Sunday, December 14, 2025
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Marco’s Pizza Names New CFO

by Katie Lee

Toledo, Ohio — Marco’s Pizza has appointed Bill Schaffler, a seasoned financial and operations leader with deep experience in high-growth restaurant and hospitality brands, as its new chief financial officer (CFO). Schaffler joins Marco’s Pizza with a strong foundation in private-equity environments, multi-unit expansion and enterprise-level financial performance. His background includes guiding financial strategy and technology modernization at Hopdoddy Burger Bar, leading brand and operational transformation as president and CEO of Ascension Coffee Company and driving systemwide efficiencies and growth in CFO roles at Nothing Bundt Cakes and La Madeleine. …

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Build-A-Bear x Hello Kitty and Friends Workshop Expand with New Locations

by Katie Lee

St. Louis — Build-A-Bear Workshop and Sanrio®, the global lifestyle brand best known for Hello Kitty®, are continuing their national expansion of the Build-A-Bear x Hello Kitty and Friends Workshop with new locations set to open at American Dream in East Rutherford, N.J., and Mall of America in Bloomington, Minn., in early 2026. The first Build-A-Bear & Hello Kitty and Friends Workshop opened in Los Angeles last year and quickly became a go-to destination for collectors, families and devoted Sanrio fans. Its strong appeal made it clear that the experience …

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construction and designfranchise developmentNewsrestaurants

Playa Bowls Ends 2025 with 85 New Shops and 200+ Franchise Commitments

by Katie Lee

Belmar, N.J. — Playa Bowls, the nation’s leading superfruit bowl shop, is closing out a high-growth year with multi-unit agreements signed throughout third and fourth quarters and continued expansion across key U.S. markets. Following the recent launch of its first international development agreement (in Canada), the brand maintained its upward trajectory domestically with 85 new shops opening in 2025, including first-time market entries across multiple states, and more than 200 signed franchise commitments. Playa Bowls enters 2026 with demand rising from both new and existing multi-unit operators. Within the past …

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construction and designfranchise developmentNewsrestaurants

Newk’s Eatery Opens First Kansas Location

by Katie Lee

Wichita, Kan. — Newk’s Eatery will debut its first location in the state of Kansas on Dec. 10. Opening at The Waterfront on Wichita’s East Side, the new eatery’s dining room can seat up to 146 guests and has one of the largest Wichita flag murals in the city. “We have been looking forward to bringing Newk’s Eatery to Wichita for a long time,” says Melody Matulewic, franchise owner of Newk’s Eatery. “Our team values hospitality and service and we believe this community will connect with that. Opening here allows …

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construction and designfranchise developmentNewsrestaurants

Wingstop Opens 3,000th Restaurant

by Katie Lee

Dallas — Wingstop has opened its 3,000th restaurant globally — a significant milestone as the brand accelerates toward its vision of becoming a Top 10 Global Restaurant Brand with more than 10,000 restaurants worldwide. Wingstop reached this milestone at a record pace, opening nearly 800 restaurants and expanding its global footprint by 50% in just 2 years. During this time, Wingstop entered six new markets: Australia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Puerto Rico, Saudi Arabia and The Netherlands. Wingstop now operates in 47 U.S. states and 15 countries, and expects to soon open …

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Teriyaki Madness Names Chief Restaurant Officer Amid Record Growth

by Katie Lee

Denver — Teriyaki Madness has recruited industry leader Scott Shotter, most recently of Fuzzy’s Taco Shop, as chief restaurant officer. In his new role, Shotter will oversee all aspects of restaurant operations across corporate and franchised locations, advancing the systems and strategies that fuel the brand’s nationwide expansion. This appointment comes as the brand prepares to open 45 new shops and hit 20% systemwide growth this year. With more than 35 years of restaurant leadership experience, Shotter has led operational excellence of some of the industry’s most recognizable brands. Prior …

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Zaxbys Charts a Bold Course

by Katie Lee

— By Katie Lee — Nearing 1,000 locations nationwide, Zaxbys is evolving from a regional Southern favorite to a national QSR staple. As it celebrates its 35th anniversary this year, Zaxbys® has ushered in a new era with a comprehensive refresh. This includes the introduction of its ‘Modern Farmhouse’ restaurant design, as well as an updated visual identity, branding and packaging. Together, these updates reflect a modernized, cohesive look and feel, signaling the next chapter in Zaxbys’ evolution while maintaining the bold flavors and Southern hospitality that guests love.  And …

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KFC Opens Flagship Store in Rome, Marking Milestone in European Expansion

by Katie Lee

Lausanne, Switzerland — KFC Europe is opening one of its most iconic European flagship stores, located at the heart of historical Rome near the renowned Trevi Fountain. This landmark launch is a testament to KFC’s continued growth throughout Europe. As one of the fastest growing retail brands in the world, KFC opens a new restaurant somewhere around the world once every 3.5 hours. The choice of Rome as the site for one of the first Western European flagship stores was a natural choice and reflects the brand’s rapid growth across …

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Taco John’s Boosts Franchisee Relations with Bikky

by Katie Lee

New York City — Bikky, a customer data platform built exclusively for multi-unit restaurants, has partnered with Taco John’s®, one of the largest QSR Mexican restaurant brands in the country. The brand started out in the mid-1960s as a small Cheyenne, Wyo., taco stand. Two local businessmen wanted to share the taco stand’s unique flavors with the world and bought the franchise rights in 1969. From there, Taco John’s restaurants began popping up in the Midwest. “We have franchisees that have been with us for 50 years and they know …

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Shake Shack Announces Chief Financial Officer Transition

by Katie Lee

New York City — Katherine Fogertey, chief financial officer of Shake Shack Inc., will step down on March 4, 2026. Beginning immediately, Fogertey will move into a senior advisor role to support a smooth handoff and ensure continuity across all financial functions during the transition. The company plans to launch a search for a new chief financial officer immediately. As part of this transition, the company is establishing an Office of the CFO, composed of a tenured team of experienced leaders across financial planning, accounting, treasury, data science and investor …

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