Author

Katie Lee

HVAC/RIndustry Voicesrestaurantsvendors

Warming Up Winter

by Katie Lee

— By Jaime Tuinstra — How infrared heat can help fill your restaurant and breweries’ seats. As the days grow shorter and temperatures begin to drop, service or entertainment establishments that utilize outdoor seating areas face a challenge: How to keep guests comfortable and extend the outdoor dining season. Providing comfortable al fresco dining or social options, even when temperatures drop, can significantly boost revenue and customer satisfaction. Thus, in lieu of hoodies or jackets, when there’s a nip in the air, addressing comfort proactively is essential for customer satisfaction …

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exterior services/landscapingfacilities managementIndustry Contentpest controlVendor Spotlightvendors

Superior Facility Service Group: Signature Vendor Spotlight

by Katie Lee

— Interview with Carol L. Carey and Pamela M. Roberts — R&R: Where are you based, and how long has Superior been around? Carol Carey: Superior Facility Service Group, based in Kathleen, Georgia, is an 11-year-old family-owned company specializing in commercial maintenance and repair, bird control and prevention, and disaster restoration. We provide top-notch care for businesses of all sizes, ensuring accuracy, quick response times and unmatched value. Our mission is to enhance safety, efficiency and comfort in commercial properties. R&R:  An FM company co-owned by two women in an …

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jan/sanNewsrestaurantssupply chainvendors

Imperial Dade Acquires Athens Janitor Supply Company and Chittom Industries

by Katie Lee

Jersey City, N.J., and Athens, Ga. — Imperial Dade, a leading North American distributor of foodservice packaging supplies, industrial products and janitorial supplies, has acquired Athens Janitor Supply Company, Inc. and Chittom Industries, Inc. The transaction represents the 97th acquisition for Imperial Dade under the leadership of Robert and Jason Tillis, chairman and CEO of Imperial Dade, respectively. Financial terms of the private transaction were not disclosed. Athens Janitor Supply (AJS) was purchased in 1979 by Jim Chittom Sr. The company has three locations in Athens, Rome and Augusta, Ga. …

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construction and designNewsretailers

BJ’s Wholesale Club Plans to Expand in Texas & Add 25-30 Clubs in 2025

by Katie Lee

Marlborough, Mass. — BJ’s Wholesale Club plans to open 25-30 clubs over the next 2 fiscal years, including several clubs set for the Dallas-Fort Worth area starting in early 2026. BJ’s Wholesale Club is a membership-based retailer that has been delivering value and convenience to families for over 40 years. “We are eager to continue our expansion by bringing unbeatable value, convenience and assortment to the Dallas-Fort Worth community,” says Bob Eddy, chairman and CEO, BJ’s Wholesale Club. “Economic expansion and a growing population make Texas a great fit for …

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franchise developmentNewspeoplerestaurants

CKE Restaurants Appoints New Chief Executive Officer

by Katie Lee

Franklin, Tenn. — CKE Restaurants Holdings, Inc., parent company of Carl’s Jr.® and Hardee’s®, has appointed Joe Guith as chief executive officer, effective immediately. He joins CKE from Church’s Texas Chicken. Guith arrives at CKE with extensive experience in franchising, restaurant management and the expansion of consumer brands. Previously, he served as CEO of Church’s Texas Chicken, where he successfully repositioned the brand and built stronger relationships with the franchisee community, leading to significant improvements in unit-level profitability, record sales and traffic growth. These changes led to expanding the Church’s …

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construction and designNewsretailers

Wawa to Open First Ohio Store During 61st Anniversary in April

by Katie Lee

Liberty Township, Ohio — Wawa, Inc. has named April 16, 2025 as the grand opening of the first Wawa store in the state of Ohio, kickstarting the retailer’s expansion into the Midwest. Located in Liberty Township, Ohio, this is the first of 8-10 Wawa stores slated to open in Ohio by year’s end. Not only does this grand opening date mark Wawa’s debut in its 10th state, but it coincides with the founding date of the first Wawa store that opened on April 16, 1964 in Delaware County, Pa. “We …

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construction and designenergy managementgreen building/LEEDgreen newsNewsrestaurants

Largest Solar-Powered Starbucks in the U.S. Now Open

by Katie Lee

Gilbert, Ariz. — Mercy Center, a highly anticipated 11-acre mixed-use development in Gilbert, Ariz., is now open. Developed and leased by Diversified Partners, the new community hub includes Arizona’s largest Starbucks — and the largest solar-powered Starbucks in the country. The two-story design redefines eco-conscious, customer-centric retail. This first-of-its-kind Starbucks location features a rooftop solar array supplying 80% to 100% of the store’s energy needs. Excess power is fed back into the grid to support nearby homes. Designed for efficiency and accessibility, the flagship Starbucks includes a 23-car drive-thru, designated …

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construction and designNewsretailers

Whole Foods Market Expands International Footprint with New U.K. Location

by Katie Lee

London — Whole Foods Market is expanding internationally, with a new store planned in London that will open on March 25, 2025. The store is the first new U.K. location for Whole Foods Market since 2014 and will serve as a premium retailer for the historic and celebrated destination of London’s King’s Road in Chelsea. “Whole Foods Market has roots deeply planted in the U.K., and we are thrilled to be bringing more natural and organic food to this market with the opening of our new King’s Road store this …

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franchise developmentNewspeoplerestaurants

A&W Restaurants Promotes New CEO and President

by Katie Lee

Lexington, Ky. — A&W Restaurants, an all-American QSR with over 100 years of experience in business, has promoted Betsy Schmandt to chief executive officer and president of A&W Restaurants. Previously serving as the chief operating officer and president for the brand, Schmandt will inherit the responsibility from former CEO, Kevin Bazner, who will continue his tenure as chairman. Schmandt spent the last 18 months as COO and president of A&W Restaurants where she led day-to-day operations, ensuring efficiency, productivity and alignment with the businesses’ long term strategic goals. Prior to …

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construction and designNewsremodelsretailerssoftware/technologysupply chain

Target Plans to Open Approximately 20 New Stores in 2025

by Katie Lee

Minneapolis — At its financial community meeting in early March, Target Corporation outlined how ongoing investments will aim to accelerate its strategy and drive billions of dollars of profitable sales growth across its multi-channel business by 2030. Plans for 2025 and beyond include: • Elevating shopping with technology: The retailer will innovate with search, social and data-driven personalization. That includes enhancing solutions powered by artificial intelligence (AI) that offer more relevant product recommendations, optimize search results and integrate with social media trends. • New stores and remodels: Through its ongoing …

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