October 04, 2011
Industries Headline

Restaurant Performance Index falls to 13-month low

The National Restaurant Association (NRA) has reported that the Restaurant Performance Index (RPI) has declined and dropped below 100 for the second straight month in August. An RPI of 100 or better signifies expansion in the index of key industry indicators. The August RPI stood at 99.4, down 0.3 percent from July.

"The August decline in the Restaurant Performance Index resulted from softening of both current situation expectation indicators, as well as Hurricane Irene," says Hudson Riehle, senior vice president of the Research and Knowledge Group for the NRA. "Although restaurant operators reported net positive same-store sales results in August, their six-month outlook for both sales growth and the economy continued to deteriorate.

"It is important to note that the industry's August performance is a substantial improvement over the 2008-2009 period. But overall, the near-term health of the restaurant industry will depend heavily on the economy's ability to create jobs and bolster consumer confidence," Riehle adds.

The Current Situation Index, which measures current trends in four industry indicators (same-store sales, traffic, labor and capital expenditures), stood at 99.3 in August, down 0.5 percent from July.

The Expectations Index, which measures restaurant operators' six-month outlook for four industry indicators (same-store sales, employees, capital expenditures and business conditions) stood at 99.5 in August, down 0.1 percent from July and marked the level in two years.


Mellow Mushroom Pizza Bakers opens in Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina

Monday, Mellow Mushroom Pizza Bakers opened its newest location in Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina.

"We are thrilled about establishing another exciting atmosphere and family-friendly environment, by bringing our passion for Mellow Mushroom to the beach," says co-owner Robert Ray, who owns the Wilmington and Wrightsville, North Carolina, locations with partner Kevin Dukes.

With decor unique to each Mellow Mushroom location, Ray says, "We took art and created an amazing space." The Wrightsville location features a sophisticated beach-themed atmosphere, while spending a symphony of sea-life from the ceiling.


Domino's Pizza delivers fire safety messages

Ann Arbor, Michigan-based Domino's Pizza is teaming up with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and its official mascot Sparky the Dog, to deliver fire safety messages to the U.S. and Canada for Fire Prevention Week, October 9-15.

Domino's will feature fire safety messages from Sparky on top of pizza boxes in participating markets in the U.S. for Fire Prevention Week. The messages will support the week's campaign theme: "Protect Your Family From Fire."

"We are excited to be able to use our network of delivery experts to make homes across the country a little safer—with the continued help of NFPA," says Domino's spokesperson Chris Brandon. "Domino's makes one million deliveries each day, so we reach a lot of people in their homes, where fire safety begins. With the addition of participating stores across Canada, this year's program will be our most far-reaching yet."

Domino's Pizza operates a network of 9,436 franchised and company-owned stores in the U.S. and over 70 international markets.


Fox's Pizza Den raises $31,000 for local fire department

Fox's Pizza Den in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania has raised more than $31,000 for its hometown fire department over the weekend.

During "Pizza and Prevention," Fox's Pizza Den sold a record-breaking 3,444 Big Daddy Pepperoni pizzas (at $9.11 each), a 12-percent increase from last year's event. The pizzeria's "Pizza and Prevention" fundraiser has been held for 10 years, with all of the proceeds going to the Punxsutawney Fire Department.