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IN THE NEWS

<div><a href="https://www.qsrweb.com/blogs/restaurants-aiding-hurricane-harvey-victims-part-2/">QSR Web</a> covered Dickey's contribution to help those affected by Hurricane Harvey.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Restaurant brands are working hard to help their communities recover from the devastation caused by Hurricane Harvey, which has left at least 60 people dead and thousands of homes and businesses destroyed.</div><div><br></div><div>The industry, once again, is proving it's resilient and will always step up when needed. Below is a partial list of recovery efforts. To see part 1 of this story — which focuses on several other brands' donations — click here.</div><div><br></div><div>Pei Wei</div><div><br></div><div>Pei Wei has been providing food to first responders and victims and delivering free meals to shelters. The chain has also invited all Houston-area first responders to eat free through Sept. 8.</div><div><br></div><div>In addition, Pei Wei is making a $10,000 direct donation to The JJ Watt Foundation, provide after-school opportunities for middle-school aged children in the community to become involved in athletics.</div><div><br></div><div>Dickey's Barbecue Pit</div><div><br></div><div>Throughout Sept. 15, Dickey's Barbecue Pit locations will accept donations through Dickey's charitable foundation Barbecue, Boots &amp; Badges. Along with in-store donations, the Dickey's Home Office will collect donations from all employees. Roland Dickey Jr. and Laura Rea Dickey will personally match up to $25,000, according to a company press release.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>"We can and will respond the best we can as a brand and a family to help all folks affected by Hurricane Harvey," said CEO Laura Rea Dickey.</div><div><br></div><div>Dallas-based Dickey's will also host a blood drive with Carter BloodCare from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Sept. 8 at the Dickey's Barbecue Pit location on Wycliff Avenue in Dallas. with all donations going to Houston area hospitals., and the unit will offer $2-pulled pork sandwiches to all who participate in the drive.</div><div><br></div><div>Lastly, Dickey's is partnering with national relief organizations to send available Home Office employees to Houston to help with rebuild the city.</div><div><br></div><div>Salata&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>With its headquarters and 33 restaurants located in the Houston area, Salata has experienced the horrific effects of Hurricane Harvey firsthand. Beginning today, the salad chain is encouraging guests to join it in raising funds for the hurricane victims. Participating restaurants system-wide will collect monetary donations through Sept. 30 with 100 percent of the proceeds going to The JJ Watt Foundation.</div><div><br></div><div>"We are proud to call Houston home, but it's been truly shocking and heartbreaking to see the extreme loss caused by Hurricane Harvey in our neighborhoods and the surrounding areas," Chief Marketing Officer Michelle Bythewood, said in a company press release. "Houston is America's fourth-largest city and nearly six million people live in the counties most affected by the storm. We know that The JJ Watt Foundation will use these donations in the best way possible to help rebuild our community."</div><div><br></div><div>In appreciation for their tireless work, Salata provided free meals for first responders in uniform at 24 of its Houston-area locations over the Labor Day weekend.</div><div><br></div><div>Tijuana Flats</div><div><br></div><div>Tijuana Flats is hosting an in-store fundraising campaign today to benefit hurricane victims. Guests can donate to the cause at any location, and the chain's Just in Queso Foundation — established “just in case you need us" — will automatically match up to $15,000 raised by patrons.</div><div><br></div><div>"We understand the amount of work that is required of businesses and individuals to come back from a catastrophe like this," CEO Larry Ryback said in a press release. "While the people of Houston and the surrounding areas impacted by Hurricane Harvey undoubtedly face a long road to recovery, we hope that the funds raised during this campaign provide some relief in the challenging weeks and months ahead."</div><div><br></div><div>Panda Express&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Panda Express' Panda Cares is doing a variety of things to help victims, including donating $500,000 to be split evenly between the American Red Cross and The Tzu-Chi Foundation. It has also added in-store donation boxes in hopes of raising $1 million, according to a press release.</div><div><br></div><div>Of the few Panda Express locations that remain open in the area, operators have been coordinating efforts to provide food to the American Red Cross and to four shelters. Food will also be provided to hospital staff, doctors and patient families at Texas Children's Hospital's satellite location in Katy, Texas, according to the release.</div><div><br></div><div>Lastly, Panda Express will continue to pay associates who cannot work due to closures of their restaurants. This has impacted 831 associates.</div><div><br></div><div>Sysco</div><div>Houston-based Sysco Corp. will donate at least $1 million for relief efforts in Houston and the Gulf Coast region, including an immediate donation of $500,000 to the American Red Cross, according to a press release.</div><div><br></div><div>"One of Sysco's top priorities continues to be making deliveries to critical customer locations," CEO Bill DeLaney said in the release. "We have been working diligently to get water, food and other supplies to our valued customers in Houston and other areas along the Texas Gulf Coast."</div><div><br></div><div>In addition to the donation to the American Red Cross, the company has established the Sysco Disaster Relief Foundation to provide funds directly to Sysco associates to help with the storm's aftermath. Sysco will match dollar-for-dollar each donation made by associates and business partners to this foundation. Funds will be used for shelter, food, clothing, transportation and other items needed by affected associates.</div><div><br></div><div>"More than 10 percent of our 3,000 Houston-area associates have already been directly impacted by Harvey, and as the storm's aftermath continues to be assessed, this number could rise," DeLaney said in the release. “Over $350,000 has already been collected for the Sysco Disaster Relief Foundation, which Sysco is matching, dollar-for-dollar. We established this foundation to support associates who incur significant financial and personal hardships as a result of natural disasters."</div><div><br></div><div>Jason's Deli</div><div><br></div><div>Although 26 of the 30 Jason's Deli units in Gulf Coast locations have reopened, the chain is still in recovery mode. This week it deployed two trucks from the Dallas-Fort Worth area with more than 74,400 bottles of water to two locations in Beaumont and delivered 1,404 gallons of soup to the Houston Food Bank. It has also provided 17,695 boxed meals and more than 100,000 bottles of water to those in need and will continue to send boxed meals and bottles of water for the foreseeable future.