Author

Katie Lee

Darden Restaurants Completes Acquisition of Ruth’s Hospitality Group

by Katie Lee June 16, 2023

Orlando, Fla. — Darden Restaurants, Inc. has completed its acquisition of Ruth’s Hospitality Group, Inc. The Ruth’s Chris Steak House brand now joins and complements Darden’s portfolio of differentiated brands that include Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, Yard House, Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen, The Capital Grille, Seasons 52, Eddie V’s and Bahama Breeze. Ruth’s Chris has 155 locations around the globe, including 81 company-owned or company-operated restaurants and 74 franchised restaurants. The $715 million acquisition was completed on June 14, 2023. Following the consummation of the merger, Ruth’s became an indirect, wholly …

June 16, 2023

Smashburger Appoints Interim President

by Katie Lee June 16, 2023

Denver — Smashburger has appointed Jose Miñana Jr. as interim president in place of Carl Bachmann upon his departure from the company on June 30th. Miñana is the chief sustainability and public affairs officer for Smashburger’s parent company, Jollibee Foods Corporation, and will serve as the president until the permanent lead executive has been appointed. Miñana has over 25 years of experience working for the Jollibee Foods Corporation and has held multiple positions within the global restaurant company. Before being named the chief sustainability and public affairs officer in 2019, …

June 16, 2023

News retailers supply chain

Walmart Opens High-Tech Fulfillment Center Near Indianapolis

by Katie Lee June 15, 2023

McCordsville, Ind. — Walmart has opened a new 2.2 million-square-foot fulfillment center 20 miles northeast of Indianapolis, in McCordsville. This next-generation facility is Walmart’s largest fulfillment center to date, and will enable the retailer to fulfill more orders, more quickly. “Indiana is proud to welcome this next generation Walmart fulfillment center, which represents a significant investment in our industry and our people,” says Ann Lathrop, chief strategy officer of the Indiana Economic Development Corporation. “Walmart has long been a good corporate partner in Indiana, and we’re excited to see their …

June 15, 2023

franchise development News restaurants

Great American Cookies Continues U.S. Expansion with First Alaska Location

by Katie Lee June 15, 2023

Los Angeles — Great American Cookies, the Original Cookie Cake franchise, plans its first location in the state of Alaska. The new store will be located in Anchorage. “This year, Great American Cookies arrived in Arizona, New Mexico and Illinois,” says Allison Lauenstein, president of Great American Cookies. “Growing domestically has been a key growth pillar for us so we are pleased to be able to expand our footprint to four new states, including Alaska, in just a few months. We see Anchorage as a great market to make our …

June 15, 2023

News people retailers

The Athlete’s Foot Names New VP of Marketing and Community Engagement

by Katie Lee June 15, 2023

Atlanta — The Athlete’s Foot has named a new vice president of marketing and community engagement, Darius Billings. He has been with the company for 15 years, currently as the senior director of marketing of StAART at The Athlete’s Foot USA. Previously, Billings has had roles at Nike and AND1 Basketball, an American footwear and clothing company specializing in basketball shoes, clothing and sporting goods. In 2020, Billings was motivated by the Black Lives Matter Movement protests and economic disparities within the Black community to use his platform to do …

June 15, 2023

construction and design franchise development News restaurants

Paris Baguette on Track to Have 1,000 Units Open by 2030

by Katie Lee June 14, 2023

Moonachie, N.J. — Paris Baguette, the bakery café concept with 4,000 units worldwide, currently has nearly 150 units open in the U.S. and is working toward reaching the 1,000 unit mark in the States by 2030. After a great end to 2022, the concept has kicked off 2023 by signing 40 franchise agreements and opening one restaurant per week in the first quarter. “We are very proud of the momentum we have. Last year we opened 24 stores. This year, we are more than halfway there in just 3 months,” …

June 14, 2023

News people retailers

Five Below, Inc. Names CFO and Treasurer

by Katie Lee June 14, 2023

Philadelphia — Five Below, Inc. has named Kristy Chipman as chief financial officer and treasurer, effective July 17, 2023; she will report to Joel Anderson, president and CEO. Chipman succeeds Ken Bull, who recently assumed the role of chief operating officer of Five Below. Most recently, Chipman was executive vice president, CFO and COO at Ruth’s Chris Hospitality Group. Chipman will lead the company’s finance and accounting organization, overseeing SEC reporting and financial operations, financial planning & analysis, investor relations, internal audit, enterprise risk management, tax and treasury and serve …

June 14, 2023

facilities management News restaurants security/loss prevention software/technology vendors

BRIX Holdings Chooses Interface to Streamline Network and Security Operations

by Katie Lee June 14, 2023

St. Louis — Interface Systems, a leading managed service provider of business security, actionable insights and purpose-built networks for multi-location businesses, has been selected by BRIX Holdings, a leading multi-brand franchising company that specializes in the “better-for-you” QSR segment, to deploy managed network, business voice, PCI compliance, business security and business intelligence solutions for all their franchise locations, including Red Mango Cafe, Smoothie Factory + Kitchen, Souper Salad, Orange Leaf, Humble Donut Co, Greenz, Friendly’s and Pizza Jukebox. Interface’s solutions enable BRIX to offer its franchisees a modern and proven …

June 14, 2023

construction and design News

Keystone Completes Construction of $4 Million Outdoor Entertainment Space at The District of St. Louis

by Katie Lee June 14, 2023

Chesterfield, Mo. — Keystone Construction Company has completed the next phase of development at The District of St. Louis with the Hub Stl, a $4 million state-of-the-art outdoor entertainment space where families and friends gather, host events and watch sporting events, movies, live performances and more. Located in Chesterfield, Mo., at Boones Crossing, The District is a premier St. Louis-area destination for live music, food and drink as well as unique retail concepts in one walkable location. Keystone was the design/build general contractor. The developer of The District is The …

June 14, 2023

News people restaurants

BurgerFi International Inc. Names New CFO

by Katie Lee June 13, 2023

Fort Lauderdale, Fla. — BurgerFi International Inc., owner of leading fast-casual brand BurgerFi and Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza & Wings, is making a change in senior leadership as Christopher Jones will be joining as chief financial officer on July 10, 2023. Jones is replacing the current CFO, Mike Rabinovitch, who is transitioning to Lionheart Capital as a senior advisor. Lionheart Capital along with its founder and the company’s executive chairman, Ophir Sternberg, is the company’s largest shareholder. Rabinovitch will remain in his role as CFO until July 10, 2023 and …

June 13, 2023

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