San Diego — Jack in the Box Inc. has named Tom Rose as the new president of the Del Taco brand, effective immediately. He replaces Chad Gretzema, who has stepped down from the role to pursue a new opportunity. Rose is a 30-plus-year veteran in the restaurant business with a proven track record in various corporate and franchise leadership roles. Most recently, he consulted Jack in the Box on the recent initiative to improve the company-owned Kansas City market. Before supporting Jack in the Box, Rose spent a decade as …
Katie Lee
Bolingbrook, Ill. — Ulta Beauty, Inc. has promoted its chief operating officer, Kecia L. Steelman, to president and chief operating officer. “Kecia is a talented executive with a proven track record of driving operational excellence while fostering a caring and inclusive culture and creating exceptional guest experiences,” says Dave Kimbell, chief executive officer. “Over the last year, Kecia has increased her scope and influence within our organization, and this expanded role recognizes her value to the company and her many contributions to our success, while also demonstrating our ongoing confidence …
Miami Beach, Fla. — Blink Charging Co., a global leading manufacturer, owner, operator and provider of electric vehicle (EV) charging equipment and services, has approved changes made to Blink’s executive leadership team with the appointment of Michael Battaglia, (formerly chief revenue officer) as chief operations officer; Jim Nemec, (formerly VP sales and business development) as chief revenue officer; and Siddhartha Kodgi, (formerly senior director operations) as vice president of operations. The company also announced the departure of Mark Pastrone from his role as chief operations officer. “These are exciting times …
Atlanta — Papa John’s International, Inc. has announced updates to its executive leadership team. Amanda Clark will transition from her role as chief international and development officer to become chief operating officer, international, focusing on the operations and development of the Papa Johns footprint in international markets. The company’s chief restaurant officer, Joe Sieve, will assume North American development responsibilities. He will also continue to oversee corporate and franchise restaurant operations in North America. “With operations in approximately 50 countries and territories, our continued international expansion is critical to the …
Dodgeville, Wis. — Lands’ End, Inc. has named Bernard McCracken — interim CFO since January 2023 and chief accounting officer since April 2014 — as its new chief financial officer. “Bernie McCracken has been an integral member of our finance organization for over 9 years and has demonstrated the financial acumen, executive leadership and track record to lead our financial organization with excellence,” says Andrew McLean, CEO of Lands’ End. “Having worked closely with Bernie over the past 8 months, I am confident that his appointment best positions Lands’ End …
College Station, Texas — In addition to its exponential growth in new markets, Layne’s Chicken Fingers has acquired the original three locations in College Station, Texas. Prior to the acquisition, the restaurants were owned by Mike Garratt, who was the sole owner of Layne’s before its foray into the franchise space. When the brand made this transition, Garratt maintained licensure in College Station and continued to run the three original restaurants as he served alongside the franchise leadership team. At the time of his recent retirement, the Layne’s corporate team …
Roswell, Ga. — Pure Hockey, a premier destination for hockey equipment, apparel and accessories, has acquired North Georgia Hockey, located in Roswell, Ga., a suburb of Atlanta. This strategic move marks Pure Hockey’s first entry into the Georgia market. The newest Pure Hockey location will officially open later this fall. As a recognized leader in the hockey retail industry, Pure Hockey’s acquisition of North Georgia Hockey represents a significant step in the company’s continued growth trajectory. With this acquisition, Pure Hockey now operates over 70 retail locations across 23 states …
— By Andrew Pudalov — How to make the most of restaurant spaces with less square footage. It’s natural in the restaurant industry to have the perception that more is more, such as more menu offerings or more seating options. While some concepts may function better with this approach, it’s important to look at the individual restaurant and examine what those target customers desire and what makes the most sense operationally. For square footage, Rush Bowls is guided by an efficiency-driven model that benefits each of its locations in many …
— Interview with Matt Beall — How Bealls has streamlined its name and its brand identity, all while robustly growing its store count. Spanning more than a century and four generations, Bealls Inc. has been owned and operated by its founding family in Bradenton, Florida, since 1915. This year, the veritable scion of retail is undergoing a significant rebranding of two of its largest chains. The company’s 600 Bealls Outlet and Burkes Outlet locations in 23 states are uniting to become “bealls.” Bealls, Inc. also operates a retail chain that …
Denver — Teriyaki Madness, a leading fast-casual teriyaki concept with over 130 locations, is celebrating a successful first half of 2023 with significant growth and innovation. The brand has opened 10 new locations and awarded 45 units this year, marking a significant increase in its footprint across the United States. The company has also seen a 21% year-over-year systemwide sales increase. “We are thrilled with our mid-year momentum and the incredible growth we’ve experienced so far in 2023,” says Michael Haith, CEO of Teriyaki Madness. “Our success is a testament …