</div><div><br></div><div>Jersey Mike's Subs</div><div><br></div><div>More than 1,300 Jersey Mike's Subs locations nationwide are partnering with the Houston Food Bank and Corpus Christi Food Bank to help Texas residents, according to a press release.</div><div><br></div><div>This two-part program provides needed donations to the two local food banks:</div><div><br></div><div>From Monday, Sept. 11, through Sunday, Sept. 17, participating Jersey Mike's locations will donate $1 for every regular sized No. 7 Turkey Breast and Provolone sub sold.&nbsp;</div><div>Through a grassroots program in September, Jersey Mike's will hand out special cards in local communities nationwide offering a free sub for a $2 donation to the food banks. Cards can be redeemed in participating restaurants from Friday, Sept. 15, through Friday, Dec. 1.</div><div>"We want to let people know about the fundraiser so they can come together and join us in this national effort to help all those affected by the devastation in the greater Houston and Corpus Christi areas," Peter Cancro, founder and CEO, Jersey Mike's Franchise Systems, said in the release. "We are grateful to our local owners, managers, and crews who dropped everything to make sub sandwiches for thousands of people in need as well as for fire departments, EMS and other first responders."</div><div><br></div><div>John Enterline, Houston area director, Jersey Mike's, who is heading up local efforts, said, "Our focus at the local level is on feeding as many people as possible who are in need and in shelters, as well as providing sustenance to first responders so they can continue their life-saving work. We appreciate the support from our customers across the country as well as from the Jersey Mike's system as we start to rebuild as a community."</div><div><br></div><div>All franchisees and team members are safe, and all locations are now open, Enterline said.</div><div><br></div><div>Jersey Mike's has 16 locations in the Houston area and two in Corpus Christi. The company expects to raise at least half a million dollars for the food banks.</div><div><br></div><div>"There are a lot of people down here in Texas who have lost homes and livelihoods," said Dalton Stewart, a Jersey Mike's area director in Dallas, who brought down a team to help colleagues make subs in Houston. "It doesn't surprise me that the Jersey Mike's family would step up in these difficult times to make a difference."</div><div><br></div><div>Stewart added that Jersey Mike's locations in the Dallas/Fort Worth area are feeding evacuees at local shelters as well as at the Red Cross Command Center there.</div><div><br></div><div>Tyson Foods</div><div><br></div><div>Tyson Foods sent teams to prepare meals for those affected by and responding to the disaster. The team set up a cooking site Friday at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds in Conroe, Texas, to provide free, hot meals to anyone in need, according to a press release. In addition, the company is establishing a distribution network with local authorities and disaster relief organizations to deliver meals to flood victims in the Houston metro area.</div><div><br></div><div>Teams from Tyson Foods' operations in Clarksville, Dardanelle, Scranton and Texarkana, Arkansas, arrived Thursday, along with the company's Meals that Matter mobile relief truck. The company also sent three tractor trailer loads of product totaling nearly 100,000 pounds, one tractor trailer load of bulk ice, one tractor trailer load of bagged ice and one tractor trailer load of bottled water.</div><div><br></div><div>Tyson is working closely with its disaster relief partners, Bimbo Bakeries USA, Harris Baking Co., Hugg &amp; Hall Equipment Co. and Peppersource to maximize relief efforts, according to the release.</div><div><br></div><div>Team Rubicon, another disaster relief partner comprised of military veterans, is deploying its Mobile Command Center, which was donated by Tyson Foods in 2014, and includes sleeping quarters and office and storage space for Team Rubicon's staff and volunteers.</div><div><br></div><div>The company has also announced $50,000 donations to the American Red Cross and Salvation Army to assist in disaster relief efforts in Texas.</div><div><br></div><div>"With nearly 12,000 team members throughout the state of Texas and a facility in Houston, the damage left by Hurricane Harvey hits close to home," Debra Vernon, senior director, corporate social responsibility, said in the release "This deployment wouldn't be possible without the support of our team members, disaster relief partners and customers who are all volunteering time and resources to make sure our response is as successful as possible."</div><div><br></div><div>Church's Chicken</div><div><br></div><div>There was a line out the door Aug. 31 in Beeville, Texas, when the local Church's Chicken opened for "Pay What You Can" day. The event was organized to provide meals to those impacted by hurricane and flooding conditions in the southeast Texas area. Over 6,000 pieces of chicken were served — the equivalent of 2,200 meals — for a restaurant that typically serves about 250 meals during a morning shift under regular circumstances, according to a press release.</div><div><br></div><div>"Some people told us Church's was the first hot meal they'd had in nine days — since the very start of storm conditions," CEO Joe Christina said in the release. "People are living in shelters and motels with no idea of when, or even if, they'll return home," he continued. "For them, this meal was a return to normalcy, if only for a brief moment, and a chance to restore hope for the days ahead."</div><div><br></div><div>The "Pay What You Can" event also functioned as a fundraiser for the American Red Cross. In all, the restaurant raised $1,750 — of which Church's intends to contribute another $3,250 for a total $5,000 donation to the American Red Cross.</div><div><br></div><div>In addition to making sure people are fed and have safe places to stay, Church's is working with police, the mayor and city council members in Beeville to coordinate additional relief efforts for the greater Corpus Christi area. Many towns just outside Beeville have yet to recover from storm damage and flooding, leaving local businesses closed and residents with fewer resources. One of the more pressing challenges is a lack of school supplies for students who had to evacuate or who suffered losses.</div><div><br></div><div>"We're very pleased to be able to remedy this issue through our Church's Foundation — which already has a strong focus on education," Christina said. "Local officials are working to let us know what students need to return to the classroom and we stand ready to support them."</div><div><br></div><div><br></div>        
      

