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Katie Lee

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Mountain Mike’s Pizza Names New President & Chief Operating Officer

by Katie Lee

Irvine, Calif. — Mountain Mike’s Pizza, a leading family-style pizza chain for over 45 years, has named Sumi Ghosh as president and chief operating officer. With 30+ years of experience in the restaurant industry, including over 12 years of leadership at Starbucks, plus additional executive roles at global brands like Nike, Dutch Bros and Yum! Brands, Ghosh joins Mountain Mike’s at a pivotal moment for the brand, as it continues to grow an impressive national system that includes 315+ restaurants. “We are proud to welcome someone with such a notable …

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CEO of lululemon athletica inc. to Step Down

by Katie Lee

Vancouver, British Columbia — This month, lululemon athletica inc. announced that Calvin McDonald plans to step down as chief executive officer and member of the company’s board of directors, effective Jan. 31, 2026. McDonald and the board are working together to facilitate a smooth transition, and he will serve as a senior advisor to the company through March 31, 2026. The board is conducting a comprehensive search process in partnership with a leading executive search firm to identify the company’s next CEO. Additionally, Marti Morfitt, chair of the board, will …

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Twin Peaks to Debut in Connecticut with 3-Unit Franchise Agreement

by Katie Lee

Dallas — Twin Hospitality Group Inc., parent company of Twin Peaks Restaurant, has signed a new area development agreement to bring its signature Twin Peaks sports lodge experience to Connecticut. The agreement marks Twin Peaks’ debut in the state and includes development rights for three future lodges across key markets, including New Haven, Hartford, Danbury, Stamford/Bridgeport and Waterbury. The new lodges will be developed by New London Hospitality, led by business partners Deepak Verma and Kam Singh, both seasoned entrepreneurs with extensive experience in the hospitality space and multi-unit operations. …

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Pacsun Opens First International Store in Dubai; Plans 20 Stores Across the Middle East

by Katie Lee

Los Angeles — Pacsun is rolling out significant retail expansion, including U.S. locations opening across key domestic markets and its first international store opening planned for spring 2026 at the Mall of the Emirates in Dubai. The milestone arrives as Pacsun experiences a resurgence in brick-and-mortar performance in the United States, with double digit growth in in-store traffic. The debut flagship Dubai store, set for early 2026, marks Pacsun’s first international location in its 40-year history. Through an exclusive regional partnership, Majid Al Futtaim and Pacsun plan to open up …

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Captain D’s Opens in NYC, Marking First Northeast Location

by Katie Lee

New York City — Captain D’s, the nation’s leading fast-casual seafood restaurant, has officially made its debut in the Northeast with a Dec. 8 grand opening at 763 E. Gunhill Rd. in the Bronx. Founded over five decades ago in Tennessee, the Nashville-based brand is expanding up the eastern seaboard with a first location in New York. This highly anticipated arrival features a new walk-up design tailored to dense metropolitan areas with limited space and heavy foot traffic. Three additional Captain D’s are currently in development for the New York …

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lululemon Debuts New Store Design Concept

by Katie Lee

Vancouver, British Columbia — In late November 2025, lululemon debuted its new store design concept with the opening of two flagships in iconic locations around the world: SoHo, New York City, and Gangnam, Seoul. The elevated creative expression sets the blueprint for the future of lululemon retail as the company continues to invest in enhancing its guest experience globally. As part of this new playbook, the company is incorporating a breadth of considered structural materials and color palettes that are designed to take guests on a journey through the store …

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Remote Work

by Katie Lee

— By Tony Albers — How Café Zupas remotely manages energy usage in 82 stores. With 82 stores across eight states, Café Zupas restaurant chain delivers “house-made happiness” with its healthy menu designed to “nourish the good life,” which is its tagline. Headquartered in Sandy, Utah, Café Zupas sought to control energy usage at all 82 of its nationwide stores. By standardizing the installation of commercial thermostats with remote management, the company achieved reduced energy costs while maintaining indoor comfort for its customers and staff. Challenge: Remotely Manage Energy Usage …

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Chipotle Opens its 4,000th Restaurant

by Katie Lee

Newport Beach, Calif. — Chipotle Mexican Grill has opened its 4,000th restaurant, located in Manhattan, Kan. Since current CEO Scott Boatwright joined Chipotle in 2017 as chief restaurant officer, the company has grown from over 2,300 restaurants to 4,000 locations, a 70% increase in 8 years. Chipotle will open between 315 to 345 restaurants for the full year 2025. For 2026, management is anticipating 350 to 370 new restaurant openings, including 10 to 15 international partner-operated locations. The new Manhattan, Kan., restaurant includes the brand’s signature Chipotlane, a drive-thru pickup …

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Abercrombie & Fitch Co. Partners with Nedap for Inventory Visibility

by Katie Lee

  Groenlo, The Netherlands — Nedap, a global leader in item-level inventory visibility, has teamed up with Abercrombie & Fitch Co., a leading global omnichannel specialty retailer of apparel and accessories based in New Albany, Ohio. The retailer will see Nedap’s iD Cloud platform implemented across numerous Abercrombie & Fitch stores in North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa (EMEA) and the Asia-Pacific region (APAC). Following a successful 15-store pilot, Abercrombie & Fitch Co. (A&F Co.) began deploying Nedap’s iD Cloud Store solution in June 2025, with full implementation scheduled …

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Little Caesars Announces Key Leadership Promotions

by Katie Lee

  Detroit — Little Caesars has made several senior leadership promotions. Effective Jan. 1, 2026, longtime CEO Dave Scrivano has been promoted to vice chairman of Little Caesars. Additionally, Paula Vissing has been promoted to president and CEO, global retail; Ed Gleich has been promoted to president and CEO, global services; and Leigh Burnside has been promoted to chief financial officer and chief administrative officer. Vissing joined Little Caesars in 2011 and under her leadership the brand experienced its strongest period of expansion in company history. In her role since 2023 …

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