News

San Francisco — Schnuck Markets, Inc., a Midwestern grocer, and Instacart, a leading grocery technology company, will expand their omnichannel partnership by deploying Caper Carts, Instacart’s smart carts, in select stores. Caper Carts automatically identify items as they are added to the cart using computer vision and artificial intelligence (AI), allowing customers to bag as they shop, skip the line and seamlessly checkout on the Cart from anywhere in the store. Caper Carts will first roll out at select Schnucks St. Louis stores this fall, with a broader planned rollout …

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Moonachie, N.J. — After an big year of growth in 2022, Paris Baguette, the global bakery café franchise with over 4,000 open cafés, has finalized 66 new franchise agreements and opened 20 new stores at the end of the second quarter 2023. “With 66 signings, 20 openings and almost 50 more cafés in various stages of construction, we’re climbing toward the goal of 64 cafés opened this year, and we see a pathway to get there,” says Mark Mele, chief development officer at Paris Baguette. “In the second quarter, we …

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Katy, Texas — Academy Sports + Outdoors, Inc. has promoted Carl Ford to executive vice president and chief financial officer, effective July 12, 2023, succeeding Michael Mullican, who recently transitioned to president. In his new role, Ford will oversee finance, accounting, tax, treasury, loss prevention, internal audit and investor relations. Ford has served as Academy’s senior vice president, finance since January 2019. Prior to joining Academy, he served as vice president of financial planning & analysis at Belk, Inc. where he spent 15 years. “I am thrilled to announce the …

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Newton, Mass. — Paytronix, the leader in guest engagement for restaurants and convenience stores, has named industry veteran and current Paytronix board member Jeff Hindman (pictured here) as its new chief executive officer. Paytronix’s founder and current CEO, Andrew Robbins, will assume the role of executive chairman. “Paytronix continues to revolutionize the way restaurants and convenience stores build and nurture guest relationships. Our exceptional team is driven by a passion to meet the growing industry hunger for more personalized guest experiences and accelerate the pace of innovation needed to do …

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Pasadena, Calif. — Dave’s Hot Chicken, the Los Angeles-based street food sensation turned breakthrough fast-casual brand, has added to its leadership team. Building on current momentum, which includes robust 2023 growth initiatives, Dave’s Hot Chicken continues to invest in its best-in-class executive team, with the additions of Brad Haley, chief marketing officer (CMO), and Leon Davoyan, chief technology officer (CTO). Haley most recently led marketing initiatives for IHOP, including overseeing the “IHOb” campaign that garnered nationwide attention for the 1,800-unit chain. Prior to leading marketing at IHOP, Haley spearheaded campaigns …

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Lincolnshire, Ill. — Camping World Holdings, Inc. has promoted Lindsey Christen to chief administrative and legal officer, strengthening both its strategic and compliance functions to support continued growth. “Lindsey plays a vital role in the management and growth of Camping World, with great vision for the company’s future,” says Marcus Lemonis, chairman and CEO. “Over the past 15 years, Lindsey has gained deep industry knowledge and proven to be an effective leader, strategic thinker, and trusted partner. I believe her abilities will be invaluable as the company continues to grow …

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Fort Worth, Texas — Westwood Contractors, Inc. is adding Ron Winchek as project manager. Winchek has more than 7 years of experience in the construction industry including estimating, onsite construction management and project management. Most recently, Winchek served as the director of project management & preconstruction services for Kuhns Group, a restaurant-focused general contractor which provides turn-key services for remodeling or new construction projects. In his role with Kuhns Group, Winchek led a team of five project managers and estimators, increased sales from $11 million to $16 million with implementation …

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Atlanta — Smalls Sliders, a cheeseburger sliders QSR concept, appoints Kris Douglas as its vice president of technology. In this role, Douglas will leverage his extensive experience as a technology thought leader in the QSR industry to lead the brand’s technology strategy development and planning while also managing its digital presence. “Smalls Sliders has taken the restaurant industry by storm with just a handful of existing locations. I’m excited to introduce innovative technological solutions that will further enhance the customer experience and operational efficiencies as we grow to be a …

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Columbus, Ohio — Designer Brands Inc. has named Laura Denk as president of DSW Designer Shoe Warehouse (DSW) and executive vice president of Designer Brands, with her appointment to be effective as of July 24, 2023. She joins DSW from Michaels Stores. As president of DSW, Denk will be responsible for leading DSW’s nearly 500 U.S. store locations and e-commerce channel, DSW.com. Her responsibilities will include day-to-day leadership of DSW, in addition to helping to further elevate Designer Brands’ owned brands and top national brands within the retailer’s differentiated customer …

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St. Petersburg, Fla. — WOWorks, parent company of Saladworks, Frutta Bowls, Garbanzo Mediterranean Fresh, The Simple Greek, Barberitos Southwestern Grille and Cantina, and Zoup! Eatery, is launching seven new virtual brands. These new online-only delivery and takeout concepts harness the power of WOWorks’ strategic collaboration with Olo, a leading open SaaS platform that revolutionizes the restaurant industry’s digital landscape. Third-party delivery services, such as DoorDash, UberEats and Grubhub, have become the driving force behind a culinary revolution, reshaping the way consumers experience food. With their convenience and accessibility, these platforms …

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