QSR Web: Restaurants aiding Hurricane Harvey victims: part 2

<p><a href="http://www.kansascity.com/news/business/biz-columns-blogs/cityscape/article171620892.html">The Kansas City Star</a> covered Dickey's opening in Arrowhead stadium.&nbsp;</p><p>When the Kansas City Chiefs kick off the 2017 NFL regular season at Arrowhead Stadium on Sept. 17 against the Philadelphia Eagles, the stadium will have plenty of new food and drink offerings to fuel fans.</p><p><br></p><p>Both concessionaires, Aramark and Levy Restaurants, will feature new concepts this season. The Chiefs also have rolled out some new additions, including the new Locker Room Club located outside the player’s locker room on the field level.</p><p><br></p><p>Lower and Upper Concourse Concessions (Aramark)</p><p><br></p><p>▪ BBQ Alley at the Chiefs Hall of Honor. Presented by Spectrum in sections 118-122, it will feature three Kansas City metro barbecue restaurants: Smoke Brewing Co. featuring its deep fried burnt ends; Plowboys Barbeque featuring its American Royal Championship pulled pork sandwich; and The Little Pig BBQ featuring its BBQ Sundae with barbecue beans topped with coleslaw, pulled pork and a pickle wedge.Plowboys also will premiere its new pork rind nachos (pork rinds with house-made cheese sauce, sour cream, jalapenos and a choice of beef or pork). It also will sell its packaged pork rinds seasoned with its Yardbird rub.</p><p><br></p><p>▪ BRGR Kitchen + Bar. At section 102, it will feature four burgers: The Big Mock, the Number 3, The BRGR and The S&amp;P. Other signature menu items will include Pig Wings, Chile Fondue with soft pretzel sticks; and the Not-So-Standard Tots with BRGR’s version of Totchos.</p><p><br></p><p>▪ Zoom Food. Aramark’s latest prototype featuring favorite fan foods such as burgers, chicken tenders and fries is delivered in new ways. The concession stand in section 111 will offer fans more control through self-ordering kiosks and beverage stations, and delivered in color-coded pick-up stations.</p><p><br></p><p>▪ Chickie’s &amp; Pete’s. Founded in Philadelphia in 1977, it will offer a limited menu in section 130 of Arrowhead, serving its Crabfries (crinkle-cut French fries sprinkled with a secret blend of spices and served with its white cream cheese sauce for dipping), Cheese Steak Sandwiches, and boneless Buffalo wings.</p><p><br></p><p>▪ Dickey’s Barbecue Pit. In section 301, it will feature such items as chopped brisket, waffle fries, half-pound of rack ribs and Frito pie.</p><p><br></p><p>▪ Craft Corners. An additional 13 bar locations have been added serving mixed drinks, select wines, draft and packaged beers, refillable souvenir soda, and bottled water.</p><p><br></p><p>Among these 13 locations are six Bar Express stands (sections 101, 136, 309, 332, 345 and 321), five Kansas City Cocktail Co. bar portables (sections 108, 115, 126, 133 &amp; 318) and two bars at The CommunityAmerica Credit Union Huddle (section 123).</p><p><br></p><p>Fans also will see new menu items at general concession stands. They include The Arrowhead Biscuit, a biscuit sandwich with hash brown patty, Canadian bacon, fried egg, bacon jam and cheese topped with mini pancakes and bacon (sections 103, 135); the Loaded Potato Skin Burger, fried potato skins covered with cheese, bacon bits and sour cream and topped with a burger, lettuce and tomato slice (sections 109, 127, 303); the Coca-Cola Braised Short Rib Mac and Cheese (Mac Shack, sections 104, 117, 301, 326); the Bacon Alfredo Chicken Sandwich (The Coop, sections 112, 126, 303, 326); the Carved Roast Beef Sandwich (The Carvery, section 109); and the Carved Turkey Sandwich (The Carvery, section 109).</p><p><br></p><p>Scout Investments Club Level Concessions (Levy)</p><p><br></p><p>Levy Restaurants took two stands and repurposed them, changing a regular Grill Stand into the Stadium Stockyard with half-pound burgers from the Kansas City Steak Co. with premium toppings on a salt and pepper brioche bun, branded with the Arrowhead logo. It also serves chicken wings in three styles: a dry ranch rub wing, Thai BBQ or Buffalo, in section 220.