Author

Katie Lee

Bradenton, Fla. — Mel Hope, the chief financial officer of First Watch Restaurant Group, Inc., has informed the company of his intent to retire later this year. The company has commenced a process to identify his successor, considering both internal and external candidates. It is expected that Hope will remain as CFO until his successor is in place to ensure a seamless transition and serve as an advisor to the company for a period thereafter. “Mel joined us with decades of experience and was invaluable in guiding our IPO process,” …

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Oshowa, Ontario (Canada) — RNR Tire Express (RNR), a leading franchise retailer for tires and custom wheels, is officially entering Canada with the signing of its first international franchise agreement. The new location is currently under construction at 1080 Simcoe St. N in Oshawa, Ontario, and is anticipated to open in March 2026. “Expanding into Canada is a natural next step for RNR as we continue to grow alongside our franchisees and the communities we serve,” says Adam Sutton, CEO of RNR Tire Express. “Our focus has always been on …

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Atlanta — Chicken Salad Chick, the nation’s only fast-casual chicken salad restaurant concept, is making its Nevada debut with a six-unit franchise agreement in the Las Vegas metropolitan area. The deal marks the brand’s first development in Nevada and underscores continued momentum as Chicken Salad Chick strategically expands beyond the Southeast and into the growing Southwest market. Leading the development is husband-and-wife team Mark and Cayla Rubalcaba, longtime Las Vegas residents who will spearhead the rollout of six restaurants across the market. Their connection to Chicken Salad Chick began at …

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Conshohocken, Pa. — IKEA U.S. will open its newest location in Huntsville, Ala., on Feb. 25, 2026, marking its first location in the state of Alabama. “As we expand our presence in the U.S., we’re excited to introduce the IKEA experience to North Alabama, marking our very first location in the state,” says Rob Olson, interim CEO of IKEA U.S. “IKEA Huntsville reflects our dedication to serving customers where they are and providing innovative, affordable solutions that make everyday life better.” Located in the University Place Shopping Center at 6125 …

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Houston — Shipley Donuts has signed four multi-unit deals to expand its national footprint, including in Las Vegas, its westernmost location, plus multiple new locations in Atlanta, Dallas-Fort Worth and New Orleans. Development plans include: • Three shops in Las Vegas, marking the brand’s first Nevada locations • Expansion of the brand’s Louisiana presence with five new shops in New Orleans • Three new Atlanta-area shops in Alpharetta, Roswell and Sandy Springs • Build-out of the brand’s Dallas-Fort Worth market with an agreement to open three additional shops throughout the area …

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New York City — Bambi Baby, a family-owned baby furniture and gear retailer with nearly 50 years of experience, has opened a new store in the heart of New York City. The newly opened location at 655 6th Ave. offers a curated selection of the best-in-class baby products and personalized services to families throughout the city and beyond. Since 1976, Bambi Baby has been a trusted resource for families, helping parents make informed decisions about everything from cribs and strollers to highchairs and car seats. What started as a small …

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San Diego — Mike’s Red Tacos, the celebrated San Diego-born beef Birria brand, is fueling rapid national growth with the launch of a dynamic franchising initiative. An accomplished team of restaurant industry leaders is spurring expansion through a strategic investment in the brand. Together with the original Mike’s Red Tacos founder, they have created remarkable momentum for the brand, securing development agreements with experienced franchisees from Dave’s Hot Chicken, Jersey Mike’s, Blaze Pizza, Dunkin’, Little Caesars, Carl’s Jr, Wetzel’s Pretzels, etc. that total more than 200 planned locations. Leading the …

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Austin, Texas — Loman AI, an industry-leading Voice AI phone answering platform for restaurants, has formed a new partnership with SpotOn, a leading restaurant technology company, that enables restaurants using SpotOn POS to deploy AI-powered phone automation across their operations. This integration transforms the phone from a chronic operational bottleneck into a scalable, always-on revenue channel for SpotOn users. Through this partnership, restaurants using SpotOn can now leverage Loman’s AI voice agent to automate inbound phone calls 24/7/365. Loman answers calls instantly, takes orders, books reservations, handles payment securely, answers …

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— By Jamie Tuinstra — Essential heating strategies for food halls and communal dining areas. Food halls and communal dining spaces have become essential gathering places, allowing patrons to enjoy great culinary variety in a lively, sociable environment. Such venues can be ideal for family outings, group meet-ups or simply for long, leisurely nights out. When winter arrives, though, these large, high-traffic environments face a significant operational challenge: maintaining a warm, comfortable atmosphere for guests without compromising safety or incurring excessive utility costs. Effective heating is not simply a matter …

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Columbus, Ohio — Designer Brands Inc. has appointed Sheamus Toal as executive vice president, chief financial officer and principal financial officer. Mark Haley, who has served as interim principal financial officer during the transition period, will return full time to his position as senior vice president, controller and principal accounting officer. Toal joins the company from The Children’s Place. Toal brings deep financial and operational experience shaped by decades of leadership in chief financial officer and chief operating officer roles across large, complex public and private companies. As a proven …

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