PaneraBread

Panera Bread and Buffalo Wild Wings posted better-than-expected quarterly profits this week, and Chipotle Mexican Grill came through with a blowout quarter last week.

This ice cream lover is sure she's not alone in harboring affection for Friendly's, which started out as a Depression-era ice cream shop. But when its parent company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection Wednesday, she certainly wasn't surprised.

Legendary investor Peter Lynch espoused the philosophy "Buy what you know." Well, who doesn't know restaurants? We know where the crowds are, and we know what we like to eat. Here are five chains that managed to grow during the market lull, positioning themselves perfectly for the future.

When you're the daughter of investment guru Peter Lynch, it's kind of hard not to pick up great financial advice from dear old dad, even when he's not going out of his way to give it to you. That was the case for Annie Lukowski, one of three daughters of the famed Fidelity Investments Magellan fund manager.

The bright side to chilly, miserable weather is that it's a good excuse to perk up with a coffee. And not just any coffee. It's been a rough winter, so treat yourself to a fancy schmancy espresso-based cup -- though without an extravagant price. That's what Compare and Contrast did for four...

In times like these, people: they want quality, not quantity; and they'd rather stick with reliable businesses no matter what the price. The company that survives? It'll offer plenty of valuable perks; customers in the know are happy to pay more for good service with the extras.Wait: huh?That's...

Panera Bread is giving away coffee all day Wednesday, Jan. 28 as part of its promotion for its new breakfast offerings. During breakfast, Panera is offering free samples of its new breakfast offerings, such as granola parfait and grilled breakfast sandwiches.