</p><p><br></p><p>The new Kingdom Kantina will feature a “south of the border” menu, including a Nacho Grande featuring homemade chips and street tacos topped with queso fresco are just the beginning. Sides will include a spicy shrimp cocktail, and Elote Mexican street corn with chili butter topped with cotija cheese and chili lime salt. Spicy queso dip and fresh made guacamole will be available at section 238.</p><p><br></p><p>Levy has also introduced cashless lanes at two locations, stand 210 and 215.</p><p><br></p><p>Arrowhead Stadium Amenities</p><p><br></p><p>Field Box guests and fans, who use points through the Chiefs Kingdom Rewards program, can gather in the Locker Room Club, on the stadium’s lowest level at the 50-yard line behind the Chiefs bench. It is steps away from the players’ locker room entrance with a view of the postgame press conference room, and fitted with a full-service bar and televisions throughout the room.</p><p><br></p><p>Other new features include an improved sound system, a new viewing platform and a one-way glass wall allowing fans to watch postgame press conferences.</p><p><br></p><p>The National Football League and Intel Sport Group also partnered to deploy “FreeD” video technology in select stadiums, including Arrowhead Stadium. It will create new ways to watch video and replays by calibrating a series of 38 in-stadium cameras so that pixels captured by each camera are lined up in space with each other.</p>

The Kansas City Star: New Arrowhead concessions will offer local barbecue, crabfries & more

<div>Kansas City Chiefs fans attending a game at Arrowhead Stadium this season will find several new food and beverage partners, including many based in the Kansas City area.</div><div><br></div><div>The Chiefs heavily revamped their concessions offerings this season and the list includes local barbecue restaurants such as Smoke Brewing Co. of Lee's Summit, Bue Springs-based Plowboys Barbecue and Belton's The Little Pig BBQ. Dickey's Barbecue Pit, which is a national chain based in Dallas, will be another familiar offering in Section 301, since it has five locations in the Kansas City area.</div><div><br></div><div>BRGR Kitchen + Bar set up shop in Section 102, featuring four burgers and other fare familiar to fans who have visited their locations in Prairie Village and Kansas City's Power &amp; Light District.</div><div><br></div><div>Another new restaurant teaming up with the Chiefs this season is Chickie's &amp; Pete's, a Philadelphia icon that serves crabfries, cheesesteak sandwiches and boneless chicken wings.</div><div><br></div><div>Arrowhead also added 13 new bar locations that will serve mixed drinks, wines, and draft and packaged beers, including some local craft beers that will be familiar to Kansas City fans.New areas to hang out inside the Arrowhead include The Huddle, which is an area sponsored by CommunityAmerica Credit Union in Section 123. There is also the new Locker Room Club which is an amenity for Field Box-ticket holders. It offers those fans access to the stadium's lower level where they can see the players enter and exit the locker room and conduct the postgame press conference.</div><div><br></div><div>Aside from food and beverage, Arrowhead has a new sound system that uses six RCF Dual 24-inch subwoofers to give fans a more balanced sound.</div><div><br></div><div>The Chiefs also will offer new technology called FreeD video, which gives fans a new way to watch video and replays through the Chiefs' mobile app. It shows volumetric images, which calibrate a series of 38 in-stadium cameras so the pixels are lined up in each space with each other, enabling fans to rotate their perspective. The Chiefs first home game is on Sept. 17 at noon against the Philadelphia Eagles. The team starts its 2017 season on the road at 7:30 p.m. Thursday against the New England Patriots.</div><div><br></div>        
      

