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Barnes & Noble Education Signs New Campus Store Partnerships

by Katie Lee

Basking Ridge, N.J. — Barnes & Noble Education, Inc., a leading solutions provider for the education industry, has signed a wave of new campus store partnerships with colleges and universities across the country. These institutions, representing a mix of 2- and 4-year public and private schools, have selected Barnes & Noble College (BNC) to operate their campus stores ahead of the 2025–2026 academic year, with over 20 campus stores scheduled to open from February through August this year. This total is more than double the number added during the same …

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construction and designfranchise developmentNewsrestaurants

Nothing Bundt Cakes Marks 700th Bakery Milestone

by Katie Lee

Dallas — Nothing Bundt Cakes is celebrating the opening of its 700th bakery, located in Rosenberg, Texas. The Dallas-based company has grown to the nation’s largest specialty cake company with locations throughout more than 40 states and Canada. The brand has ambitious plans to open its 1,000th location by 2027. Nothing Bundt Cakes opened 101 bakeries in 2024 and is on pace to do the same this year as this bakery opening is the 40th in 2025. The brand is on track to become one of the highest-growth companies in …

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Rite Aid Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy, Explores Acquisition Opportunities

by Katie Lee

Camp Hill, Pa. — Rite Aid has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Jersey and is exploring opportunities to be acquired by outside entities. The announcement marks the second time in 24 months that the Pennsylvania-based convenience and drugstore chain has filed for voluntary Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The previous filing in October 2023 preceded the closure of hundreds of stores across the country. The company did not explicitly say in this filing how many of its stores would be immediately …

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kitchen exhaust/grease controlNewspeopleProduct Spotlightrestaurantssoftware/technologyvendorswaste management/recycling

Restaurant Technologies Appoints Chief Financial Officer

by Katie Lee

Minneapolis — Restaurant Technologies has named Matthew Micowski as its newest chief financial officer (CFO), succeeding Bob Weil who has held the position since 2007 and has transitioned to a strategic advisor position within the organization.  Micowski brings over two decades of strategic financial leadership across the technology and healthcare industries, most recently serving as the senior vice president and CFO at NAMSA since 2021. “Matthew’s record of successfully accelerating growth, driving operational transformation and proactively setting companies up for future success made him stand out in a highly competitive …

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construction and designfranchise developmentNewsremodelsrestaurants

Huddle House Unveils Brand Renovation, Including New Drive-Thru Prototype

by Katie Lee

Atlanta — Huddle House, an iconic family dining brand for the last 60 years, is undergoing a transformative evolution. Under the leadership of CEO James O’Reilly and Chief Operating Officer Blain Shortreed, the brand unveils a reimagined brand identity that includes a trio of new restaurant prototypes to accelerate the brand’s geographic expansion. “As we celebrate 60 incredible years, we lay the foundation for the next 60 in a big way, stepping confidently into our evolution,” says James O’Reilly, CEO of Ascent Hospitality Management, the parent company of Huddle House. …

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Newsretailers

3G Capital Agrees to Acquire Skechers for $9.4 Billion, Take Company Private

by Katie Lee

Manhattan Beach, Calif. & New York City — Global investment firm 3G Capital has entered into an agreement to acquire footwear retailer Skechers USA Inc. The sales price is $9.4 billion, according to The Wall Street Journal. Upon completion of the transaction, Skechers will become a privately held company. New York City-based private equity firm 3G will pay $63 per share in cash, representing a premium of 30% to Skechers’ 15-day, volume-weighted average stock price. The transaction also includes the option for existing shareholders of Skechers to instead receive $57 …

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construction and designfranchise developmentNewsremodelsrestaurants

Moe’s Southwest Grill Marks 25th Anniversary with 4 Straight Years of Growth

by Katie Lee

Atlanta — This May, Moe’s Southwest Grill®, one of the seven brands within the GoTo Foods platform company, unveils a record-breaking average unit volume (AUV) of $1,235,422 in 2024, showcasing 4 consecutive years of growth. It is also the brand’s 25th anniversary. Under the recent leadership of its chief brand officer, Mike Smith, who was appointed in October 2024, Moe’s continues to revolutionize the fast-casual Mexican dining space. Key Initiatives Driving Significant Brand Evolution: • Strengthening Franchise Development: Over the past year, Moe’s opened 15 new locations across the country. …

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construction and designNewsretailers

Bob’s Discount Furniture to Open 20 New Stores in 2025, Including Debuts in Vermont and North Carolina

by Katie Lee

Manchester, Conn. — Bob’s Discount Furniture plans to open 20 new stores in 2025, further expanding its presence in the U.S. The new locations will include Bob’s first-ever stores in Vermont and North Carolina. Among the 20 stores, six will be located in North Carolina, marking Bob’s entry into the Southeast. Its Vermont location in Williston will be Bob’s first in the state, reinforcing the company’s strong ties to the Northeast, where it was founded in 1991. “We’re excited to bring our on-trend assortment of furniture, mattresses and home accents …

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franchise developmentNewspeoplerestaurantssoftware/technology

FAT Brands Names Chief Information Officer

by Katie Lee

Los Angeles — FAT (Fresh. Authentic. Tasty.) Brands Inc. has hired Drew Martin as chief information officer. Martin joins FAT Brands with over 35 years of IT experience and will be focused on delivering scalable technological solutions to progress the growth of FAT Brands. Martin’s diverse background includes serving as senior vice president and CIO for Jack in the Box and senior vice president and CIO for Sony Electronics. Other previous ventures include PepsiCo, leading the digital transformation/supporting the sale of Jenny Craig, and serving as executive vice president and …

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Lowe’s Deploys First At-Scale AI Assistant for Retail Associates

by Katie Lee

Charlotte, N.C. — Lowe’s has launched Mylow Companion, an AI tool aimed at improving customer service and speeding associate onboarding. Purpose-built for associate sales floor devices, the app provides fast access to product details, project advice and inventory information. The launch to all associates across Lowe’s more than 1,700 stores marks the first time a retailer has successfully implemented this kind of technology at scale. Associate expertise is uniquely valuable for home improvement retailers, as customers ask daily about a variety of complex projects and thousands of different products. Mylow …

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