Author

Katie Lee

Newspeoplesoftware/technologyvendors

Dragonfruit AI Names Vice President of Business Development 

by Katie Lee

Menlo Park, Calif. — Dragonfruit AI, retail’s first massively scalable video AI platform, has named Ray Cooke — most recently senior vice president at Hanwha Techwin America — as its new vice president of business development. Dragonfruit’s Frontier was custom-built for Retail Loss Prevention/Asset Protection (Video Summaries, ORC Investigations, OSHA Compliance, Slip/Fall, Liquid Spill), Store Operations (Checkout Metrics, Point-of-Sale Analysis with Video Verification) and Marketing/Merchandising (In-store Commerce Funnels). Designed from the ground-up for multi-location retailers, Frontier provides the flexibility for retailers to start solving their most pressing needs and add …

Continue Reading
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Newspeopleretailers

ABG Appoints Executive Vice Chairman

by Katie Lee

New York City — Authentic Brands Group (ABG), a global brand development, marketing and entertainment platform, has appointed Matt O’Toole as executive vice chairman. In his new role, O’Toole will work in tandem with ABG’s leadership team on new brand acquisitions, driving strategic initiatives, as well as supporting the global expansion of Reebok. “We are thrilled to welcome Matt O’Toole to ABG’s leadership team,” says Jamie Salter, founder, chairman and CEO, ABG. “Matt brings over 30 years of leadership experience in the footwear, apparel, equipment and sports marketing business. For …

Continue Reading
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Industry Voicesrestaurantssoftware/technology

Need a Boost?

by Katie Lee

— By John Moody —   Insights for boosting profit margin with technology.     According to the USDA, the level of food price inflation for restaurant food purchases rose 7.4% from May 2021 to May 2022. While some operators are forced to increase menu prices to accommodate this remarkable spike in food costs, others are trying desperately to find other ways to remain profitable without passing the additional burden on to their customers. There are three primary controls that restaurant operators need to pay careful attention to when trying …

Continue Reading
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
construction and designNewsrestaurants

Bloomin’ Brands Selects api(+) for Fleming’s Flagship

by Katie Lee

Tampa, Fla. — api(+) is providing branding, design and architecture services for a new Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar flagship, a freestanding, 300-seat fine dining concept to be located near Bloomin’ Brands’ headquarters in Tampa, Fla. api(+) was selected for its creative expertise in creating flagship and prototype concepts in the foodservice and food retail industries, and for its understanding of the Tampa Bay marketplace. The flagship is slated to open in summer 2023. Bloomin’ Brands, Inc. is one of the largest casual dining restaurant companies whose four founder-inspired …

Continue Reading
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Newspeopleretailers

Target Announces Leadership Updates

by Katie Lee

Minneapolis — Target Corporation has announced that Brian Cornell has committed to remain as CEO and lead the company for approximately 3 more years. Additionally, Arthur Valdez, executive vice president and chief supply chain and logistics officer, will retire from Target. He will be succeeded by Gretchen McCarthy, senior vice president, global inventory management, effective immediately. “In discussions about the company’s longer term plans, it was important to us as a board to assure our stakeholders that Brian intends to stay in his role beyond the traditional retirement age of …

Continue Reading
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
franchise developmentNewspeoplerestaurants

Church’s Texas Chicken Taps Industry Veteran for EVP of International Business

by Katie Lee

Atlanta — Church’s Texas Chicken® has hired QSR industry leader Tim Waddell to take on the role of executive vice president of international business, effective September 6. Waddell brings extensive experience in the areas of global development, sales, marketing, operations and P&L management that will support the brand in its continued growth. “Tim’s expertise globally and within his category will help us propel our growth internationally. Tim is an accomplished, high-impact business leader with over 20 years of proven international development experience and has an outstanding reputation as someone who …

Continue Reading
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Newspeopleretailers

Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. Mourns the Loss of EVP and CFO

by Katie Lee

Union, N.J. — According to Bed Bath & Beyond Inc., Gustavo Arnal, executive vice president and chief financial officer of the company, passed away on September 2, 2022. The entire Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. organization is profoundly saddened by this shocking loss. “I wish to extend our sincerest condolences to Gustavo’s family. Gustavo will be remembered by all he worked with for his leadership, talent and stewardship of our company. I am proud to have been his colleague, and he will be truly missed by all of us at …

Continue Reading
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
construction and designfranchise developmentNewsrestaurants

Au Bon Pain Reveals New Bakery-Cafe Design

by Katie Lee

Dallas — Au Bon Pain, the bakery-cafe brand known for its gourmet convenience, has revealed a bold new store design. Planned to roll out companywide in 2023, the new design continues Au Bon Pain’s forward momentum started in July 2021, when franchisee Ampex Brands acquired the brand and its CEO Tabbassum Mumtaz pledged “to lead the bakery-cafe segment into the future.” The new design builds on customers’ new reality, where convenience and off-premise reign, without straying from Au Bon Pain’s roots as a French bakery serving freshly made, high-quality and …

Continue Reading
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
construction and designNewsretailers

Meijer Introduces New Grocery Store Concept

by Katie Lee

Grand Rapids, Mich. — On Sept. 1, 2022, Meijer introduced a new brick-and-mortar store concept — Meijer Grocery — that will provide convenience for customers who are looking for a simplified shopping experience, while providing communities easier access to fresher foods. The first two Meijer Grocery stores will open in early 2023. The new stores will open in neighborhoods within southeast Michigan’s Orion and Macomb townships. The new concept is the retailer’s latest since first introducing the neighborhood market small format concept in August 2018 with the opening of Bridge …

Continue Reading
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Newspeoplerestaurants

Starbucks Names Next Chief Executive Officer

by Katie Lee

Seattle — Starbucks has selected Laxman Narasimhan as its next chief executive officer and a member of the Starbucks board of directors. Narasimhan will join Starbucks as incoming CEO on October 1, 2022 after relocating from London to the Seattle area and will work closely with Howard Schultz, interim CEO, before assuming the CEO role and joining the board on April 1, 2023. Narasimhan brings nearly 30 years of experience leading and advising global consumer-facing brands. Known for his considerable operational expertise, he has a proven track record in developing …

Continue Reading
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Newer Posts
Older Posts