Chiefs bring familiar restaurants, breweries to Arrowhead

        <div><a href="http://www.wibw.com/content/news/New-additions-to-Arrowhead-Stadium-concessions-announced-442897013.html">WIBW </a>in Kansas City covered Dickey's Barbecue Pit opening in Arrowhead Stadium.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>KANSAS CITY, Mo. (WIBW) -- When Kansas City Chiefs fans fill Arrowhead Stadium for the first regular season home game of the 2017 season, they will be greeted with a plethora of new concession options.</div><div><br></div><div>BBQ Alley at the Chiefs Hall of Fame (sections 118-122) will feature three local barbecue favorites: Smoke Brewing Company, Plowboys Barbecue and The Little Pig BBQ. Each will be serving their own signature barbecue items.</div><div><br></div><div>BRGR Kitchen and Bar in section 102 will be serving 4 different burgers and other signature menu items, including "Pig Wings" and "Not-So-Standard Tots."</div><div><br></div><div>Zoom Food, a new Aramark prototype, will be located in section 111 and aims to create a new way of delivering fan favorites, such as burgers, fries, and chicken tenders, by featuring new self-ordering kiosks and beverage stations.</div><div><br></div><div>Philadelphia icon Chickie's and Pete's will be serving cheese steak sandwiches, boneless buffalo wings and their famous "Crabfries" in section 130.</div><div><br></div><div>Dickey's Barbecue Pit will add to its five other locations in the Kansas City metro area by bringing their barbecue favorites to section 301.Stadium Stockyard can be found in section 220 and will feature burgers with meats from the Kansas City Steak Company and premium toppings, as well as a variety of chicken wings.</div><div><br></div><div>Kingdom Kantina in section 238 will offer south-of-the-border options, such as "Nacho Grande" with homemade chips, chili rellenos and street tacos topped with queso fresco.</div><div><br></div><div>There will also be new drink locations spread throughout the stadium, serving beer, wine, mixed drinks, soda and bottled water.</div><div><br></div><div>In addition to the new restaurants being added to Arrowhead, new menu items are being introduced at general concession stands. Such signature items include "The Arrowhead Biscuit," the loaded potato skin burger, Coca-Cola braised short rib mac and cheese, the bacon-alfredo chicken sandwich, the carved roast beef sandwich and the carved turkey sandwich.</div><div><br></div><div>The Chiefs' first regular season home game will be held Sunday, Sept. 17 at 12 p.m. against the Philadelphia Eagles.</div>        
      
      

WIBW: New additions to Arrowhead Stadium concessions announced

<div><a href="https://www.bizjournals.com/albuquerque/news/2017/09/06/dickeys-barbecue-pit-smoking-out-three-more-nm.html">Albuquerque Business Journal</a> covered Dickey's expansion in New Mexico.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Dickey's Barbecue Pit is expanding again in New Mexico with a development agreement to open three new locations in Albuquerque and Santa Fe in coming years.</div><div><br></div><div>The first of the Dallas-based chain's new restaurants is set to open in Albuquerque in spring 2018. Specific locations have not yet been found, according to Callie Head, a spokesperson for Dickey's. Current Dickey's franchisees David Montoya and Soleille Lopez will be opening the stores here in their home state after opening their first location in Colorado."We originally bought into Dickey's because the brand is family-oriented and those values are extremely important to us," Montoya said in a statement. "As our own Dickey's brand continues to grow, we are proud to serve Dickey's delicious barbecue to our communities and look forward to opening even more locations in the future."</div><div><br></div><div>Dickey's first New Mexico location, 4320 The 25 Way NE, opened in Albuquerque in 2014 and a second opened in 2016 at 1410 Wyoming Blvd. NE. The chain also has locations in Ruidoso, Farmington and Hobbs.</div><div><br></div><div>Dickey's opening in Hobbs was the largest in grand opening sales the business has ever seen, Maurine Dickey, a vice president at the company, told Albuquerque Business First in 2014. She grew up in Albuquerque.</div><div><br></div><div>The restaurant serves ribs, brisket and sausage that are slow-smoked on-site at every location along with homestyle sides and ice cream.</div><div><br></div><div>"Having experienced franchisees eager to open new locations is a testament not only to the success of our business but the brand as a whole," said Laura Rea Dickey, CEO of Dickey's Barbecue Restaurants Inc., in a statement.</div><div><br></div><div>The second new location is planned to open in Albuquerque in late 2018, and the third is slated to open in Santa Fe in early 2019.Dickey's initial franchise fee is $15,000 with a total investment cost ranging from $280,819 to $481,819, according to its website. The company has nearly 600 locations in 44 states.</div>        
      

