Texas Business reports:  DALLAS—Brinker International Inc. formed a partnership with the Army Partnership for Youth Success Program (PaYS), which connects companies with young veterans looking for corporate jobs after serving their country.

Texas Business reports: Jasper’s Bar-B-Que sits unassumingly on the corner of Clifton and Elm Streets, rooted in the same location that once served Interurban Railway passengers stopping through Waco on their way to Dallas. The creaky screen door wavers slightly in the wind, keeping the flies out of the dining room while allowing smells of freshly smoked meat to waft out into the street.

 Texas Business reports:  A San Antonio firm won a $56.1 million contract to provide food for the U.S. govnerment, the U.S. Department of  Defense announced. 

Texas Business reports: At a time when large corporations have swallowed personal service, a small, family-run business in Waco is committed to building relationships and catering to the mom and pop restaurants we all love. 

Mart's Pizza Pro

Texas Business reports: Ten years ago, Bill Rasco of Hewitt, Texas decided to take a huge risk. He had been in education for twenty years, but was ready for a change. He withdrew his teaching retirement funds, and used them as a down payment to own and operate a Pizza Pro franchise in Mart, Texas.

World Cup Cafe.

Texas Business reports: In this café, customers who count change to pay for their coffee sit with guests wearing business suits. These customers seem unequal, with their differing bank accounts and level of education. But what brings them together, equalizing a life with food stamps to one with luxury cars, is a simple cup of coffee.

Cupp's diner

Texas Business reports: Everyone recognizes those two golden arches during moments of hunger. With so many options for a quick burger, how does Cupp’s, a local Waco old-fashioned hamburger shop that sits tucked away behind a Burger King, beat out all the cookie-cutter, chain competition?

Texas Business reports: COLUMBUS, Ohio—The breakfast-lunch chain Sunny Street Café signed a 40-store development agreement for Texas with Cafe Management Systems. 

Texas Business reports:  CANTON, Mass.—Dunkin' Donuts signed a multi-unit store development agreement with three franchise groups to develop 25 new restaurants in Texas over the next several years. 

Texas Business reports:  EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J.— Two joint ventures led by travel retailer Hudson Group won the bid process to provide both retail and food services in the newly renovated Dallas Love Field Airport. 

Texas Business reports:  An Austin firm won a $14 million contract to provide food service at Fort Hood, the U.S. Department of Defense announced. 

Texas Business reports: SUGAR LAND, Texas—Imperial Sugar Company completed the sale of its 50% interest in Wholesome Sweeteners Inc. to an affiliate of Arlon Group, a private investment group focused on food and agriculture. 

Texas Business reports:  An Austin firm won an $11.2 million contract to provide 8.4 million meals to the U.S. military, according to the U.S. Department of Defense.

Texas Business reports:  Five restaurants including a new concept, MAVS Sports Grill, will be among the first retail tenants in UT Arlington’s 20-acre College Park District development, scheduled for completion this summer.

Texas Business reports:  SAN ANTONIO—Tootie Pie Company Inc. opened its second Tootie Pie Gourmet Cafe in Austin.

Texas Business reports:  DFW—The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) has issued a license to sell liquor at the Rick's Cabaret just outside the Dallas/Fort Worth Airport.

Family history, deep-rooted culture and an ever-evolving menu are the keys to success for one of Waco’s oldest Tex-Mex restaurants. La Fiesta opened at its first location in Waco in 1963, although it was not the first food related business endeavor for the Castillo family, whose ancestors sold tamales and eared corn from street vendor carts in the early 1900s.

At George’s, three things reign supreme: good food, cheap beer and Baylor athletics. “I still go to George’s and drink my beer,” country singer Pat Green crooned in his popular song “George’s Bar.” The restaurant has gained popularity and, more importantly to the managers, a loyal following in Waco.

53 years ago Hermalinda Nino sent her daughters door-to-door selling fresh tortillas. Since then the oven got a little bigger and the kitchen gained a few square feet.

When you hear the phrase “Gut Pak,” what comes to mind? Probably some sort of food that is the leading cause of protruding bellies, or possibly something manly men enjoy while cheering for their football team. While these two may be close to the truth in Waco, the Gut Pak is first and foremost the most popular menu item at Vitek’s BBQ. According to owner Julie Keith, this pile of Fritos chips, beans, cheese, sausage and beef is one thing among many that keeps the business at Vitek’s successful.

Texas Business reports:  A San Antonio firm won a $32. 4 million for federal food products. Sterling Foods LLC of San Antonio received a firm-fixed-price contract with a maximum $32,464,106 for Meal, Ready-to-Eat bakery components, according to the U.S. Department of Defense.

Texas Business reports:  RICHARDSON—Based on the success of its stores in Mexico City, Wingstop announced the company will add 120 restaurants across Mexico over the next seven years, thanks to a master franchise agreement with WIS Master S.A. de C.V.

