Author

Katie Lee

construction and designNewspeopleretailers

Lucky California Flagship Store Readies for Reopening With New Team Members

by Katie Lee

Pleasanton, Calif. — Final touches are being made in preparation for the grand opening of Lucky California’s newly remodeled flagship store and innovation lab on May 12 in Pleasanton, Calif. The neighborhood grocery store has been extensively remodeled and rebranded from Lucky to Lucky California. The Eatery offers tri tip barbeque and juicy burgers, create your own noodle and rice bowls, familiar comfort food favorites, and fusion burritos with savory Indian, Chinese and Korean sauces. Everything is made fresh. Eatery meals can be enjoyed at the outdoor patio, taken to …

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franchise developmentNewsrestaurants

Slim Chickens Inks 10-Unit Franchise Agreement in New Mexico and El Paso, Texas

by Katie Lee

Albuquerque — Slim Chickens, a leading fast-casual franchise which features dine-in and drive-thru in the “better chicken” segment, has signed a multi-unit agreement with Dennis Ekstrom to develop 10 restaurants across New Mexico and in El Paso, Texas. The first location is slated to open in 2021. New Mexico cities being pursued by Ekstrom include Albuquerque, Santa Fe and Las Cruces. Ekstrom is a multi-unit owner of 10 Del Taco restaurants and has more than 30 years of restaurant ownership experience. “Dennis is exactly the kind of franchisee we’re seeking …

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Newspeopleretailerssecurity/loss preventionsoftware/technology

Casey’s General Stores Names Chief Information Security Officer

by Katie Lee

Ankeny, Iowa — Casey’s General Stores, Inc. has hired Paul Suarez as its chief information security officer. This is a newly created role that will lead the cybersecurity team at the fourth largest convenience retailer. Suarez will report to Adrian Butler, chief information officer. He joins the company from Walmart. “Paul’s longtime retailer experience paired with his cybersecurity expertise will take Casey’s security strategy to the next level,” says Butler. With 35 years of experience in cybersecurity, network operations and telecommunications, Suarez will provide strategic leadership and direction for Casey’s …

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franchise developmentNewsrestaurants

Mountain Mike’s Pizza Signs 75 New Store Agreements to Enter 6 New States

by Katie Lee

Newport Beach, Calif. — Mountain Mike’s Pizza, LLC, a leading family-style pizza chain for over 40 years, has started 2021 strong with first quarter same-store-sales (SSS) up 23.4% over 2020. This news closely follows Mountain Mike’s reporting that 2020 was the brand’s best year ever in terms of sales and growth. Along with steady sales increases in Q1, Mountain Mike’s opened six new restaurants and secured 13 new franchise commitments consisting of three multi-unit out-of-state agreements to open restaurants in Utah, Idaho and Colorado. Additional franchise deals are in development …

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Newspeopleretailerssoftware/technology

Albertsons Companies Names New Chief Data Officer

by Katie Lee

Boise, Idaho — Albertsons Companies, Inc. has hired Danielle Crop to join the company as senior vice president and chief data officer. Crop was most recently chief data officer at American Express. Crop will be responsible for building and executing a world-class central data strategy that delivers benefits for the customer regardless of whether they shop in store or on the company’s digital platforms. Crop’s work will use machine learning and advanced data science capabilities to enhance performance across our businesses and markets. “Today, excellence in delighting customers can be …

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franchise developmentNewsrestaurants

Aloha Poke Plans to Enter Texas with 11 Locations in Houston

by Katie Lee

Houston — Aloha Poke Co., a premier fast-casual poke restaurant concept, plans 11 new locations in the Houston metro market by 2025. The Houston expansion nearly doubles Aloha Poke’s total franchise location holdings and is the first move into the Texas market. This first wave of development in the Lone Star State leads a long term development plan across other metroplex areas including Dallas/Fort Worth and Austin. “Aloha Poke Co is excited and extremely proud to launch into Texas with these first stores already in development within the Houston market,” …

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green newsNewsretailers

Williams-Sonoma, Inc. Aims to Achieve Carbon-Neutral Operations by 2025

by Katie Lee

San Francisco — In honor of Earth Day on April 22, Williams-Sonoma, Inc. is setting a science-based target (SBT) for emissions reduction across its value chain by 2030, including the goal of carbon neutrality in the company’s own operations by 2025. Williams-Sonoma is one of the first in its industry to work with the Science-Based Targets initiative to reduce its emissions in line with climate science. Aligned with the Paris Climate Agreement, the company has set a SBT that will help keep global warming below 2 degrees Celsius to avoid …

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franchise developmentNewsrestaurants

Dickey’s Barbecue Pit Opens 60 New Locations in Q1

by Katie Lee

Dallas — Throughout the first quarter, Dickey’s Barbecue Pit signed 67 franchise agreements to its pipeline throughout Colorado, Florida, Texas, Washington, California, Tennessee, Arizona, Michigan, Montana and Oklahoma. Among the deals, existing franchisees in Cincinnati and Southern California signed on to further expand their Dickey’s portfolio. Along with executing several development deals, the family-owned franchise opened 60 new locations across 13 states during the first quarter. Additionally, Dickey’s celebrated the revitalization of its non-traditional franchise model when its 95th convenience store location opened in Carrollton, Texas. “With 80 years of …

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energy managementHVAC/RIndustry Voices

Fresh Air Solutions

by Katie Lee

— By Steve Peldiak — Communal air solutions in retail and restaurant locations.   Sanitation conversations around indoor air quality (IAQ) at restaurants and retail locations will be critical to their longevity and bottom lines. 2021 has seen the arrival of a vaccine, however many customers may remain hesitant to dine or shop inside even with continued mask mandates. Indoor air quality improvements completed and communicated to both employees and patrons will put many at ease as the path to public-wide vaccination is paved and businesses begin to fully reopen. …

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Industry Voices

Maintain Your Brand

by Katie Lee

— By Trip Jobe — How physically maintaining your brand/facility will pay off in 2021.   Over the past 30 years, I’ve witnessed and faced the budget pressures most of us have all experienced in 2020. Two areas, that I know well, are usually the first places companies cut back: marketing and maintenance. “Push off today what can wait until tomorrow” is usually the refrain from senior management. “Don’t do anything that will impact safety or sales, but please hold the line.” After 9 months of this approach, your valuable …

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