Dickey's Barbecue Pit smoking out three more NM locations

<p><a href="https://www.qsrmagazine.com/news/dickeys-barbecue-pit-expands-new-mexico">QSR </a>covered Dickey's expansion in New Mexico.&nbsp;</p><p><br></p><p> Dickey’s Barbecue Pit continues its expansion in New Mexico with the addition of a three-store development agreement by current Dickey’s franchisees David Montoya and Soleille Lopez. These locations will be the duo’s first of many in the Land of Enchantment which they plan on running as a family business.<div><br></div><div>“Dickey’s Barbecue Pit has and always will be a family-run, family-oriented business and that is something we pride ourselves on,” says Laura Rea Dickey, CEO of Dickey’s Barbecue Restaurants, Inc. “Having experienced franchisees eager to open new locations is a testament not only to the success of our business but the brand as a whole.”</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>As New Mexico natives, Montoya and Lopez looked to open their first Dickey’s Barbecue Pit location in their home state, but were offered the opportunity to open a location in Colorado so they took it with their business partner Robert Moss. After seeing great success in their first location, they pursued their original plan to open a Dickey’s Barbecue Pit in New Mexico, which they intend to run with their children.</div><div><br></div><div>“We originally bought into Dickey’s because the brand is family oriented and those values are extremely important to us,” says Montoya. “As our own Dickey’s brand continues to grow, we are proud to serve Dickey’s delicious barbecue to our communities and look forward to opening even more locations in the future.”</div><div><br></div><div>The first of the three locations is slated to open in Albuquerque Spring of 2018, the second is planned to open in Albuquerque following late 2018 and the last to open in Santa Fe in early 2019.</div></p>

Dickey's Barbecue Pit Expands in New Mexico

View the full video <a href="http://www.kvoa.com/clip/13651142/news-4-cooks-smoked-chicken">here</a>.&nbsp;

News 4 Cooks: Dickey's Barbecue Pit Makes Smoked Chicken

Growth Chains: Papa John’s has signed development agreements to open 45 restaurants across Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Poland. Seafood operator Shell Shack signed development agreements for 11 units so far in 2017. Wingstop signed a franchise agreement for 110 locations in Australia and New Zealand. Tropical Smoothie Café signed its 100th franchise agreement so far this year. Dickey’s Barbecue Pit will open restaurants in Joliet, Ill., San Diego and Tolleson, Ark. White Castle quietly signed a deal with a partner to open two restaurants in Shanghai. Dunkin’ Donuts signed a multiunit development agreement for seven locations in the Raleigh- Durham area. Pret A Manger will open its first university locations with two units at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and one unit at the University of Chicago. Newk’s Eatery will open seven locations in the Ft. Worth area.        
      

Foodservice Equipment & Supplies: Minimum Wage Resistance in the Midwest, Chicago Proves Tough Burger Market, Sales Look Good for Michigan Restaurants, and Much More

<div>On the way home, we stopped by Dickey’s BBQ in Irvine. &nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Certainly adding some smoked meats and savory side dishes would be the perfect ending for our “man day” of golf and beers at one of Orange County’s finest golf courses. After we finished eating some delicious pulled pork, beef brisket, and mac’n’cheese, it was time for dessert. Dickey’s BBQ provides free ice cream cones to all guests.</div><div><br></div><div>As I was walking over to grab some ice cream, I received an email notification from Dosh with my cash back. &nbsp;Not only was this a great cash back surprise, that it happened so quickly that I haven’t even left the restaurant was a total shock!</div><div><br></div><div>&nbsp;</div>        
      

BaldThoughts.com:The Exciting Feeling When You Get Surprise Cash Back

<div>Dickey's Barbecue Pit is continuing growth in the Peach State with a Smyrna, Georgia, opening in Spring 2018</div><div><br></div><div>"At Dickey's Barbecue Pit, we pride ourselves on serving each and every guest authentic, Texas-style barbecue," Laura Rea Dickey, CEO of Dickey's Barbecue Restaurants, said in a company press release. "With new franchisees such as Ben Kessie that truly love the brand, we can continue our growth and more importantly continue serving our guests delicious barbecue.”</div><div><br></div><div>Smyrna's franchisee Ben Kessie spent years eating at Dickey's Barbecue Pit and made the brand a part of his family's holiday by catering Dickey's for Thanksgiving every year. With a passion for barbecue, he decided it was time to invest in a barbecue joint of his own. After researching other franchising concepts, Kessie found a home in Dickey's Barbecue Pit.</div><div><br></div><div>"The Dickey's Barbecue Pit model is unlike anything I have ever seen," said Kessie. "I have traveled all over the country looking at barbecue concepts and Dickey's was by far the best choice for me."</div>        
      

