New jobs coming to old coal site

web1_0721-auction-page-8-DP.jpg

Children’s items and activities available at Back Mountain Memorial Library 69th Annual Auction

First Posted: 8/27/2013 The sense of malaise settling over much of the restaurant industry seems to have missed a spot: the still-growing fast-casual segment that includes chains such as Panera Bread.
A new report from researchers at the NPD Group found that the number of upscale quick-service eateries &#8212; known for higher service levels, better-quality food and larger check sizes than their fast food cousins &#8212; grew 7 percent in the year ended in May.
Foot traffic into such establishments rose 9 percent as customer visits to the restaurant industry as a whole stagnated.
&#8220;Traditional quick service restaurants have taken notice and are working to compete with the fast-casual chains&#8217; offerings, especially in terms of the freshness and quality of food,&#8221; said Greg Starzynski, director of product management for NPD&#8217;s food service unit.
Wall Street has taken note of fast-casual&#8217;s trajectory.
Panera, when it released its second quarter earnings late last month, reported a 16 percent surge in profit. Though the bakery-cafe chain revised down the low end of its predicted range for fiscal year same-store sales growth to 3 percent from 4 percent, it said it may exceed expectations to open up to 125 new locations in 2013.
McDonald&#8217;s, by comparison, said its net income rose nearly 4 percent in its second quarter. Chief Executive Don Thompson said the remaining months of the year &#8220;are expected to remain challenged.&#8221; The stock is up less than 10 percent for the year to date.
The average rate nationwide is five fast-casual outposts to every 100,000 residents.

Fast-casual chains continue restaurant reign