Author

Katie Lee

green newsIndustry Voiceskitchen exhaust/grease controlrestaurantswaste management/recycling

Clear Path Forward

by Katie Lee

— 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 …

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Newspeopleretailers

British Brand NEOM Wellbeing Opens First U.S. Store

by Katie Lee

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, …

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construction and designfranchise developmentNewsremodelsrestaurants

Marco’s Pizza Launches New Store Design

by Katie Lee

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: • …

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Five Below, Inc. Announces CEO Transition

by Katie Lee

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 …

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construction and designfranchise developmentNewsrestaurants

Rusty Taco to Add 14 New Locations by Year End

by Katie Lee

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 …

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Newsretailersstore closings

Big Lots to Close 35 to 40 Stores in 2024

by Katie Lee

Columbus, Ohio — Discount retailer Big Lots plans to close 35 to 40 stores this year, according to an SEC filing submitted by the company. Big Lots saw a 10.2% year-over-year decrease in net sales in the first quarter of 2024. “While we made substantial progress on improving our business operations in Q1, we missed our sales goals due largely to a continued pullback in consumer spending by our core customers, particularly in high-ticket discretionary items,” says Bruce Thorn, president and CEO of Big Lots. “We remain focused on managing …

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energy managementfacilities managementHVAC/RNewspeoplevendors

PremiStar Hires New Chief Operating Officer

by Katie Lee

Deerfield, Ill. — PremiStar, a leader in commercial and industrial HVAC, plumbing and building automation services, has hired John Eberhardt III as chief operating officer. In this role, he will lead the company’s strategy for platform-wide value creation and delivery across the organization, including all operational activities to support PremiStar’s national growth strategies. “I am excited to welcome John to the PremiStar senior leadership team,” says Joe Kirmser, CEO of PremiStar. “Over the past three decades, he has proven himself as a transformational leader who excels in aligning and motivating …

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franchise developmentNewsrestaurants

Dave’s Hot Chicken on Track to Have 300 Units Open by Year End

by Katie Lee

Pasadena, Calif. — Founded in 2017 in East Hollywood, Dave’s Hot Chicken is on track to reach a milestone of 300 units open by the end of 2024 after rounding the 200-unit milestone in the first quarter. The brand now has over 206 locations in the United States, Canada and the Middle East — with more than 990 units signed to date (including its recently signed agreement with Azzurri Group to open 60 locations in the UK and Ireland, with the first location planned to open in London by first …

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Saks Fifth Avenue Parent Company Agrees to Acquire Neiman Marcus for $2.6 Billion

by Katie Lee

New York City and Dallas — HBC, the New York City-based parent company of Saks Fifth Avenue, has agreed to acquire Dallas-based Neiman Marcus Group. The merger between the two luxury fashion retailers is valued at $2.6 billion. An estimated closing date was not released. Following the acquisition, HBC will establish Saks Global, an entity that will combine the intellectual property and real estate assets of the two companies. Brands that are already owned by HBC or Neiman Marcus, including Saks OFF 5th, Bergdorf Goodman and Last Call Outlet, will …

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Newspeoplerestaurants

Hard Rock International Hires President of Hard Rock Cafe & Retail Division

by Katie Lee

Hollywood, Fla. — Hard Rock International has appointed long-time restaurant and hospitality leader Eric Martino as president of the Hard Rock Cafe Division, overseeing operations of the company’s nearly 200 eateries around the world. Additionally, Martino will oversee Hard Rock’s retail division on a global scale. He reports to Jim Allen, chairman of Hard Rock International and CEO of Seminole Gaming. “We’re excited to welcome Eric, whose extensive background in culinary arts, marketing and operations will further elevate the already outstanding Hard Rock dining and retail experience,” says Allen. Martino …

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