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PetSmart Appoints EVP, Chief Commercial Officer

by Katie Lee

Phoenix — PetSmart, a leading omnichannel pet retailer, has appointed Jesica Duarte as executive vice president and chief commercial officer. In this role, Duarte will oversee merchandising, proprietary brands, merchandise planning & allocation, digital and marketing organizations at PetSmart. She joins PetSmart from Albertsons. “Jesica is a strategic and growth-minded leader, with an impressive career tenure working across successful retail brands,” says Ken Hicks, PetSmart’s president and CEO. Duarte has more than 30 years of leadership experience, having worked for some of the world’s most recognized brands across retail, grocery, …

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Smalls Sliders® Inks First Deal in Tennessee

by Katie Lee

Knoxville, Tenn. — Smalls Sliders, a leading cheeseburger slider brand growing nationwide, has signed its first-ever development agreement in Tennessee. The multi-unit deal will bring four locations to the Knoxville metro region with Tennessee-based entrepreneur Blake McDavid, a multi-unit franchise owner and commercial real estate investor. This agreement officially marks Smalls Sliders’ entry into the Tennessee market. McDavid is actively identifying real estate throughout the Knoxville area and plans to open the first of his four locations by fall 2026. “Blake represents exactly the kind of forward-thinking operator we look …

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Ace Hardware Opens New Retail Support Center in Kansas City, MO

by Katie Lee

Oak Brook, Ill. — Ace Hardware, the world’s largest hardware cooperative, has opened its new Retail Support Center (RSC) in Kansas City, Mo. The new facility spans more than 1.5 million square feet, measuring a half-mile from end to end. It represents a major investment in Ace’s continued growth and commitment to supporting its network of independent retailers through best-in-class logistics and supply chain efficiency. “This new 1.5 million-square-foot facility in Kansas City is more than just a building — it’s a symbol of what hard work, purpose and servant-hearted …

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Skiptown Names New CEO & CFO

by Katie Lee

Charlotte, N.C. — Skiptown, a first-of-its-kind, tech-enabled pet care facility offering dog daycare, boarding, full service grooming, and a bar & park featuring indoor and outdoor off-leash play, is gearing up for national growth with a new leadership team in place. Seasoned executive Mike Rotondo has joined the organization as chief executive officer, and he named Molly Fisher as chief financial officer and Kristen Risby as head of marketing & communications. Skiptown is an emerging brand that caters to pups and their people. The brand currently has locations in Atlanta; …

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Ecolab Launches AI-Powered Solution to Optimize Restaurant Operations

by Katie Lee

St. Paul, Minn. — Ecolab Inc., a global sustainability leader offering water, hygiene and infection prevention solutions and services, has launched Ecolab® RushReady™, a new AI-powered program within its Ecolab® KitchenIQ™ platform. Designed to help restaurant leaders improve shift performance and profitability, RushReady combines real-time data, intelligent recommendations and human coaching to tackle the complexities of daily operations and elevate the overall experience for guests. The engagement begins with a connection into each restaurant’s unique data sources, enabling the platform to work on transforming back-of-house operations through: • RushReady AI-driven …

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Onyx Partners to Acquire JCPenney Retail Portfolio for $947 Million

by Katie Lee

Jersey City, N.J. — Onyx Partners of Boston has entered into a binding purchase and sale agreement to acquire 119 JCPenney stores from Copper Property CTL Pass Through Trust, a real estate investment trust created as part of JCPenney’s 2020 Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing, for $947 million. The sale price represents roughly $8 million per store property. The portfolio, which totals nearly 16 million square feet across 34 states, is net leased to JCPenney under a long term master lease with Penney Intermediate Holdings LLC. The all-cash sale is scheduled …

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Starbird Appoints New Chief Executive Officer

by Katie Lee

San Francisco — Starbird, a trailblazer in super-premium fast food, has appointed Maria Rivera as chief executive officer and to its board of directors. Rivera, an accomplished industry leader known for scaling some of the sector’s most dynamic brands, assumes leadership of the company. Founder Aaron Noveshen will transition fully to his role as chairman of the board. This move marks a defining moment for Starbird, signaling its bold next chapter as it accelerates national expansion, franchise growth and strong brand awareness — fueled by the vision of its founder, …

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PGA TOUR Superstore Names New CEO

by Katie Lee

Atlanta — National golf retail chain PGA TOUR Superstore has named Troy Rice as its new chief executive officer. Rice comes to PGA TOUR Superstore after 3 years as CEO of retail beverage chain Total Wine & More. Rice will report directly to Arthur M. Blank, owner and chairman of Blank Family of Businesses. He will begin his new role at PGA TOUR Superstore on Sept. 2, 2025. Global search firm Russell Reynolds Associates led the search after Dick Sullivan, CEO of PGA TOUR Superstore for the last 15 years, …

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GoTo Foods Unveils New Concept, Moe’s Casa Mexicana, & Signs 45-Unit Deal in India

by Katie Lee

Atlanta — GoTo Foods LLC has announced the international debut of Moe’s Casa Mexicana, a reimagined concept born from Moe’s Southwest Grill, alongside a 45-unit master franchise agreement in India with Unify Foodworks. This milestone marks the first international concept purpose-built for the Moe’s Southwest Grill brand. GoTo Foods now has 60% of its development pipeline focused outside the U.S. Moe’s Casa Mexicana is the global evolution of the beloved Moe’s Southwest Grill brand, created to meet the rising demand for fast-casual Mexican cuisine in international markets. Built from the …

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Gap Inc. Appoints President and CEO of Athleta

by Katie Lee

San Francisco — Gap Inc. has named Maggie Gauger as global brand president and CEO of Athleta, effective August 1, as Chris Blakeslee steps down from the role. Gauger joins the company from Nike. “We are thrilled for Maggie Gauger to join as CEO of Athleta as we look to accelerate the brand’s reinvigoration,” says Richard Dickson, Gap Inc. CEO. “Maggie blends proven business transformation capabilities, deep consumer centricity, product fluency and a heartfelt commitment to empowering women and girls. This combination of skills and experiences will equip her to …

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