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Katie Lee

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Blain’s Farm & Fleet to Transform Supply Chain Operations with RELEX

by Katie Lee

Atlanta — Blain’s Farm & Fleet, the most trusted name in Midwestern retail, has selected RELEX Solutions, a leading provider of unified supply chain and retail planning technology, to improve its forecasting, allocation and replenishment operations. Blain’s will boost efficiency and enhance customer experience across its distribution center and 45 stores with RELEX. This initiative will bring together delivery, advisory and industry experience from Logic, part of Accenture, with the RELEX AI-driven technology. As Blain’s Farm & Fleet continues to expand and to evolving consumer expectations, it saw the need …

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construction and designNewsretailers

Rural King Opens First Store in Mississippi

by Katie Lee

Mattoon, Ill. — Rural King, a family-owned retailer dedicated to the rural lifestyle, is opening its first Mississippi store in Columbus. With a legacy spanning over six decades, Rural King has established itself as a cornerstone of the communities it serves. The new Mississippi location uses innovative features designed to enhance the shopping experience, including mobile and self-checkouts, while maintaining the personal touch that defines Rural King’s customer service. “We are thrilled to open our first Mississippi store in Columbus,” says Steve Barbarick, Rural King CEO. “This is an exciting …

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construction and designfranchise developmentNewsrestaurants

Donatos Pizza Aims to Develop 50+ Locations Across the Carolinas

by Katie Lee

Columbus, Ohio — Donatos Pizza is partnering with new franchise owners to begin adding more than 50 new locations across the Carolinas over the next several years. Cities in North Carolina include Charlotte, Raleigh, Wilmington, High Point and Greensboro. Cities in South Carolina include Greenville, Spartanburg and Columbia. In North Carolina, Donatos already serves guests through 16 Red Robin locations. South Carolina has Donatos Edge to Edge® pizzas available in four Red Robin locations in addition to four traditional restaurants in Summerville, Boiling Springs, West Ashley and Fort Mill. “This …

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Newspeopleretailers

Five Below Appoints New CFO and Chief Merchandising Officer

by Katie Lee

Philadelphia — Five Below, Inc., an extreme-value retailer, has appointed Daniel Sullivan as chief financial officer (CFO) and Michelle Israel as chief merchandising officer (CMO), effective Oct. 6, 2025. Both executives will report to Winnie Park, chief executive officer. Sullivan will be responsible for Five Below’s financial operations and related strategies, overseeing its finance, information technology (IT) and asset protection teams. Israel will be responsible for merchandising, planning, allocation, product sourcing, as well as product development, quality and compliance. “We are thrilled to welcome Dan and Michelle to the Five …

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franchise developmentNewspeoplerestaurants

Happy Joe’s Expands Leadership Team

by Katie Lee

Davenport, Iowa — Happy Joe’s Pizza & Ice Cream has added several seasoned leaders to its executive team, including Jenny Culp as vice president of purchasing and supply chain and Christopher Anschutz as vice president of restaurant operations. Culp has played a major role within the brand’s operations and supply chain since 2007, most recently serving as the director of purchasing and supply chain. In her new role as vice president, she will oversee sourcing, vendor partnerships and distribution strategies that position franchisees for success while ensuring consistency, quality and …

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ADA complianceconstruction and designNewsProduct Spotlightretailerssoftware/technology

Target Launches First-of-its-Kind Accessible Self-Checkout Nationwide

by Katie Lee

Minneapolis — Target Corporation has launched a first-of-its-kind accessible self-checkout experience, designed with and for guests with disabilities, including those who are blind or have low vision. Beginning this holiday season and continuing into early 2026, the solution will roll out to self-checkout stations across Target stores nationwide. “This season brings so much joy for our guests, but we know it can be overwhelming, too. That is why even small wins matter — like an accessible self-checkout that helps guests shop their way, with confidence,” says Adrienne Costanzo, executive vice …

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construction and designfranchise developmentNewsrestaurants

FEP Invests in 7 Brew Franchisee, Signs Development Deal for Over 200 Units

by Katie Lee

New York City — Private investment firm Franchise Equity Partners (FEP) has acquired a majority stake in 7 Crew, the second-largest franchise owner of 7 Brew Drive-Thru Coffee. As part of the agreement, FEP will continue to execute 7 Crew’s existing development agreement with 7 Brew, which includes opening more than 200 new stands in addition to the 50 currently operating. FEP has taken a selective approach to investing in the quick-service restaurant (QSR) sector. After evaluating numerous opportunities, 7 Brew stood out as a differentiated, category-defining brand. 7 Brew …

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franchise developmentNewsrestaurants

Shake Shack to Make Hawaii Debut in 2027

by Katie Lee

New York City — Shake Shack Inc. has partnered with Union MAK Corporation, a leading Hawaii-based company with decades of experience across hospitality and retail, to bring the Shake Shack experience to the Aloha State with the first Shack set to open on Oahu in 2027. Union MAK is a Honolulu-based company deeply rooted in the Hawaii community through its restaurant operations. Union MAK’s proven track record, commitment to excellence and dedication to local communities makes it an ideal partner to introduce Shake Shack to Hawaii. “Bringing Shake Shack to …

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managementNewsproperty managementretailers

JLL Secures Property Management for 10 Retail Centers in Southeast

by Katie Lee

Miami — JLL has been selected to lead on-site property management services for 10 open-air retail centers across Florida and South Carolina, marking a significant milestone in the firm’s nationwide growth strategy. The newly added centers, recently acquired by 11North Partners (11North) and Bain Capital Real Estate, collectively span more than 1 million square feet of gross leasable area with occupancy rates exceeding 93%. The addition of these high-performing properties is part of a broader expansion of JLL’s retail property management portfolio, which has grown by 18 new centers in …

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construction and designNewsrestaurants

Chipotle to Open First Restaurants in Asia in 2026

by Katie Lee

Newport Beach, Calif. — Chipotle Mexican Grill has signed a joint venture to open restaurants in Asia for the first time. In partnership with SPC Group, a leading South Korea-based food company, Chipotle plans to open its first restaurants in South Korea and Singapore in 2026. “With a rapidly evolving dining-out business, fueled by preferences for variety and convenience, expanding into Asia presents an incredible growth opportunity for Chipotle,” says Scott Boatwright, chief executive officer of Chipotle. “Real food prepared fast is in high demand in these markets and with …

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