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Katie Lee

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Hungry Howie’s Pizza Selects Toast for 500-Location Footprint

by Katie Lee

Boston — Toast, the global technology platform built for restaurants and retail businesses, is bringing its enterprise technology suite to Hungry Howie’s where it will be implemented across the pizza brand’s entire footprint of approximately 500 restaurant locations. Toast’s platform supports high-volume operations while Toast’s Partner Ecosystem — with integration partners like Cartwheel, Stream and others — allow pizza operators to build the ultimate, customized tech stack to keep their pies moving, staff and guests happy and business running smoothly. Hungry Howie’s selected Toast to modernize its technology, attract new …

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Ahold Delhaize USA Names New SVP to Lead Data and AI

by Katie Lee

Salisbury, N.C. — Grocery retail group Ahold Delhaize USA has named Vipin Gopal, Ph.D., as senior vice president. In the role, he will serve as the chief data and artificial intelligence (AI) officer for the U.S. businesses. Reporting to the chief information officer, Ann Dozier, he will lead data, analytics and artificial intelligence strategy and advance Ahold Delhaize USA’s efforts to further embed data-driven decision-making and AI capabilities into its business. He will play a critical role in transforming enterprise data foundations, accelerating responsible AI adoption and enabling greater value …

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construction and designfranchise developmentmanagementNewsrestaurants

Dunkin’ to Open Hundreds of Locations in Canada

by Katie Lee

Montreal — Foodtastic, one of Canada’s leading restaurant operators, has signed a master franchising agreement with Inspire Brands to open hundreds of Dunkin’ locations across Canada. The first Dunkin’ location in Canada is expected to open in late 2026 or early 2027. Foodtastic will manage market development, franchisee recruitment and operations in Canada. Foodtastic will have exclusive rights to develop the Dunkin’ brand nationally through both corporate and franchise-operated locations. This expansion strengthens Foodtastic’s relationship with Inspire Brands and adds a globally recognized coffee and donut concept to its Canadian …

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Hounds Town USA Marks 100 Locations Systemwide with Delaware Debut

by Katie Lee

Ronkonkoma, N.Y., and Dagsboro, Del. — Hounds Town USA is celebrating a defining moment in its growth with the opening of its 100th location. The milestone location opened on April 11 in Dagsboro, Del., introducing Hounds Town’s signature pack play model to the state for the first time. Founded in 2000 by former NYPD canine handler and Nassau County Police Department commanding officer Michael S. Gould, Hounds Town has grown from a single Long Island, N.Y., location into a national system built on a simple, consistent operating model. The brand’s …

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Pappas Family of Restaurants Acquires On The Border Mexican Grill & Cantina

by Katie Lee

Dallas — Pappas Restaurants, Inc., one of the nation’s largest family-owned and operated restaurant groups, is officially welcoming its newest acquisition, On The Border Mexican Grill & Cantina, into its portfolio of dining concepts. The acquisition closed in May 2025. Under Pappas ownership over the past year, On The Border has undergone a sweeping menu overhaul rooted in the same culinary standards that have defined the Pappas name across Texas for decades. The team has enhanced food quality, strengthened operations and elevated the overall guest experience. “On The Border has …

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Rally House Named Official Bookstore Operator for 3 Additional Universities

by Katie Lee

Fairfax, Va., Williamsburg, Va., and Glassboro, N.J. — Rally House, a premier retailer of officially licensed collegiate and professional apparel, team merchandise and locally inspired products, has formed new partnerships with George Mason University, William & Mary and Rowan University to serve as the official campus retail and bookstore merchandise operator beginning later this summer. Through these partnerships, Rally House will elevate the campus bookstore experience by delivering an expanded assortment of officially licensed apparel, gifts and spirit merchandise, alongside a modernized retail environment tailored to each university’s unique identity. …

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Toshiba Recognized as a Leader in POS Software for Grocery and Food Store Retail

by Katie Lee

Research Triangle Park, N.C. — Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions has been named a leader in the IDC MarketScape: Worldwide Point-of-Sale (POS) Software in Grocery and Food Store Retail 2026 Vendor Assessment. This recognition comes as grocery retailers seek more open, intelligent platforms that can connect store data, support real-time decisions, reduce shrink and help operations adapt as conditions change. IDC MarketScape is the IT industry’s premier vendor assessment tool, providing in-depth quantitative and qualitative technology market assessment. This 2026 IDC MarketScape assesses the capabilities and strategies of enterprise POS software …

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Newspeoplerestaurants

Shake Shack Appoints New Chief Financial Officer

by Katie Lee

New York City — Shake Shack Inc. has appointed Michelle Hook as its chief financial officer, effective May 11, 2026. She brings more than two decades of financial and operational leadership experience in the restaurant industry, with a proven track record of scaling growth companies and building high-performing teams. “We are thrilled to welcome Michelle to the Shake Shack team,” says Rob Lynch, chief executive officer of Shake Shack. “She brings deep restaurant industry expertise and significant public company experience to the role.” Hook joins Shake Shack from Portillo’s, where …

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Snow Peak Opens 4th North American Store, in Seattle

by Katie Lee

Portland, Ore. — Snow Peak, the renowned Japanese outdoor lifestyle brand with a 68-year legacy, has opened its fourth North American retail location, in Seattle’s vibrant Fremont neighborhood. The store is the brand’s first new retail store since the opening of its SoHo location (now relocated to Brooklyn) in 2014. Snow Peak Seattle offers guests an immersive environment to explore Snow Peak’s carefully curated collection of camping equipment, outdoor living essentials and lifestyle apparel. In addition to product displays, the space will host gear demonstrations, community gatherings and outdoor education …

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exterior services/landscapingfacilities managementIndustry Voicespest controlrestaurantsvendors

Ratting Out the Problem

by Katie Lee

— By Ken Huening — How to mitigate the risks rodents pose to the foodservice and restaurant industries. Rodents have been a problem for the food industry since the first food cart operator started hawking meat pies in the Middle Ages. But the problem has exploded in scope in recent years. According to a recent study published in the journal Science, 69% of cities studied, including Washington, D.C., San Francisco, New York City, Oakland, Buffalo, Chicago, Boston, Kansas City and Cincinnati, had significant increases in rat populations in the period …

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