FastCasual: Dickey's expands presence in the Peach State

<div>Dickey’s Barbecue Pit continues growth in the Peach State with a new Smyrna, Georgia, location slated to open in Spring 2018. The new location will be owned by new Dickey’s franchisee Ben Kessie, a Georgia Tech alum and passionate barbecue lover.</div><div><br></div><div>“At Dickey’s Barbecue Pit, we pride ourselves on serving each and every guest authentic, Texas-style barbecue,” says Laura Rea Dickey, CEO of Dickey’s Barbecue Restaurants, Inc. “With new franchisees such as Ben Kessie that truly love the brand, we can continue our growth and more importantly continue serving our guests delicious barbecue."</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>Kessie spent years eating at Dickey’s Barbecue Pit and made the brand a part of his family’s holiday by catering Dickey’s for Thanksgiving every year. With a passion for barbecue, he decided it was time to invest in a barbecue joint of his own. After researching other franchising concepts, Kessie found a home in Dickey’s Barbecue Pit.</div><div><br></div><div>“The Dickey’s Barbecue Pit model is unlike anything I have ever seen,” says Kessie. “I have traveled all over the country looking at barbecue concepts and Dickey’s was by far the best choice for me.”</div><div><br></div>        
      

QSR: Dickey's Continues Georgia Expansion with Smyrna Store

<div>While many restaurateurs might be relieved to hear that a Texas judge struck down the 2016 rule expanding overtime protection to millions of white collar workers, one industry leader said it signaled a need for compromise.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>"Today's decision is a horrible step backwards for tens of thousands of workers," Boloco CEO John Pepper said of U.S. District Judge Amos Mazzant's ruling Thursday that the U.S. Department of Labor improperly used a salary-level test to determine which workers were exempt from overtime compensation.</div><div><br></div><div>"While overtime at 1.5 times regular pay is incredibly harsh and hurts workers inadvertently by forcing them to find second and third jobs — because few businesses can afford to essentially pay 50 percent bonuses on hours 41 and after, and therefore don't — this is a loophole that needed to be closed," he said. "Seesawing back and forth between policy extremes is going to hurt everyone. If opposing sides would compromise, we might actually make progress. I've found neither side willing to do so with any consistency."&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Mazzant granted summary judgment to the Plano Chamber of Commerce and more than 55 business groups challenging the rule — initially created under the Obama administration — which raised the minimum salary threshold required to qualify for the Fair Labor Standards Act's "white collar" exemption to just over $47,000 per year. The mandate also would increase the overtime eligibility threshold for highly compensated workers from $100,000 to approximately $134,000.</div><div><br></div><div>"The department has exceeded its authority and gone too far with the final rule," Mazzant wrote in his order. "The department creates a final rule that makes overtime status depend predominately on a minimum salary level, thereby supplanting an analysis of an employee's job duties. Because the final rule would exclude so many employees who perform exempt duties, the department fails to carry out Congress' unambiguous intent."</div><div><br></div><div>The National Restaurant Association's Restaurant Law Center supports today's decision, said Executive Director Angelo Amador.</div><div><br></div><div>"The Department of Labor under the previous administration overstepped its authority in making changes to the federal overtime rule," he said in a press release. "Today's decision to invalidate the rule demonstrates the negative impacts these regulations would have had on businesses and their workers. We will continue to work with DOL on behalf of the restaurant industry to ensure workable changes to the overtime rule are enacted."&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>A reply brief from the DOL said that although it still could change the rules to allow more salaried employees to be eligible for time-and-a-half pay, it would not advocate for "the specific salary level [$913 per week] set in the final rule at this time."</div><div><br></div><div>Leaders call for a compromise</div><div><br></div><div>Many fast casual leaders said that although the Obama-era ruling had good intentions, it simply went too far. Today's decision is a chance to fix that, said Laura Rea Dickey, CEO of Dickey's. "The OT law is a classic example of good intention resulting in bad legislation," she said in an interview with FastCasual. "The OT legislation had the unintended consequence of employers scrambling to reduce workforce instead of grow it, reduce hours instead of increasing them because the burden was too great for employers to bear. I would like to see the restaurant industry propose better legislation for retaining great talent instead of regulations suppressing talent, profit and free market principles."</div><div><br></div><div>Don Fox, CEO of Firehouse Subs, said he expects the Department of Labor to continue to collect comments regarding a possible escalation in the salary level, but that middle ground should be sought.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>"So I strongly suspect that will continue and that there will be a reset on the minimum salary requirement, but one that makes sense — unlike what was proposed by the prior administration," he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Fazoli's CEO Carl Howard agreed, saying that exempt salary workers deserve a raise, but that the Obama plan was dreadful for several small business owners.</div><div><br></div><div>"I am very thankful that it will not go to $47,496. It should go up by 30-35 percent from the current rate, and then it should be increased every year with cost of living or some rational inflation wage rule," he said in an interview with FastCasual. "I think it can get to where the Democrats want it to go, but it needs to be gradual so businesses can adjust and plan for the new norm. "</div><div><br></div><div>Overall, Howard believes the ruling is good news for the brands that operate lower AUV locations.</div><div><br></div><div>"I heard from several Subway owners, and they were freaking out," he said. "With unemployment at 4 percent, very few hourly or exempt workers are being hired at the minimum threshold. The best part about democracy is the market really dictates the wage rate. If brands need employees or talent, they will pay for them.</div><div><br></div><div>"The fact is that the hourly and salary employee today has several choices, and almost every organization is in a need state to add quality workers to their business."&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Bill DiPaola, &nbsp;president and COO of Dat Dog Enterprises, said that although he agrees with the court's decision, it doesn't mean that restaurants and other industries can maintain the status quo.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>"I believe it imperative that the DOJ and the trade associations need to work together to find a more detailed, more nuanced means test that would properly classify employees so that the flexibility of scheduling, which is crucial to the restaurant industry, is maintained while also not allowing businesses to unfairly classify employees in order to avoid paying overtime," he said in an interview with FastCasual. "Having an imprecise duties test that is too broad is what causes this problem."</div>        
      

