News

Bolingbrook, Ill. — Ulta Beauty, Inc. has promoted its chief operating officer, Kecia L. Steelman, to president and chief operating officer. “Kecia is a talented executive with a proven track record of driving operational excellence while fostering a caring and inclusive culture and creating exceptional guest experiences,” says Dave Kimbell, chief executive officer. “Over the last year, Kecia has increased her scope and influence within our organization, and this expanded role recognizes her value to the company and her many contributions to our success, while also demonstrating our ongoing confidence …

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Miami Beach, Fla. — Blink Charging Co., a global leading manufacturer, owner, operator and provider of electric vehicle (EV) charging equipment and services, has approved changes made to Blink’s executive leadership team with the appointment of Michael Battaglia, (formerly chief revenue officer) as chief operations officer; Jim Nemec, (formerly VP sales and business development) as chief revenue officer; and Siddhartha Kodgi, (formerly senior director operations) as vice president of operations. The company also announced the departure of Mark Pastrone from his role as chief operations officer. “These are exciting times …

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Atlanta — Papa John’s International, Inc. has announced updates to its executive leadership team. Amanda Clark will transition from her role as chief international and development officer to become chief operating officer, international, focusing on the operations and development of the Papa Johns footprint in international markets. The company’s chief restaurant officer, Joe Sieve, will assume North American development responsibilities. He will also continue to oversee corporate and franchise restaurant operations in North America. “With operations in approximately 50 countries and territories, our continued international expansion is critical to the …

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Dodgeville, Wis. — Lands’ End, Inc. has named Bernard McCracken — interim CFO since January 2023 and chief accounting officer since April 2014 — as its new chief financial officer. “Bernie McCracken has been an integral member of our finance organization for over 9 years and has demonstrated the financial acumen, executive leadership and track record to lead our financial organization with excellence,” says Andrew McLean, CEO of Lands’ End. “Having worked closely with Bernie over the past 8 months, I am confident that his appointment best positions Lands’ End …

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College Station, Texas — In addition to its exponential growth in new markets, Layne’s Chicken Fingers has acquired the original three locations in College Station, Texas. Prior to the acquisition, the restaurants were owned by Mike Garratt, who was the sole owner of Layne’s before its foray into the franchise space. When the brand made this transition, Garratt maintained licensure in College Station and continued to run the three original restaurants as he served alongside the franchise leadership team. At the time of his recent retirement, the Layne’s corporate team …

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Roswell, Ga. — Pure Hockey, a premier destination for hockey equipment, apparel and accessories, has acquired North Georgia Hockey, located in Roswell, Ga., a suburb of Atlanta. This strategic move marks Pure Hockey’s first entry into the Georgia market. The newest Pure Hockey location will officially open later this fall. As a recognized leader in the hockey retail industry, Pure Hockey’s acquisition of North Georgia Hockey represents a significant step in the company’s continued growth trajectory. With this acquisition, Pure Hockey now operates over 70 retail locations across 23 states …

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Denver — Teriyaki Madness, a leading fast-casual teriyaki concept with over 130 locations, is celebrating a successful first half of 2023 with significant growth and innovation. The brand has opened 10 new locations and awarded 45 units this year, marking a significant increase in its footprint across the United States. The company has also seen a 21% year-over-year systemwide sales increase. “We are thrilled with our mid-year momentum and the incredible growth we’ve experienced so far in 2023,” says Michael Haith, CEO of Teriyaki Madness. “Our success is a testament …

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Phoenix — Sprouts Farmers Market, one of the largest and fastest growing specialty retailers of fresh, natural and organic food in the United States, has opened its 400th store. Its newest store opened on Sept. 8 in Haddon Township, N.J. As a part of Sprouts’ 5-year plan, it remains committed to a robust growth strategy, aiming to expand 10% year over year. “Following the unveiling of our 399th store in Rialto, Calif., and now, on the opposite coast, our 400th store celebrates its opening in Haddon Township, N.J.,” says Jack …

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Boston — Toast, an all-in-one technology platform built for restaurants, has launched ‘Toast for Cafes & Bakeries’ — a new solution designed to help cafes, coffee shops and bakeries add new revenue streams, speed up service with faster workflows, meet guests where they are and grow their business. Catering Online Ordering and Restaurant Retail are among the new features that cafes, bakeries and all other restaurant types Toast serves can benefit from using. Toast for Cafes & Bakeries builds on recent launches from Toast that introduce functionality tailored for specific …

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Cincinnati and Boise, Idaho — Kroger Co. and Albertsons Cos. Inc. have agreed to sell 413 stores across 17 states and Washington, D.C., as part of the $24.6 billion merger between the two grocery giants. The buyer is C&S Wholesale Grocers, a New Hampshire-based grocery supply company overseeing brands including Piggly Wiggly and Grand Union. According to multiple news outlets including USA Today and Crain’s, the sales price is roughly $1.9 billion. In addition to the 400-plus grocery stores, C&S will also acquire eight distribution centers and two office properties …

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