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Applebee’s® and IHOP® Open New Dual-Branded Restaurant in San Antonio

by Katie Lee

Pasadena, Calif. — Dine Brands Global, Inc., the parent company of Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill + Bar® and IHOP®, is continuing the rapid expansion of its dual-branded restaurant concept with the opening of a new location in San Antonio. Less than 2 years after launching the first standalone U.S. dual-branded restaurant in nearby Seguin, Texas, the two iconic brands are approaching 50 dual-branded locations nationwide. The new restaurant is the eighth dual-branded Applebee’s | IHOP location in the greater San Antonio market, underscoring the region’s strong embrace of the concept. “We …

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RELEX Solutions Forms Partnership with Dollar General

by Katie Lee

Atlanta — RELEX Solutions, a unified, AI-native platform for retail and supply chain planning, is partnering with Dollar General Corporation, a mass merchandising discount retailer, to implement forecasting, replenishment and allocation capabilities across its North American operations. Dollar General operates more than 21,000 stores and 34 distribution centers, managing approximately 18,000 SKUs, and continues to expand its store footprint each year. To coordinate planning across this growing network, the company selected RELEX for a single system that handles forecasting, replenishment and allocation. The AI-driven platform will manage store replenishment, ordering …

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Ernesta Opens First West Coast Showroom

by Katie Lee

New York City — Ernesta, a leading retailer of custom-sized rugs, opened its first West Coast showroom on Sept. 14, in Santa Monica, Calif. Situated in Santa Monica’s tree-lined, upscale shopping corridor known for its mix of home-focused boutiques and design-driven retailers, the new space marks a key milestone in the brand’s retail expansion. The Santa Monica showroom offers a welcoming space to explore Ernesta’s full assortment of wool, natural fiber and performance rugs firsthand. Through one-on-one consultations with Ernesta’s in-store design team, customers receive expert guidance and enhanced local …

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Smalls Sliders® to Make College Campus Debuts

by Katie Lee

Atlanta — Smalls Sliders is opening its first-ever college campus locations at the University of Central Florida (UCF) and the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss). The milestone marks Smalls Sliders’ official entrance into collegiate dining and the beginning of a long term strategy to bring the brand to more high-traffic, non-traditional environments across the country. The UCF location is slated to open in September, with the Ole Miss location expected to open in October. The two locations showcase the versatility of the Smalls Sliders concept while bringing the brand directly …

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L.L.Bean Completes $50 Million Renovation to Maine Flagship Store

by Katie Lee

Freeport, Me. — L.L.Bean, the legendary outdoor retailer since 1912, has completed a 7-year, $50 million renovation to its Freeport, Me., flagship store. Grand opening celebrations are scheduled to take place Sept. 18 through Oct. 25, 2026. The modern, reimagined flagship stays true to L.L.Bean’s heritage but also offers more retail space (150,000 square feet), new areas to explore and thoughtful features throughout. According to the company website, “Every detail is intended to immerse customers in the outdoor lifestyle and surround them with the products to help them enjoy it.” …

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GoTo Foods Names President of Jamba®, Expands Leadership Across Portfolio

by Katie Lee

Atlanta — GoTo Foods, parent company of Auntie Anne’s®, Carvel®, Cinnabon®, Jamba®, McAlister’s Deli®, Moe’s Southwest Grill® and Schlotzsky’s Deli®, has appointed Lucy Brady as president of Jamba, along with expanded leadership roles across several other brands and core business functions. The leadership appointments include: • Lucy Brady, who joined GoTo Foods as president of Jamba on Sept. 8. • Nathan Baldwin, president of Auntie Anne’s, is expanding his role to president of specialty brands, now also overseeing Cinnabon, Carvel and Co-Brands.  • Francisco Bram, chief growth officer, has also …

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Albertsons® Companies, Inc. Names Executive Chair

by Katie Lee

Boise, Idaho — Albertsons® Companies, Inc. has appointed Meg Whitman to the newly created role of executive chair of the company’s board of directors. With Whitman’s appointment, Kim Fennebresque has transitioned from chair to lead independent director, and the board has expanded from 10 to 11 members. Whitman will work to support Susan Morris, CEO of Albertsons Cos., and her entire senior team. “Meg is an ideal leader to join Albertsons’ Board of Directors,” says Fennebresque. “Her appointment underscores the board’s commitment to bring proven technology expertise and transformation leadership …

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Chicken Salad Chick to Open First Restaurant in New York

by Katie Lee

Atlanta — Chicken Salad Chick, the nation’s only fast-casual chicken salad restaurant concept, plans to open its first restaurant in New York, which will expand the brand’s footprint to 27 states. The grand opening will take place on Sept. 22 at The Shops at Village Plaza in Clifton Park, N.Y. Chicken Salad Chick of Clifton Park is the first restaurant to open under a 25-unit franchise agreement bringing locations to the Albany, Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse and the Upper Hudson Valley areas across New York. The agreement represents Chicken Salad Chick’s …

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Macy’s Reports Strong Q2 Growth, Led By ‘Reimagine 200’ Stores

by Katie Lee

New York City — Macy’s, Inc. has reported financial results for the second quarter 2026. Overall, the company delivered 2.7% comparable sales growth, exceeding expectations across all key metrics; Macy’s comparable sales rose for the fifth consecutive quarter, led by Reimagine 200 stores; and Bloomingdale’s delivered second consecutive quarter of double-digit comparable sales growth and its highest second-quarter sales volume. “Our second-quarter performance builds on the progress our colleagues have consistently delivered through our Bold New Chapter strategy,” says Tony Spring, chairman and chief executive officer of Macy’s, Inc. “The …

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Chipotle Debuts in Asia with First Restaurant in Seoul

by Katie Lee

Newport Beach, Calif. — Chipotle Mexican Grill has opened of its first restaurant in Asia in Seoul, South Korea, in partnership with Sangmidang Holdings (formerly SPC Group). Along with Sangmidang Holdings, Chipotle plans to continue its expansion with two additional locations in South Korea by the end of 2026, followed by its first restaurant in Singapore in 2027.  South Korea will serve as a reference market for Chipotle’s expansion across Asia, establishing a model for how the brand can enter new markets while maintaining its culinary and operational standards. The …

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