Columbus, Ohio-based White Castle is making its medium-roast coffee available in single-cup coffee pods for consumers to brew at home.

In response to the growth of iced coffee at foodservice establishments and at retail, Torrance, Calif.-based Farmer Bros. Co. introduced a new line of consumer-tested, ready-to-serve iced coffees that eliminates any prep work for operators.

Emeryville, Calif.-based coffee and tea chain Peet’s Coffee & Tea announced its first major retail launch in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area. The company opened its flagship Washington, D.C., location on April 7 and will open 22 more stores in a phased rollout across the market this year. The expansion will create approximately 350 local jobs and raise the chain’s total store count to 300 stores, the company says. Following the expansion, Washington, D.C., will be the company’s second-largest retail market, second to California, and its biggest East Coast retail footprint, it says.

Peet’s Coffee & Tea, Emeryville, Calif., partnered with Internet radio service Pandora to create its own customized radio stations that will be played in all of its stores nationwide.

GuestMetrics LLC and Restaurant Sciences LLC have merged to form GuestSciences, effective as of Feb. 24.

Taco Bell Corp., a subsidiary of Louisville, Ky.-based Yum! Brands Inc., announced that it has taken its PepsiCo partnership to the next level by introducing six new beverage offerings.

Premium adult beverages are providing momentum to the on-premise channel, according to Chicago-based Technomic Inc.’s 2013 BarTAB Report. Although the channel is slowing overall as consumers control their spending, higher-priced spirits and beers are growing in restaurants and bars, Technomic reports. In 2012, the on-premise channel grew in 0.7 percent in total volume to reach 1.9 billion gallons, and sales rose 3.5 percent to $97.3 billion, it reports. However, Technomic projects there will be slight declines in volume but continued dollar growth in 2013 and 2014.

New data from Chicago-based Technomic Inc. reveals that adult beverage programs at leading chain restaurants also enhance guest satisfaction. In a new white paper, “Adult Beverage Consumption at the Leading Restaurant Chains,” the market research firm shows how adult beverage consumption across 40 casual-dining and fast-casual restaurants serving adult beverages is associated with higher ratings of the overall experience and stronger loyalty to that restaurant.

Seattle’s Best Coffee, part of Seattle-based Starbucks Corp., will give the 20 percent of Americans who will be working on Black Friday a pick-me-up with a free coffee offer.

In celebration of the upcoming holiday season, Seattle-based Starbucks Coffee Co. will kick off its Share Event in participating U.S. stores.