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Eyemart Express to Debut in Houston with 4 New Stores

by Katie Lee

Houston — Eyemart Express, one of the nation’s largest optical retailers, is entering the Greater Houston market for the first time, with a store opening in Conroe, Texas, on Sept. 8. This is the first of four stores the company will open in the area by year’s end. The Houston openings build on Eyemart Express’ established presence across Texas, where the company already operates 42 stores. Each new location will hire a team of opticians, lab technicians and retail associates. Eyemart Express operates a lens lab inside every store, along …

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Hungry Howie’s Modernizes Delivery Operations with Cartwheel

by Katie Lee

Los Angeles — Cartwheel, an AI-powered delivery platform for restaurants, has teamed up with Hungry Howie’s Pizza to modernize delivery operations. The top 10 U.S. pizza chain is adopting Cartwheel’s Hybrid Delivery technology, following a successful pilot, that will implement a phased rollout across its nearly 500-location system, with all locations targeted to be live by second quarter 2027. Cartwheel’s Hybrid Delivery gives franchisees a single view of in-house and third-party delivery, with fulfillment powered by DoorDash Drive. Hybrid Delivery prioritizes in-house fleets based on configurable factors such as proximity …

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Academy Sports + Outdoors Names Executive Appointment

by Katie Lee

Katy, Texas — Academy Sports + Outdoors has appointed Matthew (Matt) M. Pasch to the role of executive vice president and chief people officer. In this position, he will oversee Academy’s talent strategy, human resources and communications functions supporting the company’s corporate, distribution centers and retail initiatives. Most recently, Pasch served as executive vice president, chief human resources officer at Burlington. He also held the roles of senior vice president of human resources, merchandising, marketing and strategy as well as senior vice president of human resources, corporate support, distribution and …

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Parts Town Unlimited Opens Global Fulfillment Center to Serve the Southeast

by Katie Lee

Chicago — Parts Town Unlimited, a global leader in the high-tech distribution of genuine OEM (original equipment manufacturer) parts for commercial foodservice, residential appliances and HVAC equipment, has signed a full building lease in Pendergrass, Ga. Parts Town Unlimited will occupy the 538,450-square-foot facility by the end of this year. The new facility will expand the company’s global fulfillment network to the Southeast, joining existing global fulfillment centers in Chicago, Phoenix and Munich (Germany). Additionally, this facility is the company’s first LEED-certified global fulfillment center. LEED is a globally recognized …

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franchise developmentNewsrestaurants

Yum! Brands Completes Sale of Pizza Hut to LongRange Capital

by Katie Lee

Louisville, Ky., and Stamford, Conn. — Yum! Brands, Inc. has completed the sale of Pizza Hut — excluding Mainland China — to LongRange Capital for approximately $1.5 billion, with the opportunity for Yum! to receive an additional earn-out of $75 million by 2030 based on future performance. LongRange Capital is a Stamford, Conn.-based private equity firm. Together with the previously announced sale of Pizza Hut in Mainland China to Yum China Holdings, Inc., which closed on August 7, 2026, the LongRange transaction completes Yum!’s sale of Pizza Hut through two …

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construction and designfranchise developmentNewsretailers

Ace Hardware Reaches 100th New Store Opening of 2026

by Katie Lee

Oak Brook, Ill. — Ace Hardware, the world’s largest hardware cooperative, has marked its 100th new store opening of 2026 and remains on pace to open more than 170 new stores by year-end. The growth reflects strong demand from existing Ace retailers expanding their businesses, independent operators converting to the Ace brand and new entrepreneurs joining the cooperative. “There is a special pride that comes with owning an Ace Hardware store because a great hardware store is more than a place to buy products. It’s part of the fabric of …

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Little Caesars Plans New Navy Base Locations Across the U.S.

by Katie Lee

Detroit — Little Caesars®, the third-largest pizza chain in the world, is building on its commitment to serving military communities with four new locations planned across U.S. Navy installations. The expansion follows the brand’s first military base opening at Pearl Harbor in 2025 and marks another step in its continued non-traditional growth. “Military communities are an important part of Little Caesars and our commitment to supporting those who serve,” says Sally Rampersad, director of non-traditional and development services for Little Caesars. “Since 2006, the Little Caesars Veterans program has helped …

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Walmart to Open Next-Gen Fulfillment Center in Georgia

by Katie Lee

Carnesville, Ga. — Walmart, Inc. plans to build a high-tech, next-generation fulfillment center in Carnesville, Ga., creating 1,000 new jobs and bringing $1.3 billion in investment to Franklin County. The new 1.5 million-square-foot automated facility will be located at the Franklin 85 Logistics Center in Carnesville. Walmart’s next-generation fulfillment centers are located in strategic markets to expand same-day and next-day shipping capabilities across the United States. Construction is expected to begin in late 2026. “This massive investment from Walmart in a rural part of our state will not only create …

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construction and designfranchise developmentNewsrestaurants

WOWorks Opens 23 New Restaurants, Plans 15 More By End of Year

by Katie Lee

St. Petersburg, Fla. — WOWorks, the parent company of better-for-you restaurant brands Saladworks, Frutta Bowls, Garbanzo Mediterranean Fresh, The Simple Greek, Barberitos and Zoup! Eatery, has opened 23 new restaurants so far this year, with 15 additional locations currently in development. This brings WOWorks’ total footprint to nearly 240 restaurants nationwide and puts the company on pace for nearly 40 new stores by year’s end. New restaurants have launched across the Midwest, Mid-Atlantic and Southeast — including Ohio, Missouri, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Florida, Alabama, Virginia, Georgia and Texas — as …

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Kohl’s Names New Chief Merchandising Officer

by Katie Lee

Menomonee Falls, Wis. — Kohl’s has named Ryan M. Waymire as chief merchandising officer, reporting to CEO Michael J. Bender, effective Sept. 28. Waymire has 25 years of experience at large retailers including Walmart, Amazon and Target, most recently serving as senior vice president of fashion at Walmart U.S. In his new role, Waymire will be responsible for Kohl’s overall merchandise strategy and all merchandising functions, including buying, omnichannel merchandising, product design and development, allocation and planning, sourcing and product portfolio strategy. “I am thrilled to have Ryan join the …

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