— By Darren Waxman — Retail has changed forever. It’s time to make a pandemic pivot. The COVID-19 pandemic has drastically changed the way American’s interact, communicate, work, shop, and mingle. Social distancing has instantly become the new normal, toilet paper has become a scarcity, while Netflix and Disney+ are now considered primary needs. The spread of the coronavirus has spawned consumers to panic buy items virtually overnight, which in turn has severely disrupted supply chains and caused shortages of everyday items. Retailers and restaurants that were not operating …
— By Adam Walker — As the foodservice industry changes, fire protection technology offers smarter, more scalable solutions with electric detection for complex cooking environments. Today’s commercial kitchens are evolving to meet consumer demands. Dining destinations throughout the world are seeing the rise of large-scale, multi-kitchen foodservice operations, driven by both consumers’ need for convenience and an increasing desire for new and unique food experiences. Certain types of complex kitchens have seen an especially increased demand recently with more consumers using food delivery services as part of their efforts …
Manhattan Beach, Calif. — Skechers is donating 1 million masks to essential workers and communities in need. Skechers is partnering with the United Way of Greater Los Angeles and more charities across the country to deliver the masks directly to those who will most benefit. The 1 million masks, which are non-medical, triple-layer surgical style, will be donated to non-profit organizations that typically do not receive PPE from government institutions, with a focus on economic hardship. This includes community and public education centers, health and rehab outreach facilities, plus homeless …
Dallas — Dickey’s Barbecue Pit is expanding its franchise opportunities to feature another non-traditional franchise model: virtual kitchens. The barbecue franchise has executed area development agreements to bring more of Dickey’s slow-smoked, Texas-style barbecue to Chicago, Houston and Orlando, as well as make its debut in Providence, R.I. All locations will serve guests via delivery through a virtual kitchen facility. The virtual kitchen model allows restaurants to maximize delivery coverage without the upfront investment that a traditional brick-and-mortar location requires. Because the facility includes a kitchen for restaurants to prepare …
London — The rock ‘n’ roll legends that are the Rolling Stones will open a world-first flagship store, ‘RS No. 9 Carnaby,’ at 9 Carnaby St. in London’s Soho, the historic London destination that is synonymous for its connection to British music and fashion culture since the 1960s. The new store, created in partnership with Bravado, Universal Music Group’s merchandise and brand management company, will feature all the hallmarks of the iconic band and include exclusive new fashion and merchandise under the ‘RS No. 9 Carnaby’ brand available in-store and …
Chattanooga, Tenn. — CBL Properties has struck a deal with its lenders on a restructuring plan that will eliminate $900 million in debt and reduce annual interest expense by $20 million. Although the official press release from CBL did not mention bankruptcy, a representative from the company told the Chattanooga Times Free Press that the company plans to use the Chapter 11 bankruptcy process to complete the restructuring. The announcement follows the company’s August 18 second-quarter earnings call, where CBL revealed that it had drawn down its entire revolving credit …
— By Danny Miller, Transformative Wave — The airborne transmission of COVID-19 has impacted many retail and restaurant facilities in their ability to safely operate indoors. As facility operators look to comply with COVID-19 safety guidance, there are three battlefronts that have arisen: disinfection, filtration and ventilation. Numerous products are being marketed and confusion can arise about what should be the priority. Disinfection Disinfection attempts to kill the virus include using products like UV-C lights or bipolar ionization. UV-C has been shown to be effective but largely on stationary …
Charlotte, N.C. — Clean Juice®, the first and most prolific USDA-certified organic juice bar franchise, has added nine new stores across the nation since July 1, 2020, continuing its rapid expansion despite the headwinds of the global COVID-19 pandemic. Clean Juice’s continued growth in a surging, health-conscious environment is attributed to the strength of its development system, its franchise support structure and the power of its brand, which is built on USDA-certified organic food and beverage offerings. Three of the newly awarded units were expansions by existing franchise partners in …
Atlanta — Edible®, a leading gift and treat destination, is reflecting on a record-breaking 6 months. A resilient and essential business, the brand has signed a total of 37 new franchise agreements since January. Now, with a larger franchise development team in place, Edible is aiming for its next ambitious growth goal: to sign 80 to 100 new franchise agreements in the U.S. and to find new franchisees for five international countries between now and the end of the year. “We have an entrepreneurial and experienced management team in place …
New York City — Rent the Runway, a New York City-based online service that provides rentals of designer clothes and accessories, will close its stores around the country in order to focus on building its digital platform, according to reports from CNBC and The Wall Street Journal. The New York City-based company will close its stores in Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco and Washington, D.C., while its flagship store in New York City will be converted into a permanent drop-off site for product distribution. CNBC reports that the company intends …