— By Katie Fairchild — 9 steps to managing multi-location restaurant businesses. The dynamic world of running multi-units, multi-brands and franchises offers many advantages. From full-service to fast food and everything in between, having the efficiencies that come with an existing brand, business model and established infrastructure can be an advantage for operators. However, with these advantages comes unique challenges. One of the major issues for operators of multiple entities is that the individual businesses or locations may have their own goals, processes, software, language and more. The final goal …
facilities management
Slash Costs with Better Facility Maintenance
It’s another thing for restaurant operators to worry about: all the costs of doing business, including food, rent, labor and energy are increasing, according to the National Restaurant Association’s 2024 State of the Restaurant Industry survey, released in February. It’s bad news for any business operating on razor-thin margins. Restaurant operators complain that they have little control over food and rent costs, while the need to remain competitive often blocks operators from making cuts in staffing and food. The situation forces restaurant owners, and other businesses such as retail, to …
Oceanside, Calif. — KBS, the largest privately held facility services provider in North America, has appointed Chris Studney as its new chief commercial officer. Studney will be responsible for sales, strategic account management and marketing at KBS. Studney is a highly successful global real estate and facilities services executive with a 25-year track record of driving industry leading growth at scale with clients, including in the same industries and services as KBS. Studney was previously with JLL, one of the largest commercial real estate services companies in the world and a …
Superior Facility Service Group, Inc.: Signature Vendor Spotlight
— Interview with Carol L. Carey — R&R: Where are you based and how long have you been in business? Carol L. Carey: Headquartered south of Atlanta, Superior Facility Service Group is a family-owned and operated company, specializing in commercial maintenance, bird control and disaster restoration. Incorporated in 2013, we strive to provide a comprehensive service to meet all your maintenance & repair needs on the national level. We endeavor to meet and exceed your requirements, standards, budgetary constraints and timelines by providing a “Superior Job” at the best pricing …
Colt Facility Maintenance: Signature Vendor Spotlight
— Interview with Peter Tsanacas — R&R: Where are you based and how long has the company been in business? Peter Tsanacas: Colt Facility Maintenance is based out of Dallas but we also have offices in Houston and San Antonio as well as Oklahoma City and Denver. Colt FM has been in business for a year after acquiring another facility maintenance company’s assets. That company had been in business for over 40 years. The new ownership now has over 100 years of facility maintenance and repair experience. R&R: How long …
Harrison Contracting: Signature Vendor Spotlight
— Interview with Sean Gillespie — R&R: Where are you based and how long has the company been in business? Sean Gillespie: Our headquarters is located about 30 miles west of Atlanta in Villa Rica, Georgia. We also have locations/operations in Tampa, Destin and Orlando, Florida; Savannah, Georgia; Dallas/Fort Worth; and Nashville, Tennessee. Harrison Contracting Company, Inc. (HCC) has been in business since 1995. R&R: How long have you been with the company? Gillespie: Since 2018. R&R: What services do you offer retailers and restaurants? Gillespie: We predominantly provide commercial …
Panda Express Partners with GridPoint Across All U.S. Restaurant Locations
Reston, Va. — GridPoint, a leading cleantech company that decarbonizes commercial buildings and accelerates the transition to a sustainable energy future, has expanded its partnership with Panda Express, the largest Asian dining concept in the United States. With nearly 2,500 locations, Panda Express will deploy GridPoint Intelligence™ to all U.S. locations during the next 18 months to optimize energy consumption, reduce energy costs and ensure that all restaurants remain at maximum temperature comfort for its guests and associates throughout varied climate conditions year-round. “We have sought solutions that can deliver …
Annapolis, Md. — Thomas Park Management, a fast-growing property management and building maintenance services firm, has been awarded a contract to provide building maintenance services at the Annapolis Town Center in Annapolis, Md. “We are thrilled to be awarded this contract to provide building maintenance services at the Annapolis Town Center,” says Mason Popham, executive vice president at Thomas Park Management. “The Annapolis Town Center is a premier shopping and dining destination, and we are committed to providing the highest level of service to build on the Class A environment …
Webinar: How to Plan & Finance a Successful QSR Remodel
The Oct. 12 webinar “How to Plan & Finance a Successful QSR Remodel,” hosted by Retail & Restaurant Facility Business and sponsored by First Franchise Capital, discussed best practices and strategies for planning, financing and executing remodels for quick-service restaurant (QSR) projects. In this brief, 30-minute webinar, expert panelists covered financing options, industry challenges and information on how to drive more traffic through remodeling. Why is remodeling important and how can it fit into a franchise’s growth strategy? What options do franchisees have when it comes to remodeling, refreshing or re-imaging their …
Integrated Facilities Management Pioneer NEST Releases Inaugural Social Responsibility Report
Philadelphia — NEST, a pioneer of integrated facilities management, has released its inaugural Social Responsibility Report, highlighting the company’s environmental stewardship, social programming, diversity, equity, inclusion and ethics. The report revealed new impactful programs, including “Trees for ISPs,” where NEST plants a tree for select work completed through its network of 26,000 Independent Service Providers (ISPs). “We recognize that our work at NEST impacts thousands of companies, employees and the environment,” says Rob Almond, CEO of NEST. “We believe that true success means making a positive impact through every facet …