AUSTIN—At the Jester King Craft Brewery, in the hills just west of Austin, managing partner Ron Extract can explain the differences between Cascade and Amarillo hops. He can explain what gives “Das Wunderkind” beer its “delicate tartness” and “Commercial Suicide” its “oaky notes.” He cannot sell you a glass of either. Nor can he tell you where Jester King’s beers are sold. According to the Texas Alcohol and Beverage Commission code, both activities are illegal.

Texas Business reports:  CORSICANA—Snyder's-Lance Inc. announced plans to close its salty snacks manufacturing facility in Corsicana, Texas, effective Friday, February 10, 2012.

Texas Business reports:  MISSION—Freebirds World Burrito  will open a new location at 2521 East 83 Suite 600 Mission, Texas on Thursday, November 10, 2011.

Texas Business reports: DALLAS – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited Anaheim, Calif.-based Bridgford Foods Corp. for 27 safety and health violations at its food manufacturing facility in Dallas, with proposed penalties totaling $422,600.

Texas Business reports:  DALLAS — Oct. 12, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — The residents of São Paulo, Brazil, were introduced to Chili’s Grill & Bar last month when the Dallas-based brand opened its first restaurant in one of South America’s fastest growing countries.

Texas Business reports: DALLAS—Republic of Texas Brands Inc.opened its Republic of Texas Food Company has opened its online store and is now taking orders at www.republicoftexas.com.

Texas Business reports:  A Wichita Falls firm won a $17.4 million contract to provide food services at an Air Force Base, the U.S. Department of Defense announced. 

Texas Business reports:  Illionois-based BAB Inc.  plans to open three restaurants opening in Texas withing two months. 

Texas Business reports:  Pilgrim's Pride Corporation today announced plans to close its chicken-processing plant in Dallas within 60 days as part of its continuing effort to reduce costs and operate more efficiently.

Texas Business reports:  A San Antonio firm won a $51 million defense contract to supply food service.

Texas Business reports:  A San Antonio firm won a $13.8 million contract modification on a military food contract, the U.S. Department of Defense announced.

Texas Business reports: DALLAS—Furr’s Fresh Buffet, the restaurant concept developed by owners of the Furr's restaurant chain based in Dallas, announced their newest location will open Wednesday, June 29th in San Antonio, Texas, at 7863 S. Interstate 35 and Zarzamora. 

Texas Business reports:  SAN ANTONIO—The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited Bimbo Bakeries USA in San Antonio for 10 serious violations following a safety and health inspection at the company's work site in San Antonio after investigators found workers exposed to numerous workplace hazards, including the danger of amputations. 

Texas Business reports:  Dallas—El Chico has opened its first restaurant in Saudi Arabia.

Texas Business reports:  Addison—Souper Salad Inc. signed a franchise agreement with Pflugerville  resident Denise Jordan to open a new Souper Salad restaurant on the North side of Austin in mid June 2011.

Chefs and restaurateurs from the San Antonio area check out heirloom tomatoes grown by David Anderson of Color Burst Hydroponics in Marion.

Texas Business reports:  San Antonio--More than 20 restaurateurs, chefs and others from the San Antonio area interested in locally grown agricultural products recently participated in a Chef’s Farm Tour in South Central Texas sponsored by the Texas Department of Agriculture and the Texas AgriLife Extension Service.

Texas Business reports:  Corpus Christi—The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has issued four serious and one repeat citation to Sam Kane Beef Processor Inc. following an inspection at the company's facility in Corpus Christi, where multiple safety hazards were found. Proposed penalties total $61,000.

Professional Contract Services

Texas Business reports:  An Austin firm won a $20 million contract for food and dining services at Fort Hood.

Texas Business reports: LongHorn Steakhouse opened its first location in McAllen.

Texas Business reports:  A state agency won a $19 million contract to provide food and food services at Fort Bliss. the U.S. Department  of Defense announced. 

Texas Business reports:  Dallas—Centennial Fine Wine and Spirits acquired substantially all of the assets of Majestic Liquor Stores Inc.

Baristas Coffee Company employs "attractive females" to run expresso stands in costume.

Texas Business reports:  Baristas Coffee Company, which employs "attractive females" in costume for drive-through expresso shops, i signed its first franchise agreement for territories in Texas.

Texas Business reports:  An El Paso bakery won a $19,000 contract to supply break for the third quarter this year to the Big Spring federal prison.

Traveling Austinites with a taste for “monster” burritos can rejoice, as Freebirds World Burritos will be opening 20 more locations in Texas by the end of next year. The expansion of the Austin-based Mexican food chain (which was founded in Santa Barbara, California) will add between 1,000 to 1,500 jobs to the state, the company said in a November press release.

