries Inc. closed its Sacramento Alehouse, Brewery, & Restaurant.

UFood Restaurant Group opened its first location in Canada.

Wendy’s signed a development agreement for 20 restaurants in Ecuador.

Real Estate:

Bennigan’s has agreements for development of 30 new restaurants in the next few years in NJ, VA, TX, AR, MN, FL, TN, and MI, as well as Dubai, Mexico, Central America, Cyprus, and South Korea at US Army Base Camp Humphreys.

Burger 21 announced its priority markets for franchise development in the second quarter of 2013. These markets include: FL, GA, NC, TX, and the Washington DC metro area. Burger 21 signed two new franchise agreements for development in south Florida.

Costa Vida Management is planning to have 500 units open by 2016.

Dickey’s Barbecue Pit opened its first MT location.

Dunkin’ Donuts signed a development agreement for seven restaurant throughout northern UT by 2020; the first planned to open in 2013.

Firehouse Subs expects to open 85 stores, generally around 2,000 square feet in size, in MA, ME, and NH over the next five years. Firehouse also plans to open 12 restauratns throughout southern ID, targeting Boise, Twin Falls, and Idaho Falls.

Garbanzo Mediterranean Grill opened its first MD location.

Moe’s Southwest Grill signed a multi-unit deal for eight units in Las Vegas in the next five years.

Panda Express plans to open 100 new units this year.

Papa Murphy’s is seeking franchisees for up to 50 stores in the Baltimore, MD, region.

Seattle’s Best Coffee is planning to open 15 new drive-through location in the Dallas/Fort Worth market this year.

Smoothie King plans to open 70 franchised and 30 corporate locations in 2013.

Togo’s is targeting CO for development in 2013 and is seeking franchisees in Denver, Boulder, Ft. Collins and Colorado Springs, among other metropolitan areas across the state.

Twin Restaurant Holdings (dba Twin Peaks) announced a development agreement for 16 stores in southern VA, KY, and OH over the next seven years.

U-Swirl Inc. signed an agreement for five stores in northeast Houston over the next 36 months.

Green Initiatives:

Starbucks Coffee Company announced that it is expanding the company’s $70 million comprehensive ethical sourcing program with a new farming research and development center in Costa Rica. The company plans to ethically source 100% of its coffee by 2015.

White Castle has started a pilot program in its hometown of Columbus, Ohio, that composts all food and paper scraps. In addition to food scraps, hamburger boxes, towels, coffee filters and grounds are added to the composting piles.