Phoenix — GoTo Foods, the parent company of Auntie Anne’s®, Carvel®, Cinnabon®, Jamba®, McAlister’s Deli®, Moe’s Southwest Grill and Schlotzsky’s®, has expanded Moe’s Southwest Grill into Arizona with a five-unit franchise agreement that will bring locations to the greater Phoenix area. Behind the deal are serial entrepreneurs and father-son team, Tony and Namit Mangat. “As proud Arizona residents, my son and I are excited for the opportunity to be the first to bring Moe’s Southwest Grill to the state,” says Tony Mangat. “We’ve wanted to make the jump into the …
Katie Lee
Nashville, Tenn. — REI Co-op’s newest distribution center in Lebanon, Tenn., has earned the prestigious LEED v4 Platinum Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. This achievement marks the first certified facility of its kind in Tennessee and the largest LEED Platinum industrial building in the Southeast. REI joins an elite group of only 10 warehouse facilities in the country to achieve this rating. REI’s Lebanon distribution center attainment of LEED v4 Platinum certification in the industrial sector demonstrates the co-op’s commitment to addressing the climate crisis through responsible and …
Philadelphia — Voomi Supply, a fast-growing e-commerce retailer of HVAC, plumbing, electrical and industrial supplies, has named RJ Cilley as its new chief executive officer. Cilley’s appointment at Voomi marks a significant milestone for the company as it continues to expand its market presence and technological capabilities. Cilley previously served as the chief operating officer at Saks, where he was an integral part of the executive leadership team; while at Saks, he significantly contributed to the re-platforming of www.Saks.com, the launch of its marketplace and spearheading significant advancements through the …
New Hartford, N.Y. — Yumpingo®, a leader in customer experience services for restaurants, has forged a partnership with ParTech, Inc. and PAR’s leading loyalty solution, PAR Punchh®. Together, they aim to transform customer experiences, enhance loyalty and drive growth through innovative platform integration. By combining Punchh’s loyalty solutions with Yumpingo’s customer experience management, restaurant brands gain powerful tools to engage guests and deliver exceptional service. “By merging our loyalty solutions with Yumpingo’s real-time guest feedback, we empower brands to deliver deeply personalized and impactful experiences that not only enhance customer …
Spartanburg, S.C. — Denny’s Inc. has appointed two new executive leaders: Monigo G. Saygbay-Hallie, Ph.D. joins as executive vice president, chief people officer for Denny’s Corporation, effective August 5, and Patty Trevino joins as Denny’s senior vice president, chief brand officer, effective August 12. Saygbay-Hallie will lead people initiatives across Denny’s and Keke’s Breakfast Café. She brings more than 20 years of restaurant and retail experience in leading teams and developing talent. She most recently served as chief people officer at Checkers & Rally’s Drive-In restaurants. Before Checkers, she served …
— By Jeff Kiesel — Serving up fresh, automated oil solutions to replace stale, deep-fried thinking. Oil management has historically been a struggle for restaurants and commercial kitchens. While oil plays a crucial role in food preparation, traditional oil handling can result in unsafe and dirty kitchens, frustrated staff, lower food quality and unnecessary waste. Now, new automated cooking oil management tools are allowing restaurants to embrace digital transformation and provide improved control of kitchen chaos. For those who get JIBs (joint interest billing) of oil delivered and grease removal …
New York City — NEOM Wellbeing, the UK’s award-winning wellbeing brand renowned for its 100% natural fragrances, has officially opened its first U.S. retail store in New York City. The debut “Wellbeing Hub” is located on Bleecker Street in the West Village. Expanding from its UK roots, as well as across a portfolio of freestanding Wellbeing Hubs, the British-born brand will add the ‘city that never sleeps’ to its growing roster. The 481-square-foot Wellbeing Hub, located at 395 Bleecker St., has been designed as a sanctuary to escape the city, …
Boise, Idaho — Marco’s Pizza, one of the nation’s fastest-growing pizza brands, recently debuted its new store design near Boise in Meridian, Idaho. The new look features aesthetic updates in addition to operational enhancements. The prototype is set to fuel the brand’s continued nationwide growth and performance, while enhancing the guest experience. The Meridian corporate-owned store opened on July 23, 2024. Earlier this year, Marco’s announced its development plan to bring four new locations to the Boise market, using it as a test bed for forward-thinking innovations. Updates include: • …
Philadelphia — Extreme value retailer Five Below, Inc. has appointed Kenneth Bull as interim president and chief executive officer, effective immediately, following the resignation of Joel Anderson. Anderson has stepped down from his roles of president and CEO, and from the board of directors, to pursue other interests. Thomas Vellios, co-founder, non-executive chairman and former CEO, is assuming the role of executive chairman on an interim basis to support Bull and the executive leadership team in the transition while the board conducts a comprehensive search for a permanent CEO. “I …
Dallas — Rusty Taco, a street-style taco restaurant, plans to open a total of 14 new units by year end. Recent openings in both streetside settings and non-traditional venues have marked significant milestones for Rusty Taco, integral to the brand’s strategic growth plans. With more than 30 locations currently open, the addition of 14 new units signifies a 40% increase in growth and a monumental achievement for the brand. “There’s no better way to spend time with your loved ones than to relax and eat tacos,” says Denise Fenton, co-founder …