Author

Katie Lee

Newsrestaurants

Pokemoto Continues Non-Traditional Expansion with New College Locations in Northern Virginia

by Katie Lee

League City, Texas — Pokemoto, a growing Hawaiian poke bowl concept and subsidiary of Muscle Maker Inc., has opened as the exclusive food and meal provider at four new locations along with two coffee shops on campuses at Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA). The NightHawk Cafés will offer various grab-and-go menu items, coffee, breakfast, a snack on the run, or dine-in options with a poke bowl, burrito or salad. The four new Pokemoto NOVA locations in Alexandria, Loudoun, Manassas and Woodbridge, Va., will continue Muscle Maker’s non-traditional growth strategy and …

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Newspeopleretailers

Chico’s FAS, Inc. Appoints Chief Financial Officer

by Katie Lee

Fort Myers, Fla. — Chico’s FAS, Inc. has appointed Patrick J. (PJ) Guido as its new chief financial officer, effective September 20, 2021. He will report directly to Molly Langenstein, chief executive officer and president of Chico’s FAS. Guido has more than 20 years of finance and operations experience and has held numerous executive leadership roles at premier retail and consumer companies. He most recently served as senior vice president and chief financial officer at Asbury Automotive Group, Inc., one of the largest automotive retail and service companies in the …

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Newsrestaurantsretailers

Saladworks and Frutta Bowls Debut First U.S. Walmart Location

by Katie Lee

Rochester, N.Y. — WOWorks, the parent company of health-centric fast-casual brands Saladworks, Frutta Bowls, Garbanzo Mediterranean Fresh and The Simple Greek, has debuted its first location in a Walmart grocery store in Rochester, N.Y. The ghost kitchen location will include Saladworks, the nation’s leading fast-casual entrée salad franchise, and Frutta Bowls, the nation’s fastest-growing superfoods café, alongside other mouthwatering brands. This opening comes after WOWorks signed a deal for 90 non-traditional retail presences with Ghost Kitchen Brands in the spring of this year. Saladworks currently has over 150 locations across …

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Newspeoplerestaurants

Tropical Smoothie Cafe Names Chief Operations Officer

by Katie Lee

Atlanta — Tropical Smoothie Cafe, a leading national fast-casual cafe franchise known for its better-for-you smoothies and food with a tropical twist, has promoted its former senior vice president of operations, Richard Key, to chief operations officer, effective immediately. Key has served on the brand’s senior leadership team since joining the company in 2018. In his new role, he will help grow and evolve field support teams and lead internal initiatives that prioritize the Tropical Smoothie Cafe guest experience and franchise profitability. “Over the past 3 years, Richard and his …

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fire protectionIndustry Voices

Extinguish the Threat

by Katie Lee

— By Chad Connor — The importance of checking your restaurant’s fire safety.   Restaurant kitchens have many places where fires can occur. Business owners need to be aware of potential fire hazards and take preventative steps when it comes to fire safety. Following a few simple safety tips can prevent fires and keep employees and patrons safe in your establishment. Conducting Regular Inspections Regular inspections are the first step in fire safety for restaurants. Inspections of fire safety equipment must be done annually by a professional for approval by …

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Newspeopleretailers

Hibbett Promotes its Chief Merchant to Executive Vice President

by Katie Lee

Birmingham, Ala. — Hibbett, Inc., an athletic-inspired fashion retailer, has promoted Jared Briskin to executive vice president, merchandising, effective immediately. A 23-year veteran of the company, Briskin will be responsible for merchandising, planning, allocation and supply chain. Briskin joined the company in April 1998 as a buyer and has held positions of increasing responsibility over the years in such leadership roles as vice president over various aspects of the business from June 2004 through September 2014 to senior vice president and chief merchant since September 2014. “Jared has been a …

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construction and designfranchise developmentNewsrestaurants

Another Broken Egg Cafe Sales Rise 20% From Pre-Pandemic Levels

by Katie Lee

Orlando, Fla. — Another Broken Egg Cafe, a full-service breakfast, brunch and lunch franchise, has seen its focus on seasonality, service and guest experience both on- and off-premise pay off this year. Same-store sales are up nearly 20% from pre-pandemic levels, and that momentum is attracting new franchisees as well as inspiring many of the brand’s existing franchisees to develop more locations. “Between our sales increases and new cafe openings, we expect system-wide growth to exceed 35% this year,” says Paul Macaluso, president and CEO of Another Broken Egg Cafe. …

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franchise developmentNewsretailers

Pet Supplies Plus Commits to Growth with 69 New Stores in Development

by Katie Lee

Livonia, Mich. — Pet Supplies Plus, the largest independent pet retailer in North America, has signed 69 new store commitments year-to-date for 2021. From these 69 new store commitments, the pet retailer will continue to grow its footprint in hundreds of neighborhoods across the country including the following states: Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Nebraska, New York, Minnesota, Missouri and Texas. “It’s incredible to watch our franchise lead in one of the hottest industries out there. Not only are our existing owners increasing their number of locations, but we’re also adding new …

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Industry Voicesrestaurantssoftware/technology

JLL Survey: Frontline QSR Workers Favored Over Technology by Consumers

by Katie Lee

57% of consumers believe restaurant employees have more control over their experience than the brand itself.   Chicago — Labor demand is continuing to outstrip labor supply by a wider margin despite record job openings. The hospitality industry is just one industry taking hard hits, with some restaurants reporting temporarily closing or cutting hours due to the labor shortage. But just as restaurants look to robotics, apps and digital tools to fill the voids in the frontline workforce, consumers are pressing pause, expressing their desire for more human experiences. Big Red …

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flooring/floor careIndustry Voicesjan/san

Setting the Stage

by Katie Lee

— By Joe Bshero — Common carpet care myths debunked.   In today’s competitive marketplace, it’s important to give retail customers a quality shopping experience. Some companies do so by focusing on easy-to-navigate store layouts, while others offer in-store dining and soothing music to create a pleasant atmosphere. Cleanliness is also key, and its role is only increasing. The novel coronavirus pandemic has placed added stress on managers by imposing demanding cleaning standards meant to protect all building occupants. As more states reopen, retailers must understand that there will be …

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