Author

Hayden Spiess

Total Comfort Group Hires Three New Executives

by Hayden Spiess July 24, 2024

Eatontown, N.J. — New Jersey-based HVAC, electrical and plumbing services provider Total Comfort Group (TCG) has completed three new hires at the executive level. Jana Coyle, Christopher Soto and Timothy Bruton have joined the company as senior business development manager, northeast service manager and manager of strategic partnerships, respectively. Coyle’s tenure in the industry includes experience in facility maintenance, construction and remodeling services, with business-to-business (B2B) sales experience in Fortune 500 companies. Soto, overseeing comprehensive operations throughout the Northeast region in his new role, will focus on responsive service, streamlined maintenance …

July 24, 2024

franchise development News restaurants

Cousins Maine Lobster Launches Food Truck Tour in the Midwest

by Hayden Spiess July 24, 2024

South Portland, Maine — South Portland-based lobster roll concept Cousins Maine Lobster has announced plans for a multi-state food truck tour throughout the Midwest to introduce the brand to new markets. Franchisee Chris Papp — whose portfolio includes two restaurants and four food trucks — will lead the tour. Scheduled for Aug. 7-16, the tour will stop at breweries and festivals in South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa and Missouri.

July 24, 2024

News people retailers

JOANN Appoints Ann Aber Executive Vice President, Chief Legal and HR Officer

by Hayden Spiess July 23, 2024

Hudson, Ohio — Ohio-based retailer JOANN has appointed Ann Aber as executive vice president and chief legal and human resources officer. Aber joined the company in 2019 as vice president, general counsel and secretary and was promoted to senior vice president in 2021. In addition to her existing responsibilities, she will now oversee human resources and corporate communications for JOANN. Aber will also be responsible for the brand’s risk management, charitable giving, diversity and inclusion and corporate responsibility functions.

July 23, 2024

franchise development News restaurants

BRIX Holdings Enters Four-Unit Franchise Agreement in Arizona, Missouri

by Hayden Spiess July 22, 2024

Dallas — Dallas-based food-and-beverage franchising company BRIX Holdings LLC has entered into an agreement with franchise owner Richard Stassi to open four new units in Arizona and Missouri. Stassi will open three Smoothie Factory + Kitchen and Red Mango co-branded shops within the next three years in metro Phoenix and Scottsdale, Arizona. The first of the units is scheduled to open in early 2025. Franchisee Gary Patel signed the fourth deal with Stassi and will open a Red Mango store in Kansas City, Missouri, in early 2025, marking the first entry …

July 22, 2024

News retailers

Ace Hardware Opens 5,000th US Store in Metro Atlanta

by Hayden Spiess July 19, 2024

Roswell, Ga. — Hardware retail chain Ace Hardware has opened its 5,000th domestic store. Dubbed Fixit Ace Hardware, the store is located in Roswell, roughly 20 miles north of Atlanta. Additionally, the retailer opened its 100th new store of the year in Henderson, Nevada, last month. Ace, which operates more than 5,800 outposts globally, plans to open an additional 200 stores by the end of this year, which marks 100 years of business for the brand.

July 19, 2024

News restaurants

Darden Restaurants Agrees to Acquire Tex-Mex Chain Chuy’s for $605 Million

by Hayden Spiess July 18, 2024

Austin, Texas and Orlando, Fla. — Darden Restaurants (NYSE: DRI) has agreed to acquire Chuy’s Holdings (NASDAQ: CHUY) for $605 million in an all-cash transaction. The Tex-Mex restaurant chain — which owns and operates 101 full-service restaurants across 15 states — will join Darden’s existing restaurant portfolio, which includes Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse and Ruth’s Chris Steak House, among others. Under terms of the merger agreement, Orlando-based Darden will acquire all outstanding shares of Chuy’s at $37.50 per share. The purchase price represents a 40 percent premium to the Austin-based company’s …

July 18, 2024

News people retailers

Joshua Schulman Replaces Jonathan Akeroyd as CEO of Burberry

by Hayden Spiess July 16, 2024

London — Joshua Schulman has been appointed to replace Jonathan Akeroyd as the chief executive officer of London-based luxury retail brand Burberry. Schulman will assume his new role on July 17, leading the executive committee and reporting to Chair Gerry Murphy and the Board of Directors. Akeroyd’s departure comes following the publication of the company’s earnings release earlier this week. In the press release issued by Burberry, the brand’s first quarter performance is described as “disappointing” by Murphy, with sales declining 20 percent on a year-over-year basis. CNN reports that Burberry has …

July 16, 2024

franchise development News restaurants

Layne’s Chicken Fingers to Open 18 Restaurants in Georgia

by Hayden Spiess July 16, 2024

Roswell, Ga. — Fast-casual food-and-beverage concept Layne’s Chicken Fingers has signed a franchise deal to open 18 restaurants in Georgia. The first of the new units is scheduled to open this October in Roswell, roughly 20 miles outside Atlanta, marking the brand’s first entrance into the state. Franchisees Alvin Shah, Shahid Panjwani and Seth Bickle will own and operate the restaurants.

July 16, 2024

News retailers store closings

Stop & Shop to Close 32 Stores in the Northeast

by Hayden Spiess July 15, 2024

Quincy, Mass. — Stop & Shop, a grocery store chain based in the Boston suburb of Quincy, has announced plans to close 32 locations by the end of this year. Situated throughout the Northeast, the stores — described in a press release as “underperforming” — are located in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York and Rhode Island. According to the grocer, the affected stores will shutter on or before Nov. 2. Associates at the locations will be offered other employment within the company. “As we announced in May, Stop & …

July 15, 2024