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Katie Lee

NewsProduct Spotlightrestaurantssoftware/technologyvendors

Chili’s Grill & Bar Partners with Ziosk

by Katie Lee

Dallas — Ziosk, the pioneer of pay-at-the-table and a leading restaurant ordering and payment platform, has teamed up with Chili’s Grill & Bar. Through this partnership, Chili’s has rolled out Ziosk tablets to more than 1,100 locations to simplify the payment process, right at the table. Ziosk’s innovative pay-at-the-table solution eliminates the wait time associated with paying the bill, providing a frictionless, secure process that drives loyalty and charity program participation and optimizes service. With a 90% adoption rate, pay-at-the-table is a reliable way to empower guests and offer more …

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construction and designfranchise developmentNewsretailers

Woof Gang Bakery & Grooming Debuts in California with Plans for 30 New Stores

by Katie Lee

Miami — Woof Gang Bakery & Grooming, a leading name in the U.S. pet service industry, is expanding to the West Coast with the opening of two new stores in Evergreen and Sacramento, Calif., this month. This marks Woof Gang’s debut in California and the fourth new state it has entered this year, following successful launches in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky and a significant milestone opening in Brentwood, Tenn., earlier this year. With plans to expand into three additional states — Idaho, Arizona and Minnesota — by the end of the …

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Newspeoplerestaurants

Nothing Bundt Cakes Names New COO

by Katie Lee

Dallas — Nothing Bundt Cakes, the nation’s largest specialty cake company and a rapidly expanding franchisor, continues to build out its senior leadership team with the appointment of a new chief operations officer, Wanda Williams.  Williams joins Nothing Bundt Cakes from Yum! Brands, where she served as head of global franchising. In that role, she led overall franchise system management and franchisee relations across four major brands, working with over 1,500 franchisees. Prior to that, she was vice president of operations at Pizza Hut, responsible for enhancing the restaurant and delivery experience …

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Eyemart Express Names New Chief Financial Officer

by Katie Lee

Farmers Branch, Texas — National optical retailer Eyemart Express has hired Aaron Cho to join the executive team as chief financial officer. Cho comes to Eyemart Express after serving as CFO of tech-enabled durable medical equipment provider Synapse Health. A strategic finance and operations veteran throughout the health care landscape, he previously held executive financial roles at Eyecare Services Partners; Access Dental Services, a subsidiary of Guardian Life Insurance; and Surgical Care Affiliates. Cho has also worked for CAPCO and Ernst & Young. “Aaron will be a key player in …

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construction and designfranchise developmentNewsrestaurants

Sweetgreen Opens First Ohio Restaurant

by Katie Lee

Columbus, Ohio — On Sept. 4, 2024 national restaurant brand Sweetgreen opened its first-ever restaurant in Ohio, located near Columbus. Ahead of the opening, Sweetgreen’s co-founder and chief executive officer, Jonathan Neman, had this to say: “We can’t wait to open the doors at our flagship Ohio restaurant in this lively Columbus neighborhood. With local ingredients sourced from across the Midwest, we’re excited to bring the Sweetgreen flavor to Columbus’ iconic food scene. It’s been a long time coming, and we are so grateful to the Columbus community for embracing …

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Industry Voicesretailerssecurity/loss preventionsoftware/technologyvendors

Enhancing Shopper Safety

by Katie Lee

— By Robert Harling — Innovative loss prevention technologies and strategies. The safety and security of shoppers and employees are at the top of the list of priorities for retail executives. Open and inviting stores where customers can shop without concern and employees are assured of their safety is not a new goal for retailers. As incidents of retail theft and in-store violence rise, retailers must adapt with effective strategies and advanced technologies to ensure a safe shopping environment. The National Retail Federation reported a 19.3% increase in retail shrink, …

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franchise developmentIndustry Voicesrestaurantssoftware/technology

Transforming Operations

by Katie Lee

— By Gregg Majewski — Propel your restaurant forward with digital transformation. Technology in the restaurant space is rapidly evolving as we enter a digital era. Every day, restaurants are taking new steps toward improving the guest experience. Virtual kitchens, mobile ordering and contactless payments have become commonalities, and while it may seem like a tall order, leaning into digital transformation is imperative for the evolution of a modern-day restaurant. Digital transformation does not always involve leveraging technological advancements. For example, it can also mean compiling dining analytics and using …

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Floor & Decor President to Retire

by Katie Lee

Atlanta — Floor & Decor Holdings, Inc., a leading specialty retailer of hard surface flooring, has announced that its president, Trevor Lang, intends to retire from Floor & Decor. The company is undertaking a search for his successor. “Trevor has been a key partner of mine in leading Floor & Decor,” says Tom Taylor, CEO of Floor & Decor. “He has been an important part of our growth, and we would not be where we are today without his leadership of so many aspects of our business. I’m grateful that …

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franchise developmentNewspeoplerestaurants

Black Bear Diner Taps Industry Veteran as New Chief Operations Officer

by Katie Lee

Redding, Calif. — Black Bear Diner, a leading full-service family dining concept known for its cabin-themed dining experience, has appointed Art Kilmer as chief operations officer (COO), replacing Jeff Guido, who retired on Aug. 14. This strategic hire underscores the company’s commitment to operational excellence and positions Black Bear Diner for continued expansion. Kilmer brings over two decades of restaurant industry experience, most recently serving as COO for P.F. Chang’s for 6 years, where he was responsible for more than 200 domestic restaurants and worked with more than 95 international …

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construction and designNewsretailers

Academy Sports + Outdoors to Open 9 Additional Stores this Fall

by Katie Lee

Katy, Texas — Academy Sports + Outdoors, a leading full-line sporting goods and outdoor recreation retailer, will open nine new stores this fall in eight different states. The new stores will open soon in Beckley, W.Va.; Kingsport, Tenn.; Bloomington, Ind.; Selma, N.C.; Ft. Myers, Fla.; Birmingham, Ala.; Springfield, Ohio; Bradenton, Fla.; and Bulverde, Texas. Academy has already opened three new stores this year, with plans to open a total of 15-17 new stores in fiscal year 2024. “Academy Sports + Outdoors is excited to continue our company growth with nine …

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