Texas Business reports:  Texas-based Dickey's Barbecue, the largest barbecue chain in the country, is set to continue expansion in California as Franchisees Jerrad Marsh and Dianne Marsh-King sign up for a new location in the Modesto area.

Texas Business reports:  Burleson—El Fenix plans to open its 20^th restaurant in this suburb south of Fort Worth on Monday, March 14.

Texas Business reports:  Coppell-based CiCi's Pizza, a rapidly-expanding 600-unit pizza, pasta, salad and dessert buffet chain, signed agreements for the addition of 16 units over the next five years and hired Wingstop veteran Bruce Evans to lead franchise sales.

Texas Business reports:  The first Chili’s Grill & Bar opened in Russia, the Texas-based company announced.

Texas Business reports: Pizza Inn's popular traditional and specialty pizzas are coming back to El Paso with the opening of the newest Pizza Inn buffet restaurant at 1188 North Yarbrough.

Texas Business reports:  Two Dallas businessmen are expanding Wingstop throughout the Baltimore-Washington Corridor.

Texas Business reports: McAllen’s Magic Valley Fresh Frozen Inc. is voluntarily recalling 6,492 packages of frozen breaded okra because the products may contain undeclared whey, according an FDA recall announcement.

Texas Business reports:  Like many food chains, A Richardson firm is gearing up for its busiest day of the year, Suepr Bowl Sunday.

Texas Business reports:  An Austin franchise company plans to open five stores in what it calls the Waco area.

 Texas Business reports:  Houston’s Riviana Foods Inc. is moving its Houston operations to a new Memphis plant.

Texas Business reports:  Young Chefs Academy, the first cooking school for children franchise, has expanded their unique cooking academies in four different countries in the past six months. 

Texas Business reports:  Pappadeux opened a restaurant in the DFW International Airport. 

Texas Business notes this story by Nathan Duck of the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal:  The Cap*Rock Winery celebrated its record-breaking harvest Saturday with old-fashioned, barefoot wine smashing.

Texas Business notes this story by Karen Robinson-Jacobs of the Dallas Morning News:  The recall of more than a half billion eggs because of possible salmonella contamination could hardly have come at a worse time for Rose Colarossi and her son Ryan.

Texas Business notes this story by Karen Robinson-Jacobs of the Dallas Morning News:  Nearly two dozen years after opening in Dallas' West End district, Morton's Restaurant Group Inc. has announced plans to open a location in trendy Uptown, about a mile from its existing chop house.

Texas Business recommends this story by Tam Vo of the Houston Press:  As a Baylor Bear, I always do two things when visiting Waco: eat at Bush's Chicken and then regret eating so much at Bush's Chicken.

Texas Business recommends this story about Plano-based Frito-Lay by Suzanne Vranica of the Wall Street Journal:  Frito-Lay makes a lot of noise marketing its Sun Chips snacks as "green."  

Texas Business recommends this story by Karen Robinson-Jacobs of the Dallas Morning News:  Plano-based Frito-Lay Inc. and Utz Quality Foods Inc. of Hanover, Pa., have gone to court over which one has the right to sell cookies ostensibly endorsed by Nana.

Texas Business notes this story by Ana Ley of the McAllen Monitor:  MISSION — Maggie Trujillo’s black rubber boots sloshed through the expanse of brown, muddy water that nearly submerged the thatched roof of his restaurant.

Texas Business notes this story by Greg Jefferson of the San Antonio  Express-News:  Mayor Julián Castro didn't talk about cracking down on smoking in public spaces during his 2009 campaign, and he didn't officially propose pushing the city's smoking ban into bars and pool halls.

TexasBusiness.com notes this story by Chad Thomas of the Tyler Morning-Telegraph: Making the classic upside-down cake isn't so hard, even for an amateur baker.

TexasBusiness.com recommends this story by Scott Farwell of the Dallas Morning News:  Blame it on BP.   About 70 percent of oysters eaten in the U.S. are fished out of the marshes, bayous and bays along the Gulf Coast. 

 TexasBusiness.com reports: Victoria’s Incredible Pizza Company announced  it has set its final day of operation to August 8th, 2010.

Ocean life artist Wyland kicked off the opening of his first ever restaurant location with an appearance and reception at the restaurant Wednesday in Fairview. 

For most Americans, making a living working about 20 percent of a normal work week isn’t going to cut it, but that's exactly what the Seabrook Seafood Plant in Kemah, Texas is trying to do.  "We're at about 20 percent of the amount of production we would normally have at this point in time in our year," Seabrook Plant owner Tom Holtz said, reports John A. Salazar of News 8 Austin. 

Thirteen Bush's Chicken locations have been targeted by burglars over the last few weeks, and now franchise owners is doing its best to fight back, KXXV reports.