Author

Katie Lee

franchise developmentNewsretailers

Buff City Soap Expands in Atlanta with First Buckhead Store

by Katie Lee

Atlanta — Buff City Soap, a Southern-based lifestyle brand changing the way people buy their everyday soap by providing plant-based alternatives, has opened its third soap ‘makery’ in Atlanta. Located on Roswell Road in the prominent Buckhead shopping district, Buff City Soap is known for its handmade, plant-based soap and body products. The store opened in late May. Unlike supermarket alternatives, Buff City Soap creates high-quality products free of harsh chemicals, detergents, dyes, animal fats and sulfates. By giving customers the chance to see the whole making process live in …

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exterior services/landscapingIndustry Voices

Grow Into the Season

by Katie Lee

— By Lesley Dunham — [EDITOR’S NOTE: This column originally appeared in our April 2021 magazine.] Before you jump into spring, be sure to schedule a property inspection.   After the last snow melts and before you jump into spring, it is vital to organize a property inspection. Inspecting the condition of your site after the winter is an important step to putting your best foot forward. By setting up an inspection, you create an opportunity to hold your snow removal contractors accountable for any damage to your landscaping, hard …

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Newsrestaurants

First Watch Expands Footprint in Chicago

by Katie Lee

Chicago — First Watch, the award-winning brunch restaurant that made its Chicagoland debut in Oak Brook in March, continues to expand into the region with the opening of a new restaurant in the suburb of Kildeer on June 7. The new 5,605-square-foot standalone restaurant is located in the Shops at Kildeer. The brunch spot offers a unique indoor/outdoor dining space and cocktail bar, where it will serve fresh breakfast, brunch and lunch 7 days a week. “Since opening our doors in Oak Brook a few short months ago, the Chicagoland …

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Industry Voicespaintingvendors

Get With the Program

by Katie Lee

— By Chris Murphy — Planning your successful painting program.   As we begin the next season of reimage, repainting and rebranding, many facility managers will be using all their creativity to find the “magic” to maximizing budgets and facilities’ upkeep. That’s no easy task, and the answer isn’t as simple as deferring more maintenance or finding cheaper pricing. But there are tools that can minimize the challenges and ensure that your desired painting programs can move forward without breaking the bank. Utilizing a contractor who is already familiar and …

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Newsretailers

Gap’s First Quarter Sales Increase 28%, Net Sales Hit $4 Billion

by Katie Lee

San Francisco — Gap Inc., the parent company of Old Navy, Gap, Banana Republic and Athleta, released its first-quarter 2021 fiscal report showing net sales reached $4 billion, up 8% from 2019. Additionally, comparable sales were up 28% year-over-year and rose 13% since pre-pandemic 2019. The company showed strong increases in net sales at Old Navy and Athleta — 27% and 56% increase over 2019, respectively. There were declines in net sales at Gap Global (16%) and Banana Republic Global (29%). Old Navy’s comparable sales were up 35% year-over-year and …

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Newsrestaurantssoftware/technologyvendors

Yum! Brands to Acquire Technology Company Dragontail Systems

by Katie Lee

Louisville, Ky., and Perth, Australia — Yum! Brands, Inc. and Dragontail Systems Limited, an innovative provider of technology solutions for the food industry, have entered into a binding agreement under which Yum! Brands would acquire Dragontail for A$93.5 million in cash. The proposed acquisition is expected to close by the end of third quarter 2021. If successfully implemented, the addition of Dragontail to Yum! Brands’ growing technology portfolio is intended to give Yum! Brands the ability to scale Dragontail’s artificial intelligence (AI) kitchen order management and delivery technology globally. Australia-based …

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Newsrestaurants

Nathan’s Famous Acquires Arthur Treacher’s to Relaunch as Virtual Kitchen Concept

by Katie Lee

Jericho, N.Y. — Nathan’s Famous, the American tradition serving New York favorites for more than 100 years, has added Arthur Treacher’s to the brand’s portfolio, now available as a ghost kitchen concept. Arthur Treacher’s, which was founded in 1969, offers hand-dipped fish, chicken and French fries. The menu, which has been revamped by Nathan’s Famous, will highlight the brand’s traditional menu items while also featuring upgraded proteins, more contemporary builds and includes a focus on shrimp. “We are thrilled to provide operators across the country with the opportunity to add …

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Newspeopleretailers

The Container Store Fills 5 Leadership Roles with Specialty Retail Experts

by Katie Lee

Coppell, Texas — The Container Store, leading specialty retailer of storage and organization solutions and custom closets, has added five new company leaders to complement existing leadership. Four months into Satish Malhotra’s role as CEO, he has hired key leaders and added new roles: Dhritiman Saha (chief information officer), Michelle Gill (vice president of merchandising), Robert Higgins (vice president of real estate), LaTisha Brandon (senior director of diversity, equity and inclusion) and Ivet Taneva (senior director of environmental, social and governance). Saha comes from GameStop where he was the chief …

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construction and designNewsremodelsrestaurants

sweetgreen Rebrands to Reimagine the Future of Fast Food

by Katie Lee

Los Angeles — sweetgreen, the mission-driven restaurant brand serving healthy food at scale, introduces a new brand identity to reimagine fast food and speak to future generations about the importance of what they eat. The goal was to create a flexible, sustainable design system that both reflects the culture of local communities and works at scale. With this rebrand, sweetgreen aims to be a positive force on the food system by focusing on the following areas: Food: sweetgreen wants to show that fast food can be synonymous with real food. …

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exterior services/landscapingfacilities managementNewsproperty managementsnow and ice managementvendors

Powerhouse Acquires Exterior Services Management Company DENTCO

by Katie Lee

Crowley, Texas — Powerhouse, a national construction, facilities maintenance and rollout service provider, has acquired DENTCO®, a national exterior services provider headquartered in DeWitt, Mich. The 44-year-old company offers a complete suite of all-season property management solutions addressing exterior services issues for active as well as idle facilities. This deal is Powerhouse’s second major transaction, resulting in it becoming one of the four largest national managed services companies in the exterior space. As a result of the partnership, all Powerhouse Exterior Services Management (ESM) programs will be powered by DENTCO, …

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