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Katie Lee

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Target to Roll Out GenAI Technology to its Store Team Members Chainwide

by Katie Lee

Minneapolis — Target Corporation plans to roll out a new generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tool to team members at all of its nearly 2,000 stores by August, becoming the first major retailer to share that it is bringing this technology to its store team members across the U.S. The tool, called Store Companion, is a GenAI-powered chatbot designed by Target that can answer on-the-job process questions, coach new team members, support store operations management and more. “We know technology will continue to play an outsized role in the future of …

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Industry Voiceskitchen equipmentrestaurantssoftware/technologyvendors

Sustainable Equipment Ecosystem

by Katie Lee

— By Jay Fiske — IoT & S3: How connected equipment improves restaurant safety, service and sustainability. Every restaurant facility manager is acutely aware of how critical their back-of-house equipment (cooking, refrigeration, HVAC, etc.) is as the lifeline of their operations. When these machines go down, or an issue arises, the result is often costly health or safety concerns that can force facility closures, negatively impact customer satisfaction, and harm brand perception. In addition, back-of-house equipment also drives the bulk of the very heavy energy use in restaurants — driving …

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Industry Voicesrestaurantssoftware/technology

Automatic Value

by Katie Lee

— By Les Tomlin — How automated vending machines are churning out QSR solutions. Quick-service restaurants (QSRs) are embracing artificial intelligence platforms to boost productivity, increase security and make operations more user-friendly. On paper, things should be getting easier for restaurant owners; however, in the face of rampant labor shortages, skyrocketing minimum wage laws and exorbitant real estate costs, restaurant owners and managers have an uphill battle to face in getting a new business off the ground. Since the nineteenth century, vending machines have provided an autonomous alternative to full-service …

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ADA complianceconstruction and designIndustry Voicesremodelsrestaurants

Beneficial Buildouts

by Katie Lee

— By David Gabbai — How restaurant tenants can be built to save. Due to challenges like high interest rates and construction costs, the price of owning, building, remodeling and leasing restaurant space has gone through the roof. It can be a difficult time to own and maintain a restaurant business and restaurant space. However, forward-thinking restaurant tenants and retail landlords are finding creative ways to make things work. We are seeing these imaginative solutions play out in lease terms and structures, which can be done in a way that …

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construction and designfranchise developmentNewsremodelsrestaurants

Dunkin’ Celebrates July 4th with 4,000th NextGen Location

by Katie Lee

Canton, Mass. — This Fourth of July, Dunkin’ is celebrating its 4,000th NextGen location now open in Jacksonville, Fla., operated by franchisee Rima & Raj, LLC. This marks a major milestone for the brand as Dunkin’ continues to open and remodel existing locations as innovative NextGen restaurants, offering guests a more modern design with premium beverages, creating an elevated in-restaurant and drive-thru experience. “NextGen is propelling the brand forward and continuing to exceed growth targets,” says Scott Murphy, chief brand officer of Inspire Brands, which acquired Dunkin’ in late 2020. …

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Newspeopleretailers

National Vision Welcomes New Chief Stores Officer

by Katie Lee

Duluth, Ga. — National Vision Holdings, Inc. has appointed Mark Banner as the company’s new chief stores officer, effective July 8, 2024. He joins the company after a 7-year tenure at Sleep Number. Most recently, he served as senior vice president of retail and real estate. His extensive experience encompasses leading teams in sales, sales operations, digital, promotion and real estate. Before Sleep Number, Banner dedicated 18 years to Signet Jewelers, the world’s largest specialty retailer jeweler. He began his career at Signet as a store manager and rose through …

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Newspeoplerestaurants

FAT Brands Names EVP and Head of Debt Capital Markets

by Katie Lee

Los Angeles — FAT (Fresh. Authentic. Tasty.) Brands Inc. has hired Jordan Chirico as executive vice president and head of debt capital markets. He joins FAT Brands with nearly 20 years of Wall Street experience and will be focused on the company’s balance sheet including its $1.2 billion Whole Business Securitization portfolio, additional acquisition financings, preferred stock and other debt-related strategies. Chirico spent the first half of his career in structured finance at Bank of America, Robert W. Baird and Credit Suisse before pivoting to the asset management side of …

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Meijer Marks 90th Anniversary

by Katie Lee

Grand Rapids, Mich. — Amidst the Great Depression in 1934, Hendrik Meijer, a local barber in Greenville, Mich., took a chance and opened Meijer’s Grocery with his wife Gezina and their children, 18-year-old Johanna and 14-year-old Fred, to take care of customers who visited Hendrik’s barbershop. Fast-forward to today and the family-owned retailer is celebrating its 90th anniversary with more than 500 Meijer supercenters, grocery stores, neighborhood markets, express locations and distribution and manufacturing facilities throughout six Midwest states. “We have built an incredible team here at Meijer that is …

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Newsremodelsrestaurants

Perkins Restaurant & Bakery Unveils New Brand Identity

by Katie Lee

Atlanta — Perkins Restaurant & Bakery is rebranding as Perkins American Food Co., where modern American hospitality is reimagined to both take you back and move you forward. The humble pancake house from 1958 in the heartland of the Midwest is now a leading family dining brand with nearly 300 locations across the United States and Canada. In addition to its new name, Perkins has a new logo, restaurant design and elevated services. “Our rebrand is way more than a new logo and descriptor,” says Toni Ronayne, president of Perkins …

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franchise developmentNewsretailers

Pet Supplies Plus and Wag N’ Wash Enjoy Double-Digit Mid-Year Growth

by Katie Lee

Livonia, Mich. — Pet Supplies Plus and Wag N’ Wash report double-digit mid-year growth with 23 sold franchise agreements and 16 store openings. Collectively, the brands are projected to sell a total of 70 franchise units and open at least 45 stores by year-end. While each franchise has a unique offering, both legacy brand Pet Supplies Plus and emerging concept Wag N’ Wash have the billion-dollar backing of 30+ years of franchise and industry experience. As the largest pet retail franchise in North America, Pet Supplies Plus continues to be …

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