Author

Katie Lee

franchise developmentNewsrestaurants

FBG Bid Co. Acquires FAT Brands Assets for $595 Million

by Katie Lee

Los Angeles — FBG Bid Co. has completed the acquisition of substantially all assets of certain subsidiaries of FAT Brands Inc. for approximately $595 million. The transaction included 13 restaurant brands spanning more than 1,700 locations worldwide: Round Table Pizza®, Fatburger, Marble Slab Creamery, Johnny Rockets, Fazoli’s, Great American Cookies, Buffalo’s Cafe & Express, Hurricane Grill & Wings, Pretzelmaker, Native Grill & Wings, and Ponderosa and Bonanza Steakhouses, in addition to the Georgia-based manufacturing facility that supports Great American Cookies and Pretzelmaker. The transaction was approved by the United States …

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energy managementfacilities managementgreen newsHVAC/RIndustry Voicesrestaurantssoftware/technologyvendors

The Energy Intelligence Model

by Katie Lee

— By Matt Browning — How QSR chains are moving beyond reactive maintenance. For a quick-service restaurant operator managing hundreds of locations, equipment failure is never just a maintenance problem — it’s a guest experience problem, a food safety problem and a bottom-line problem…all at once. A malfunctioning HVAC unit on a hot summer afternoon sends customers out the door. A refrigeration anomaly discovered too late means spoiled inventory and potential health code violations. An emergency repair call on a holiday weekend carries a price tag that can erase a …

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construction and designNewsretailers

CITY Furniture Rebrands as CITY HOME

by Katie Lee

Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. — South Florida-based CITY Furniture, a trusted name in home for more than 50 years, is transitioning to CITY HOME, expanding beyond furniture to become Florida’s first stop for all things home. CITY HOME is a new retail concept that brings together furniture, home products and services into a single, integrated shopping experience. The expanded concept brings more categories under one roof, including appliances, closets, home electronics, bath, fitness, kitchens and a full connected home assortment. Customers can also access an expanded suite of services, including interior …

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construction and designfranchise developmentNewsrestaurants

Marco’s Pizza Expands HQ with New Operations Center in Orlando

by Katie Lee

Toledo, Ohio — Marco’s Pizza is developing a new Operations Center of Excellence in Orlando, Fla., a strategic investment designed to elevate franchisee training, strengthen operational execution and support the brand’s continued national and international expansion. The new facility represents an extension of the company’s headquarters in Toledo, Ohio. Construction is currently underway, with the facility expected to open in fall 2026. Located at 222 South Orange Ave. in downtown Orlando, the approximately 14,030-square-foot center will serve as a corporate office, training destination and operational hub. Backed by an investment …

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construction and designNewsremodelsretailers

James Avery to Debut New Store Experience

by Katie Lee

Kerrville, Texas — As retailers rethink the role of physical stores in a more connected, convenience-driven marketplace, James Avery Artisan Jewelry® is introducing a new retail experience designed around what cannot be fully replicated online: personal service, product discovery, customization and a sense of place. The family-owned jewelry retailer will debut its new store experience at Schertz Station in Schertz, Texas, near the brand’s Hill Country roots and along the fast-growing I-35 corridor between San Antonio and New Braunfels. The location gives James Avery a close-to-home market to introduce a …

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franchise developmentNewsrestaurants

Yum Brands Agrees to Sell Pizza Hut in Two Separate Transactions Totaling $2.7 Billion

by Katie Lee

Louisville, Ky. — Yum! Brands Inc., the Louisville-based operator of the Pizza Hut, Taco Bell and KFC franchises, has entered into an agreement to sell the Pizza Hut chain across two separate transactions with a combined value of $2.7 billion. LongRange Capital, a private equity firm based in Stamford, Conn., has agreed to purchase Pizza Hut outside of mainland China for approximately $1.5 billion. The company is financing its acquisition using funds from UBS Investment Bank. Yum China Holdings Inc., which is based in Shanghai and was spun off from …

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Newspeopleretailerssupply chain

Kohl’s Names New Chief Operating Officer

by Katie Lee

Menomonee Falls, Wis. — Kohl’s has named Elliott Rodgers as its new chief operating officer, reporting to CEO Michael J. Bender. In this role, Rodgers, who brings more than 20 years of strong cross-functional leadership experience, will be responsible for Kohl’s enterprise operations, including its nearly 1,200 stores, global supply chain and distribution centers, procurement and loss prevention. He will assume the role on Sept. 9, 2026. “We are thrilled to welcome Elliott to our senior leadership team as we continue our transformational efforts to drive the business forward,” says …

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construction and designNewsrestaurants

KFC Launches its Next Chapter Globally, Including New Restaurant Design

by Katie Lee

Plano, Texas — As the global appetite for chicken grows, KFC is answering the call by challenging the sameness across quick-service chicken. In addition to evolving its food and beverage offerings, KFC is offering a new restaurant design. In the coming weeks, this global rollout is expected to expand across Australia and the U.S., with additional markets following through 2026. Beginning this summer, the brand is set to open a new generation of spaces designed for hospitality, not just efficiency — with environments that feel more dynamic and adapt throughout …

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facilities managementNewssoftware/technologyvendors

Vixxo Facility Solutions Wins ConnexFM 2026 Supplier of the Year Award

by Katie Lee

Scottsdale, Ariz. — Vixxo Facility Solutions was named the 2026 ConnexFM Supplier of the Year after receiving multiple client nominations telling a consistent story of partnership. “Vixxo exemplifies what this award is all about, a supplier that raises the bar for the entire industry,” says Bill Yanek, CEO of ConnexFM. “Their commitment to innovation, accountability and execution is exactly the kind of excellence we are proud to recognize.” That recognition reflects real results in the field. Each nomination described the same experience: a partner that shows up, solves problems and …

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construction and designNewsrestaurantsretailers

Sprouts Farmers Market to Open Buddy Brew Coffee Cafes Inside 10 Stores

by Katie Lee

Phoenix — Sprouts Farmers Market has formed a new partnership with Buddy Brew Coffee, a Tampa, Fla.‑based specialty coffee company, to open 10 Buddy Brew Coffee cafes this summer inside select Sprouts stores across the Tampa Bay and Southwest Florida region. Launching inside select Sprouts stores across Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco and Sarasota counties, the cafes expand Sprouts’ in‑store coffee program, building on successful launches with local coffee roasters in Southern California (Klatch Coffee) and Arizona (PRESS Coffee). The partnership introduces Buddy Brew Coffee to Pinellas and Pasco counties for the …

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