Author

Katie Lee

franchise developmentNewspeoplerestaurants

Wetzel’s Pretzels Names New Brand Leader

by Katie Lee

Pasadena, Calif. — Wetzel’s Pretzels has appointed Vincent Montanelli to the company’s top leadership position. Montanelli joined Wetzel’s nearly 20 years ago as the senior vice president of operations and most recently held the post of COO. He will maintain the COO title with the promotion, taking on the highest leadership responsibilities for the organization. Promoted following MTY Food Group’s recent acquisition of Wetzel’s, Montanelli aims to build on the brand’s momentum, driving store growth through its multitude of flexible store formats. At the doorstep of the much anticipated 400th …

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Dry Goods, a Von Maur Fashion Brand, to Open 11 New Stores in 2023

by Katie Lee

Davenport, Iowa — Dry Goods USA, a growing fashion boutique and subsidiary of Von Maur Department Store, plans to open 11 additional locations in 2023, including the retailer’s first stores in Alabama, Arkansas and New York. The new growth will expand Dry Goods’ footprint to 81 locations — once opened — across the country. New locations will include: The Avenue (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) Bridge Street Town Center (Huntsville, Ala.) Columbiana Centre (Columbia, S.C.) Crossgates Mall (Albany, N.Y.) Destiny USA (Syracuse, N.Y.) Eastview Mall (Victor, N.Y.) Hamilton Town Center (Noblesville, Ind.) Liberty …

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Newspeoplerestaurants

Shipley Do-Nuts Appoints New CEO

by Katie Lee

Houston — Shipley Do-Nuts, a fast-growing franchisor of a leading do-nut, kolache and coffee concept, has named Flynn Dekker as its new CEO. Dekker succeeds Clifton Rutledge, who will return to the company’s board of directors. Dekker most recently served as CEO of Bonchon, a global franchisor of Korean chicken restaurants with more than 420 locations spanning nine countries. Before joining Bonchon, Dekker served as chief marketing officer of Wingstop Restaurants. Dekker has 30-plus years of executive leadership experience in the restaurant and retail industry. “Flynn is an exceptionally strong …

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WHP Global and Duty Free Americas to Open First Toys”R”Us Airport Store

by Katie Lee

New York City — WHP Global, the parent company of Toys”R”Us, has formed a new partnership with leading travel retailer Duty Free Americas to open the first-ever Toys”R”Us airport store at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), the world’s second busiest airport. The Toys”R”Us store will be located in Terminal A, and is slated to open in time for holiday 2023. “We are excited that WHP Global selected us to introduce a new retail concept to the travel industry,” says Jerome Falic, CEO of Duty Free Americas. Travelers visiting the store …

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franchise developmentNewsrestaurants

Milk Jar Cookies Launches Franchise Program in 39 States

by Katie Lee

Los Angeles — Milk Jar Cookies, a growing gourmet cookie shop born in Los Angeles, has launched its franchising program in 39 states across the country. “The Milk Jar Cookies brand has waited 10 years to prove the concept, maintaining our hands-on baking method, perfecting our recipes and protecting the integrity of an extraordinary cookie community bond,” says Courtney Cowan, founder of Milk Jar Cookies and author of “The Milk Jar Cookies Bakebook.” “We are now ready to partner with others to help share this vision; you don’t need to …

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construction and designNewspeoplevendors

US LBM Names New EVP and Chief Information Officer

by Katie Lee

Atlanta — US LBM, a leading distributor of specialty building materials in the United States, has hired Andrew Campbell to join its executive leadership team as executive vice president and chief information officer. Campbell brings 30 years of experience to US LBM, and as CIO is responsible for all aspects of US LBM’s technology platform and systems, including internal and external facing applications, cyber security, and data management and analysis. Campbell succeeds Joe Spagnoletti as US LBM’s CIO, who retired from the company earlier this year. Campbell will report directly …

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Newspeopleretailers

JOANN President and CEO to Retire

by Katie Lee

Hudson, Ohio — JOANN Inc., the nation’s category leader in sewing and fabrics with one of the largest arts and crafts offerings, has announced the retirement of Wade Miquelon as president and chief executive officer effective, May 8, 2023. Chris DiTullio, executive vice president and chief customer officer, and Scott Sekella, executive vice president and chief financial officer, have been appointed to lead the interim office of the chief executive officer, and the board has commenced a search to identify a permanent replacement. “On behalf of the board, I’d like …

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construction and designNewsrestaurantssoftware/technology

sweetgreen Pilots Automation at New Store

by Katie Lee

Los Angeles — sweetgreen has opened its first restaurant powered by automation, accelerating the industry’s adoption of advanced technology and taking steps toward the future of dining. The pilot store, located in Naperville, Ill., debuts new technology called the sweetgreen Infinite Kitchen, designed to enhance the customer experience and food quality, with a focus on fresh ingredients, fast service and friendly hospitality. With the advancement of automation playing a large role across industries today, sweetgreen is eager and excited to be an early adopter in the space, opening the first …

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franchise developmentNewsretailers

OHM Fitness to Open 70 New Locations Across Texas Triangle

by Katie Lee

Dallas — OHM Fitness will open 70 EMS fitness studios in the Texas Triangle through its newest franchise partner over the next few years. OHM Fitness offers a high-tech, high-energy EMS fitness experience that packs the benefits of an intense 2-hour workout into a low-impact, 25-minute session. Shivam Khanna recently secured the area representative rights to Texas and will bring 70 locations to the state, including 25 in Dallas Fort Worth, 20 in Austin and San Antonio, and 25 in Houston. Khanna plans to open up to 25 locations himself, …

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energy managementgreen building/LEEDHVAC/RIndustry Voiceslightingretailersvendors

Connected & Coordinated

by Katie Lee

— By Mark Danzenbaker —   Smarter retail facilities for lower energy costs.     Decarbonization. Net zero. ESG. These terms, as part of corporate sustainability efforts, have garnered incredible momentum over the last year. With major climate policy and legislation, a renewed focus on the clean energy transition, growing concern for an overloaded power grid and aggressive goals to reduce environmental impact, one thing is for sure: climate impacts and sustainability are top of mind for every industry. For retail and restaurant facility owners and operators, the negative effects …

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