Author

Katie Lee

Newspeoplerestaurants

Red Lobster Names CFO/EVP of Transformation & Chief Global Development Officer

by Katie Lee

Orlando, Fla. — Red Lobster has appointed Brad Hill as chief financial officer and executive vice president, transformation, and Kristen Briede as chief global development officer. Both executives will join the company’s executive leadership team and report to Red Lobster’s chief executive officer, Damola Adamolekun. “Red Lobster has made significant progress coming out of a challenging period, and we’re now shifting from stabilization to a disciplined, execution-led growth phase focused on optimizing the guest experience, driving operational excellence, accelerating real estate optimization and building a stronger platform for durable growth,” …

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J. August to Reopen in Harvard Square

by Katie Lee

Cambridge, Mass. — J. August is reopening its beloved Harvard Square location, bringing fresh energy back to one of New England’s most iconic shopping destinations. Returning to the corner of Massachusetts Avenue in Cambridge, Mass., J. August is reopening with a refreshed look; a grand re-opening celebration is planned for late March. The iconic retailer has long been woven into the rhythm of Harvard life from first-year move-in weekends to commencement celebrations. Now, with a thoughtfully updated space that reflects the character and energy of the neighborhood, J. August begins …

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Duro-Last® Appoints Vice President of Commercial Excellence

by Katie Lee

Saginaw, Mich. — Duro-Last, a member of the Amrize family of brands and a leading manufacturer of custom-fabricated single-ply roofing systems, has appointed Greg Hudson as vice president of commercial excellence, strengthening leadership across its commercial operations and reinforcing the brand’s commitment to sustainable growth. In this role, Hudson will lead commercial strategy and market initiatives across all Duro-Last brands: EXCEPTIONAL®Metals, Protect-All® Flooring, Plastatech® and TIP-TOP®Screw Manufacturing. Hudson brings more than 20 years of experience in the building design and construction industry, most recently serving in senior commercial leadership roles …

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Stravito Introduces Deep Research Agent to Accelerate AI-Driven Insights for Retail Teams

by Katie Lee

Stockholm — Stravito, the Insights Intelligence Platform trusted by global brands to turn existing research into growth-driving decisions, has unveiled an upgrade to its AI Assistant with Deep Research Agent. The Deep Research Agent upgrade will roll out to customers during first quarter 2026. While many solutions prioritize speed, they often deliver shallow outputs that can fall short when complex business challenges demand comprehensive analysis. Deep Research Agent addresses this, delivering answers with the sourcing, depth and rigor that leaders require before committing to a decision. With new agentic capabilities, …

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Eggs Up Grill Names New Chief Financial Officer

by Katie Lee

Spartanburg, S.C. — Eggs Up Grill, a fast-growing “better breakfast” restaurant franchise, has appointed Kayla Money as chief financial officer. She brings more than a decade of financial leadership experience in the restaurant industry to the growing breakfast, brunch and lunch franchise. Money joins Eggs Up Grill from Denny’s Corporation, where she most recently served as senior director of enterprise FP&A and investor relations. Money’s appointment comes on the heels of record-setting momentum for Eggs Up Grill. In 2025, the brand opened 18 new restaurants, the most in company history, …

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Floor & Decor Opens First Store on Staten Island

by Katie Lee

Atlanta — Floor & Decor has opened its newest warehouse store and design center in Staten Island, N.Y., located at 98 Richmond Hill Rd. This marks the retailer’s first store on Staten Island and its second in New York City. The Staten Island store is led by Arsenio (AJ) MacKay, the store’s chief executive merchant. “Bringing Floor & Decor to Staten Island is an exciting milestone for our team,” says MacKay. “For more than 25 years, we’ve focused on making quality flooring and tile accessible to everyone, and we’re proud …

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Crack Attack

by Katie Lee

— By Charles Clevidence — Why asphalt crack sealing is the most cost-effective preventive maintenance strategy. Crack sealing is the process of applying a specialized rubberized sealant into cracks in asphalt pavement to prevent water, debris and chemicals from penetrating the surface and damaging the base and subbase layers. It serves as the pavement’s first line of defense against deterioration and can significantly extend the service life of the asphalt. This treatment is most effective when performed early — while cracks are still small, typically a quarter-inch and wider, and …

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First Watch Chief Financial Officer to Retire

by 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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RNR Tire Express Signs First International Franchise Agreement to Enter Canada

by Katie Lee

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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Chicken Salad Chick Enters Nevada with 6-Unit Development Agreement

by Katie Lee

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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