Modesto, Calif. — The Save Mart Companies (TSMC), California’s largest regional, family-owned grocer, is marking its 70th anniversary. The Save Mart Companies, which operates more than 200 stores throughout California and Northern Nevada, started with Save Mart in the Central Valley and has grown to include the FoodMaxx value format and Lucky California in the San Francisco Bay Area — all with the focused dedication to fulfill the evolving needs of shoppers. “I am incredibly grateful of our 70-year history established by our founding families and continued by our current …
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San Diego — QDOBA Mexican Eats® (QDOBA), the largest franchise opportunity in the fast-casual Mexican segment, has added three industry leaders to its development team. Joining the leading concept is Lori Osley as vice president of franchise development, Kyle Brown as director of design and architecture, and Anthony Friel as project manager. The group of trade veterans will spearhead continued growth efforts by offering extended support to new and existing franchisees. Osley is joining QDOBA with substantial development experience through her work with Sonic Drive-In’s as the senior director of …
Minneapolis — Target Corporation has announced its most sustainable store to date in Vista, Calif. The site will generate more renewable energy than it needs annually to operate and will test multiple innovations to reduce the building’s emissions. The store’s retrofit and new features will inform Target’s investments in new stores and remodel programs that support its long term growth and help guide the retailer’s efforts to achieve its sustainability goals. The store will generate renewable energy through 3,420 solar panels across its roof and newly installed carport canopies. The …
Seattle — Starbucks Corporation has announced that Kevin Johnson, president and chief executive officer, intends to retire after a 13-year tenure at the company, including the last 5 years as CEO. Johnson will transition from his current role on April 4, 2022, and will continue to serve as a Starbucks partner (employee) and special consultant to the company and board of directors through September. The Starbucks board of directors has been engaged in continuous CEO succession planning, assisted by Russell Reynolds Associates since 2021, and anticipates selecting a new leader …
Charlotte, N.C. — Slim Chickens, a leading fast-casual franchise in the better-chicken segment, has opened its newest restaurant — and its first in North Carolina — at 5535 Prosperity Ridge Rd. in Charlotte. Seasoned restaurant group Break Bread Ventures is at the helm of the deal. “We are so excited to open our first location in North Carolina,” says Jackie Lobdell, vice president of franchise development at Slim Chickens. “Partnering with talented and passionate operating groups like Break Bread Ventures makes adding Slim Chickens to new communities across the country …
Pittsburgh and Minneapolis — DICK’S Sporting Goods is now hiring for a new DICK’S Sporting Goods House of Sport store that will open in May 2022 in Minnetonka, Minn. The new retail concept was launched last year when the first-ever DICK’S House of Sport opened in Victor, N.Y., in April 2021. The new Minnetonka store will feature a 35-foot rock climbing wall, a batting cage for baseball and softball featuring HitTrax™ technology, golf hitting bays with TrackMan™ simulators, a putting green, a hockey shop, a House of Cleats™ that will …
Dallas — Ziosk, the leading on-premise digital ordering and payments platform for restaurants, has entered into an agreement with Texas Roadhouse that will bring the Ziosk Cloud Commerce Platform to its Texas Roadhouse restaurants across the U.S. Texas Roadhouse has begun its rollout of “Roadhouse Pay,” which uses the Ziosk Mini, a smaller, portrait version of its powerful tabletop tablet, to allow guests to pay at the table. The Ziosk Mini allows restaurants to tap into pay-at-the-table technology, order entry, guest surveys, loyalty and QR technology while occupying less space …
West Covina, Calif. — Red Ribbon Bakeshop, Inc., the Philippines-founded bakery that offers an array of sweet and savory baked goods, debuted its first-ever drive-thru service in the U.S. as part of its new store opening on Westheimer Road in Houston on March 5th. “We’re so excited to make our delicious baked goods more accessible to the Westheimer community through the opening of our first-ever drive-through amenity,” says Agnes Briones, business unit head, Red Ribbon Bakeshop, Inc. “We look forward to bringing this added convenience to both our fans and …
EVgo Energizes New Station at Wawa in Philadelphia, Bringing EVgo Chargers to 6 Stores Across the Chain
Los Angeles — EVgo Inc, the nation’s largest public fast charging network for electric vehicles (EVs) and Wawa Inc., a regional convenience store retailer, have opened of the first live EVgo public fast charging station at a Wawa store in Pennsylvania. The new charging station, located at 3901 Aramingo Ave, in Philadelphia, powers four charging stalls through two 100 kW fast chargers and one 350 kWh fast charger, capable of simultaneous charging. The launch of this new station marks EVgo’s sixth charging site at a Wawa location. “Our partnership with …
Chicago and Hayward, Calif. — In late February, Filippo Berti, chairman and CEO of the Ali Group, named Joe Deckelman as president of The Montague Company, an Ali Group Company. In his new role, he is responsible for the day-to-day management of The Montague Company. Deckelman’s extensive background in the commercial foodservice industry spans nearly three decades, working in many different areas of the industry. He held the role of vice president of sales and marketing at Champion Industries, an Ali Group Company, from 2010 to 2014. He also held …