Author

Katie Lee

Newspeopleretailers

IT’SUGAR Names New Chief Operating Officer

by Katie Lee

Fort Lauderdale, Fla. — IT’SUGAR, one of the largest specialty candy retailers in North America with 96 retail locations, has appointed Mike Koempel as chief operating officer. He brings to the company extensive experience in strategy, finance, operations, IT and merchandise planning and allocation. Most recently, Koempel spent over 3 years at multibillion-dollar retailer Victoria Secret Lingerie as executive vice president/chief operating officer from 2017 to 2020. Prior to Victoria Secret Lingerie, Koempel served as executive vice president/chief financial officer at L Brands’ Mast Global Division from 2007 to 2017. …

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Newsrestaurants

Toasted Yolk Café Expansion Reaches North Texas

by Katie Lee

Southlake, Texas — The first Toasted Yolk Café is coming to North Texas this fall. Paul Vernon at Henry S. Miller brokered the transaction. Located in Southlake’s Gateway Plaza Shopping Center, the 4,056-square-foot breakfast and lunch restaurant is slated to open late fall 2021 after renovations to the existing space and patio. Yolked LLC, a new franchisee group from Houston and Dallas, signed the lease. Ryan Patterson of Yolked LLC and his team scouted more than 50 locations across Dallas-Fort Worth and kept returning to Southlake, where they felt there …

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Newsretailers

Wilson Sporting Goods Opens First Brick-and-Mortar Retail Location

by Katie Lee

Chicago — Wilson Sporting Goods Co. has opened its first-ever retail location in its hometown of Chicago. Wilson plans to open additional flagship stores in New York, Los Angeles, Beijing and Shanghai in the coming months. The Chicago store opened on July 15. “With 108 years of history here in Chicago, it was only right that we start this next chapter in our hometown,” says Joe Dudy, president of Wilson Sporting Goods Co. “Wilson is so proud to be Chicago-based, and we hope this new store brings our city that …

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facilities managementNewsrestaurantssoftware/technologyvendors

86 Repairs Secures $7.3 Million in Additional Funding

by Katie Lee

Chicago — Chicago-based restaurant tech company 86 Repairs has closed an additional $5.3 million from investors including TDF Ventures, Gordon Food Service (GFS), MATH Venture Partners, Revolution and Cleveland Avenue. The new financing brings the company’s funding in this round to $7.3 million, and total capital raised to $8.8 million to date. Disrupting the $26 billion restaurant equipment repair and maintenance (R&M) industry, 86 Repairs automates the end-to-end repair and maintenance process for restaurants and provides actionable insights to improve back-of-house operations. The end result is significant time and cost …

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franchise developmentNewsrestaurants

The Dolly Llama Inks First Franchising Deals to Begin National Expansion

by Katie Lee

Los Angeles — The Dolly Llama, the popular waffle and ice cream concept that currently dominates the Los Angeles dessert-scene with its own unique take on Hong Kong’s iconic Bubble Waffle, has inked two franchise deals for Tyler, Texas, and Jacksonville, Fla. The two deals are the first for the newly franchised concept, which was founded in 2017 by French restaurateur and entrepreneur Samuel Baroux and real estate leader Eric Shomof, since partnering with DCV Franchise Group in late 2019. The Tyler, Texas, deal includes one brick-and-mortar location with locals …

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Industry Voicesjan/san

New Standard of Safety

by Katie Lee

— By David Vigil — Embracing consumer demand for a new standard of safety and hygiene.   Retail and restaurant leaders understand the importance of customer service, but amidst the events of the past 12 months, a greater focus has been placed on safety and hygiene — especially as more consumers begin to venture out of their bubble, governors across the country begin easing restrictions, and the vaccine becomes more accessible. To rebuild confidence internally with employees, and externally with customers, facilities must establish protocols that sufficiently address pandemic-related safety …

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Newspeopleretailers

Luxury Outerwear Retailer Mackage Appoints New CEO

by Katie Lee

Montreal — Mackage, the luxury outerwear specialist, has appointed New York City fashion veteran Tanya Golesic as chief executive officer. She joins the Canadian retailer from Jimmy Choo. Golesic is a Canadian who has lived and worked in New York for over 20 years and brings a rare depth of global high fashion experience to Mackage, underscoring the company’s commitment to worldwide growth in the luxury space. “Tanya’s results-driven approach will build brand desirability through innovative digital marketing, focused product assortments and international expansion in key markets. All will serve …

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NewsrestaurantsUncategorized

Carl’s Jr. Celebrates 80th Anniversary

by Katie Lee

Nashville, Tenn. — Carl’s Jr.® is turning 80 years old this year. Since Carl Karcher opened his first hot dog cart in Los Angeles in 1941, Carl’s Jr. has since grown into an innovative brand with an international footprint. “As a team member who has been with CKE Restaurants for more than 30 of Carl’s Jr.’s extraordinary 80-year history, I have had the honor to hold a front row seat to many iconic milestones this brand has achieved thanks to Carl Karcher’s dream,” says Ned Lyerly, CEO of CKE Restaurants …

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Newspeopleretailerssoftware/technology

Big Lots Appoints EVP, Chief Technology Officer

by Katie Lee

Columbus, Ohio — Big Lots, Inc. has appointed Gurmeet Singh as executive vice president, chief technology officer of Big Lots, effective July 12, 2021. He succeeds Stew Wenerstrom, who will be officially retiring in October following a transition period. Singh will report directly to Bruce Thorn, president and chief executive officer of Big Lots. Singh has more than 30 years of experience in information technology. Most recently, he was the group chief digital officer at the Al Futtaim Group in Dubai, leading all technology, data and digital efforts for the …

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franchise developmentNewspeoplerestaurants

JRI Hospitality Opens New Office, Hires Senior Leadership

by Katie Lee

Wichita, Kan. — JRI Hospitality, which operates four restaurant brands spread throughout the country, has opened a new 3,286-square-foot office in Wichita, Kan., to help continue its growth trajectory and added two senior-level executives who will work there. Mark Scholler has joined the company as its new chief development officer. Scholler previously served as senior vice president of franchise development for Freddy’s LLC — the parent company of the Freddy’s brand — since 2007. He has almost 50 years of restaurant experience over the course of his career. Scholler had …

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