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Katie Lee

construction and designNewsremodelsretailers

Walmart to Remodel More Than 650 U.S. Stores in 2026

by Katie Lee

Bentonville, Ark. — Nationally, Walmart is planning remodels at more than 650 Supercenters and Neighborhood Markets this year, as well as opening 20 new stores in 2026 and early 2027. This investment is intended to create jobs, help strengthen local economies and make shopping faster and more convenient for its customers. In early 2024, Walmart committed to opening or converting more than 150 new locations while continuing to update the stores in its portfolio. This year’s investment includes: • More than 650 scheduled remodels to Supercenters and Neighborhood Markets • …

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NewspeopleProduct Spotlightrestaurantssoftware/technologyvendors

Presto Co-Founder Returns as CEO

by Katie Lee

San Mateo, Calif. — Presto Phoenix, Inc., a leader in enterprise-grade Voice AI for quick-service restaurants (QSRs), has welcomed back Presto’s co-founder, Krishna Gupta, as chief executive officer. Gupta, a co-founder and longtime strategic leader at Presto, stepped back into the CEO role as the company accelerates deployment of its drive-thru Voice AI platform across major national restaurant brands. Presto will be showcasing this expertise at its Restaurant Leadership Conference (RLC) panel, “Deploying Voice AI at America’s Iconic Brands,” on April 20 in Phoenix. “Presto is entering its defining chapter, …

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construction and designNewsrestaurants

Mo’ Bettahs to Expand Into 3 New Markets

by Katie Lee

Salt Lake City — Mo’ Bettahs plans to enter three new markets — Phoenix, Indianapolis and Minneapolis — as the Hawaiian-style fast-casual brand accelerates its national expansion. Additionally, the company reported positive same-store sales growth for the 18th consecutive year, marking nearly two decades of sustained momentum. Mo’ Bettahs has nearly 80 restaurants nationwide. “Eighteen consecutive years of same-store sales growth is rare in this industry, and it doesn’t happen by accident,” says Rob Ertmann, CEO of Mo’ Bettahs. “It reflects disciplined execution, the quality and authenticity of our menu, …

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construction and designfranchise developmentNewsretailers

The Spice & Tea Exchange Signs 7 New Deals Across Oklahoma and Virginia

by Katie Lee

St. Augustine, Fla. — The Spice & Tea Exchange®, a specialty retail franchise, has signed seven new development deals across Oklahoma and Virginia, including two separate three-unit agreements in Virginia. The newly signed agreements include: • One development deal in Guthrie, Okla. • Two, three-unit development deals in Virginia: Fredericksburg, Charlottesville and Roanoke. • Lexington, plus two additional territories to be announced. These deals build upon the brand’s existing footprint in Sulphur, Okla., and Richmond and Williamsburg, Va., markets that have demonstrated strong consumer demand for The Spice & Tea …

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construction and designfranchise developmentNewsrestaurants

Church’s Texas Chicken® and Texas Chicken™ Enter China with 600-Restaurant Agreement

by Katie Lee

Atlanta — Church’s Texas Chicken® and Texas Chicken™, one of the largest quick-service chicken restaurant brands in the world, plans to enter China, marking a major milestone in the company’s global growth and its 27th international market. The brand’s first restaurant in China is slated to open in Shanghai this summer, with additional locations — at least 600 — to follow. Texas Chicken has partnered with Deke Shengtang, a leading local operator with multiple QSR brands, signing a franchise agreement to develop 600 or more restaurants across China over the …

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facilities managementNewsProduct Spotlightrestaurantssoftware/technologyvendors

Toast Launches Unified Drive-Thru Solution to Modernize Enterprise QSR Operations

by Katie Lee

Boston — Toast, a digital technology platform built for hospitality, has launched Toast Drive-Thru, an enterprise-grade solution designed to help modern quick-service restaurants (QSR) increase throughput and order accuracy at scale while optimizing labor efficiency through a single, unified platform. There are just over 140,000 total drive-thru locations across the entire U.S. restaurant industry, according to 2026 data from Technomic Ignite. These operators must deliver fast, error-free guest service while facing increased pressure on labor efficiency. The growth of AI voice ordering solutions in drive-thru has left many brands struggling …

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construction and designNewsretailers

Rural King Celebrates 150th Store Opening

by Katie Lee

Mattoon, Ill. — Rural King, a family-owned retailer dedicated to the rural lifestyle, has openede its newest store in Sebring, Fla., marking its 150th location nationwide. Serving rural America since 1960, Rural King has grown into a trusted resource for the communities it serves. The new Sebring location offers a convenient destination for farm and home essentials, including livestock and pet supplies, workwear, power equipment, tools, automotive products and seasonal merchandise. “Opening our 150th store in Sebring is an incredible milestone for Rural King,” says Michael Ladd, chief operating officer …

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Newspeoplerestaurants

Firebirds Wood Fired Grill Names Chief Financial Officer

by Katie Lee

Charlotte, N.C. — Firebirds Wood Fired Grill has named restaurant industry veteran Jeff Uttz as its new chief financial officer, effective May 18, 2026. This comes as Firebirds continues to grow across the U.S. In addition to its current system footprint of nearly 70 restaurants, the company plans to open seven new locations in 2026, which includes its anticipated entrance into the Lexington, Ky., market — its first restaurant in the state. “We are thrilled to welcome Jeff Uttz to the Firebirds family,” says Steve Kislow, chief executive officer of …

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ServiceChannel Launches ServiceChannel AI, the AI Operating System for Facilities Management

by Katie Lee

Greenville, S.C. — ServiceChannel, a leading platform for the procurement and delivery of facilities services, has launched ServiceChannel AI, the AI operating system for facilities management that embeds intelligence directly where facilities work gets done. ServiceChannel AI helps facilities teams route work correctly from the start, address blockers before they disrupt experience and resolve escalations with automated follow-up. By embedding AI into the core workflows of the ServiceChannel Platform, ServiceChannel AI helps teams reduce manual effort, resolve issues faster and spend more time on strategic priorities. “Facilities teams are the …

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construction and designNewsretailers

CaratLane, a Leading Fine Jewelry Brand in India, Opens Second U.S. Store

by Katie Lee

Dallas — CaratLane, a Tata product and India’s leading omnichannel fine jewelry brand, has launched its second U.S. retail store in Frisco, Texas, near Dallas. The 1,200-square-foot boutique marks a significant milestone in the brand’s global journey, furthering its mission to make Indian jewelry accessible to Indians across the world. Frisco has emerged as one of the fastest-growing Indian hubs in the U.S., with a vibrant cultural community and rising demand for Indian products and experiences. Located within the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, the new store is strategically positioned to serve …

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