Author

Katie Lee

Newspeopleretailers

Independent Appliance Retailer Recruits 2 Executives to Leadership Team

by Katie Lee

La Habra, Calif. — Howard’s, Southern California’s premier independent appliance retailer, has added Joy Banducci and Daryl Massy to its senior leadership team. Banducci joins the company as chief financial officer & technology officer, and Massy as senior vice president & chief merchant. “Banducci brings more than 20 years of experience in finance, systems, IT and project management/operations,” says John Riddle, CEO of Howard’s. She comes to the company from Swann Communications where she served as CFO. Swann Communications is a global leader in smart home security systems that partners …

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franchise developmentNewsrestaurants

FAT Brands Inc. to Acquire Nestlé® Toll House® Café by Chip®

by Katie Lee

Los Angeles — FAT (Fresh. Authentic. Tasty.) Brands Inc. has agreed to acquire the franchised chain of stores known as Nestlé® Toll House® Café by Chip® from Crest Foods, Inc. and rebrand the stores as Great American Cookies. The acquisition is expected to increase FAT Brands’ foothold as a leader in the dessert category within the cookie and ice cream spaces, joining its existing Great American Cookies and Marble Slab Creamery brands. Crest Foods currently franchises approximately 85 Nestlé® Toll House® Café by Chip® cafés across the U.S. This acquisition …

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Newsretailers

Mill 77 Exchange Expands New England Footprint with Flagship Store in New Hampshire

by Katie Lee

North Hampton, N.H. — Mill 77 Holdings LLC is expanding its Mill 77 Exchange brand, enlarging its New England footprint with a new flagship store in North Hampton, N.H. This new location, a former Staples building, spans 20,000 square feet and is the brand’s largest location yet. This addition is the fifth location of the Mill 77 Brand of home furniture and décor. “There’s no doubt that our new flagship store in New Hampshire is the look and feel of our future,” says founder Gary Bergeron. “Today’s customer is looking …

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franchise developmentNewspeoplerestaurantssoftware/technology

Zaxby’s Hires CDO and Elevates Interim Chief Digital & Technology Officer

by Katie Lee

Athens, Ga. — Zaxby’s, the premium quick-service restaurant brand founded in Athens, Ga., has hired industry franchising veteran Mike Mettler as its new chief development officer, while Mike Nettles, interim chief digital & technology officer, has been elevated to the position long term. “Franchising growth requires four things. A strong business model, a solid culture, passionate franchise owners and strategic areas to develop — Zaxby’s has them all,” says Mettler. Adds Nettles: “Zaxby’s has had a great ride thus far, but digital accessibility will be our ‘secret sauce’ for the …

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Newspeopleretailers

REI Co-op Expands Leadership Team

by Katie Lee

Seattle — REI Co-op has made two additions to its senior leadership team. Sylvia Wilks joined REI on May 23 as the company’s first senior vice president, chief supply chain officer. Minnie Alexander will begin her role as vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary on May 31. “Sylvia and Minnie join our team from customer-centric organizations that are deeply focused on creating best-in-class experiences. Their talent will help REI deliver on our promise to inspire and enable a life outside for everyone by serving our members, employees and broader …

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construction and designNewsrestaurantsretailers

RH Opens RH San Francisco, a First-of-its-Kind Design and Dining Destination

by Katie Lee

Corte Madera, Calif. — RH has opened RH San Francisco, The Gallery at the Historic Bethlehem Steel Building, the crown jewel of Pier 70 and gateway to what was once one of the country’s most storied shipyards. RH San Francisco continues the brand’s foray into hospitality with The Palm Court Restaurant, a new live-fire concept set within an atrium of glass and steel with Medjool date palms and featuring two wine bars at its dual entrances — plus a landscaped Rooftop Park with views of the city skyline, Bay and …

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construction and designNewsretailers

Ghirardelli Unveils Reimagined Flagship Chocolate Experience Store

by Katie Lee

San Francisco — On May 20, Ghirardelli Chocolate Company reopened its flagship Chocolate Experience Store, located in San Francisco’s Ghirardelli Square. The space is designed to elevate the customer experience and provides new and exciting ways to celebrate the true craftmanship of chocolate making. “We are thrilled to unveil the Chocolate Experience Store to our community of chocolate lovers and hometown of San Francisco,” says Justin Reese, vice president of retail and e-commerce at Ghirardelli Chocolate Company. “Our premium chocolate, the historic architecture and the stunning views, have made Ghirardelli …

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Newsrestaurantssoftware/technologyvendors

Golden Corral Partners with SMG

by Katie Lee

Kansas City, Mo. — Service Management Group (SMG), an enterprise customer and employee experience management partner to more than 500 brands, has added a new customer experience partnership with Golden Corral. America’s largest buffet and grill restaurant brand chose SMG for its dedicated professional services, restaurant industry expertise and robust technology platform. “As our brand builds upon our comeback, and creates the strategic building blocks of our future growth, it will be critical to maintain a pulse on how our guests feel about their Golden Corral dine-in and off-premise experiences,” …

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Industry Voicesroofing

Reliable Roof Data

by Katie Lee

— By Tom Coble — How facility managers can improve the performance of their roofs without increasing spend.   We’re at an exciting time in the national commercial roofing industry (yes, I said “exciting” and “roofing” in the same sentence) — especially as it applies to the level of service experienced by consumers. Whereas retail and restaurant facilities managers used to stay awake at night wondering how they could find a roofing partner that could give them at least an average level of service and project management across their disparate …

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Cover StoryFrom The Magazinerestaurantsretailersvendors

Smart Solution

by Katie Lee

— By Meg Mason — How Lowe’s has reduced water use and its carbon footprint with smart irrigation.   Lowe’s is focused on reducing its environmental impact while also increasing the efficiency of its operations. To address these goals, Lowe’s installed HydroPoint smart irrigation controllers to optimize landscape irrigation at more than 900 of its stores. Each year, the controllers reduce water use at these facilities by about 650 million gallons, saving Lowe’s an estimated $5 million in total water costs.1 Because water treatment and pumping use a lot of …

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