FastCasual: Judge strikes down Obama's OT ruling, industry leaders urge compromise

Laura Rea Dickey was interviewed on the podcast, CEO in 10. Listen to the segment <a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/lifelessonsnetwork/2017/08/25/gpo-presents-ceo-in-10-with-laura-rey-dickey-of-dickeys-bbq">here</a>.&nbsp;

CEO in 10

<div>Taste why Dickey’s Barbecue has been the world’s best barbecue since 1941! Try our 6 pit-smoked meats, like our southern pulled pork or our family recipe polish sausage.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Don’t forget we’re also your catering experts! Any event, any size – let Dickey’s do the cooking, and you can take the credit. Graduation parties, weddings, office functions, you name it! Dickey’s Barbecue is the perfect catering choice for groups of all sizes – from 10 to 10,000!&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Tailgate Party Pack easily feeds up to 12 adults, boasting 4 pounds of Dickey’s most popular slow-smoked meats and enough classic barbecue sides to satisfy a defensive line<br></div><div><br></div><div>Football season is here and Dickey's Barbecue Pit has meal time covered with their new Tailgate Party Pack! The new Tailgate Party Pack is a dream come true! I'm always trying to figure out what to make for our football parties but to be honest it's just so much work to do it all yourself. With Dickey's Barbecue Pit I can simply place an order for one of their Tailgate Party Packs and literally have enough food for everyone at our party and then some.&nbsp;<br></div><div><br></div><div>Dickey's Barbecue Pit's new Tailgate Party Pack comes with 12 of the best tasting rolls that are sure to please. They're incredibly soft and are the perfect way to build your barbecue slider!&nbsp;<br></div><div><br></div><div>It also comes with 4 pounds of Dickey’s most popular slow-smoked meats that are oh so delicious! You can literally taste the care and time that went into slow-smoking these meats. The meat is extremely tender and makes the best barbecue sandwiches ever! Top your slider off with Dickey’s famous barbecue sauce and let your taste buds go wild!<br></div><div><br></div><div>Dickey's Barbecue Pit's new Tailgate Party Pack comes with 3 enormous sides that are sure to keep both you and your guests content no matter what team is in the lead. Dickey’s famous potato salad with Idaho Russet potatoes make the perfect side and has to be one of the best tasting potato salads I've ever had!&nbsp;<br></div><div><br></div><div>Dickey’s Cabbage Slaw is finely diced cabbage seasoned with a tangy sweet coleslaw dressing that is sure to satisfy all your taste buds! I'm a huge fan of Dickey’s Cabbage Slaw and absolutely love the sweet tangy sauce and how incredibly fresh all of the ingredients were!<br></div><div><br></div><div>Dickey's signature baked beans with a smoky pork flavor are the perfect addition to any party! These were a huge hit at our party and for as large as the pan was, I was blown away at how little we had left.&nbsp;<br></div><div><br></div><div>Dickey's New Tailgate Party Pack is the perfect way to kick off football season and is sure to keep your guests full and satisfied while enjoying the game!<br></div>        
      

Living a Full and Fit Life: Football Season is Here and Dickey's Barbecue Pit has Meal Time Covered with their New Tailgate Party Pack!

<p>View the full segment <a href="http://www.kvoa.com/story/36221284/news-4-cooks-pulled-pork">here</a>.&nbsp;</p><p><br></p><p>Ingredients:</p><p><br></p><p>6 TBSPs Dickey's Barbecue Pit brand Rib Rub (sold at Dickey's)</p><p><br></p><p>1 Pork Butt (5-7 pounds)</p><p><br></p><p>Instructions:</p><p>Rub pork butt with 6 TBSP Dickey's brand Rib Rub<br></p><p>Foil boat the pork butt</p><p>Smoke at 225 degrees F. for 14 hours</p><p>Fork test, and verify internal temperature is 165 degrees F.</p><p>Grab squish tickle method to serve.</p><p>Serve on a roll, or on the side, next to your favorite sides.</p>

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