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Katie Lee

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Best Buy Unveils CEO Succession Plans

by Katie Lee

Minneapolis — The board of directors of Best Buy Co., Inc. has selected Jason Bonfig, the company’s chief customer, product and fulfillment officer, to succeed Corie Barry as the next chief executive officer at Best Buy. Barry will step down from her roles as CEO and member of the board at the end of third quarter on Oct. 31 of this year. Bonfig will also join the board at that time. Bonfig’s appointment as the sixth CEO in the company’s 60-year history is the result of an extensive process conducted …

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construction and designfranchise developmentNewsremodelsrestaurants

Smoothie King Embarks on New Brand Evolution Plan

by Katie Lee

Dallas — Smoothie King is marking the beginning of the next chapter in its 53-year history by introducing a new brand evolution plan. The new plan is designed to build on its continued momentum, reinforce category leadership and accelerate long term growth. It includes more than 200 new store commitments, over 1,500 available trade areas in its development pipeline and a newly expanded food menu. The new brand evolution also introduces a transformed in-store experience, rolling out over the coming year. In 1973, Smoothie King introduced a new category to …

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facilities managementNewsretailerssoftware/technologyvendors

MINISO USA Partners with NEST to Streamline Facilities Management Across U.S. Stores

by Katie Lee

Philadelphia — NEST, a national provider of integrated facilities management (IFM) solutions, has partnered with MINISO USA to serve as its facilities management partner for more than 300 MINISO stores across the United States. NEST will deliver a full-service IFM solution designed to streamline operations, reduce complexity and support store performance as the MINISO brand continues to expand in the U.S. NEST will manage a broad range of services, including HVAC, electrical, plumbing, lighting and general maintenance across MINISO stores. The partnership includes vendor management, service coordination, analytics and operational …

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Nothing Bundt Cakes® Opens 800th Bakery

by Katie Lee

Dallas — Nothing Bundt Cakes reached a major milestone as it opened the doors to its 800th bakery on April 15. The 800th bakery opened at 2660 Oswell St. in East Bakersfield, Calif., and will be operated by owners Chiral and Dixit Desai, who also own multiple bakeries within the state. “This achievement reflects the work and passion of our bakery owners and teams, along with the fans who make us part of their everyday celebrations,” says Dolf Berle, CEO of Nothing Bundt Cakes. “At this stage of growth, what …

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Primark to Open Flagship Store in Manhattan’s Herald Square in May

by Katie Lee

New York City — Primark, an international value fashion retailer, plans to open a flagship Herald Square store in Manhattan’s PENN DISTRICT on May 8. Located at 150 W 34th St., directly across from Penn Station, the new Manhattan flagship marks a defining moment for Primark in the U.S. and a major milestone in its U.S. expansion. The new store will stand alongside the brand’s flagship stores in other fashion capitals such as London, Milan, Madrid and Rome. Spanning more than 54,000 square feet of retail space, the Herald Square …

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construction and designCover Storyfacilities managementfranchise developmentFrom The Magazinekitchen equipmentremodelsrestaurantssoftware/technology

A Scalable Refresh

by Katie Lee

— By Katie Lee — 2026 marks the full rollout of Gong cha 2.0, a comprehensive modernization of technology, operations and store design for the bubble tea leader. Gong cha is the world’s leading bubble tea brand with nearly 2,200 locations in 33 markets globally, including more than 240 stores in the U.S. across 23 states, Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico. But it still has plenty of room to grow — both in number of locations and in brand recognition — in the United States. With a solid foundation undergirding …

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Dave’s Hot Chicken Opens Record 8 Restaurants in a Single Day

by Katie Lee

Pasadena, Calif. — Dave’s Hot Chicken continues its rapid growth in 2026 with the opening of 8 new restaurants on April 16, expanding its footprint to more than 400 locations worldwide. The milestone highlights the brand’s disciplined approach to expansion and its ability to execute at scale while maintaining a consistent guest experience. The fast-casual concept, which originated in Los Angeles, is bringing its Nashville-style hot chicken to a diverse set of markets nationwide, including Fairlawn, Ohio; Oneonta, N.Y.; Edina, Minn.; Gastonia, N.C.; Arlington Heights, Ill.; Miami; Saratoga, Utah; and …

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Walmart to Remodel More Than 650 U.S. Stores in 2026

by Katie Lee

Bentonville, Ark. — Nationally, Walmart is planning remodels at more than 650 Supercenters and Neighborhood Markets this year, as well as opening 20 new stores in 2026 and early 2027. This investment is intended to create jobs, help strengthen local economies and make shopping faster and more convenient for its customers. In early 2024, Walmart committed to opening or converting more than 150 new locations while continuing to update the stores in its portfolio. This year’s investment includes: • More than 650 scheduled remodels to Supercenters and Neighborhood Markets • …

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NewspeopleProduct Spotlightrestaurantssoftware/technologyvendors

Presto Co-Founder Returns as CEO

by Katie Lee

San Mateo, Calif. — Presto Phoenix, Inc., a leader in enterprise-grade Voice AI for quick-service restaurants (QSRs), has welcomed back Presto’s co-founder, Krishna Gupta, as chief executive officer. Gupta, a co-founder and longtime strategic leader at Presto, stepped back into the CEO role as the company accelerates deployment of its drive-thru Voice AI platform across major national restaurant brands. Presto will be showcasing this expertise at its Restaurant Leadership Conference (RLC) panel, “Deploying Voice AI at America’s Iconic Brands,” on April 20 in Phoenix. “Presto is entering its defining chapter, …

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Mo’ Bettahs to Expand Into 3 New Markets

by Katie Lee

Salt Lake City — Mo’ Bettahs plans to enter three new markets — Phoenix, Indianapolis and Minneapolis — as the Hawaiian-style fast-casual brand accelerates its national expansion. Additionally, the company reported positive same-store sales growth for the 18th consecutive year, marking nearly two decades of sustained momentum. Mo’ Bettahs has nearly 80 restaurants nationwide. “Eighteen consecutive years of same-store sales growth is rare in this industry, and it doesn’t happen by accident,” says Rob Ertmann, CEO of Mo’ Bettahs. “It reflects disciplined execution, the quality and authenticity of our menu, …

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