Oklahoma City — Coolgreens, a fast-casual concept that focuses on providing fresh and high-quality food, has hired Kathy Davidson to join the brand’s leadership team as its new vice president of franchise development. Davidson brings nearly 10 years of foodservice franchise development experience to the role. Previous positions include stints with Church’s Chicken, Cowboy Chicken and, most recently, Fazoli’s. The industry veteran said she is excited to join a smart, strong leadership team with more than 55 years of collective experience, including CEO Robert Lee; Todd Madlener, vice president of …
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Pasadena, Calif. — Kitchen United, the GV-backed startup creating a new way for restaurant brands to expand via off-premise optimized kitchen centers, has signed lease agreements bringing new locations to San Francisco and Los Angeles, and a second location to Chicago in the Fulton Market District. The off-premise kitchen concept currently has locations in Pasadena, Calif., and Chicago’s River North neighborhood; new kitchen centers are scheduled to open this year in Atlanta; Columbus, Ohio; Austin, Texas; and Scottsdale, Ariz. “The popularity of off-premise consumption in the restaurant industry — through …
Washington, D.C. — On April 22, 2019 (Earth Day), the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) unveiled a new initiative identifying U.S. retailers committed to taking leadership action to reduce potent greenhouse gases used in cooling, hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). As part of this initiative, ALDI U.S. intends to add 100 more stores in 2019 with HFC-free refrigeration systems. “In a time of acute need for leadership on climate change, the U.S. retail sector has remained a laggard in adopting climate-friendly cooling compared to their counterparts in rest of the developed world,” says Avipsa …
Boca Raton, Fla. — I Heart Mac & Cheese, a rapidly expanding fast-casual concept specializing in customizable, made-to-order macaroni and cheese bowls, grilled cheese sandwiches and specialty salads, has sold its corporate store in Patchogue, N.Y., as part of a multi-year New York City development deal. A private entity will operate the Patchogue store as a franchise, effective immediately, and begin executing a plan to expand the I Heart Mac & Cheese brand into all five boroughs of New York City. “Our first corporate owned restaurant in Patchogue opened in …
Fort Lauderdale, Fla. — Furniture retailer City Furniture has set the complex operational goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2040. Its 2040 Green Promise goal encompasses the company’s showrooms, warehouses and offices, its statewide delivery fleet and recycling initiatives, according to firm President Andrew Koenig. The company leads the U.S. furniture industry with 240,000 square feet of LEED-certified showroom space and is converting its delivery truck fleet to run on compressed natural gas (CNG) instead of diesel fuel. Operating the industry’s greenest fleet, Koenig’s team expects delivery of five all-electric …
Cherry Hill, N.J. — BrandPoint Services, a leading full-service commercial maintenance, repair, refresh and remodel company, has merged with LEGACY Retail Services, a New Jersey-based company and leader in national digital media and fixture installation company. The merger will create a leading single source North American provider of facility services and solutions supporting clients in various industries including retail, banking, healthcare, grocery, restaurant, entertainment and more. The combined companies will offer expertise in facility maintenance service and project management, general contracting construction services, digital media, fixture/graphic installations, merchandising and support …
Chicago — SMS Assist has hired long-time technology executive Kevin McDunn as chief product officer. McDunn will lead all aspects of SMS Assist’s product innovation strategy as the quickly growing company continues to reinvent facilities management services. McDunn, with previous experience at Lenovo, Google and Motorola, was most recently chief product officer at UI LABS, an accelerator focused on transforming industries through digital technology (UI LABS rebranded as MxD in February). “Our company is built on powerful products and innovative ideas,” says Taylor Rhodes, CEO of SMS Assist. “Kevin has …
Blue Ash, Ohio — LSI Industries Inc. has hired Steven Moeglin as its new director of national accounts, one of LSI’s strategic market verticals. He will be responsible for leading the commercial sales team focused on large national lighting, graphics and digital solution retail customers. “Steve has been very successful in launching new businesses and technologies throughout his career,” says Jeff Croskey, LSI’s chief commercial officer. “That experience will be very valuable to the commercial advancement of LSI’s core product lines, including lighting, controls, branded graphics and digital solutions. Likewise, …
Washington, D.C. — BoConcept franchise owner Tim Machenaud opened his second store in the Washington, D.C., area at Tysons Galleria on April 19, 2019. With nearly 300 locations across 60 countries, BoConcept’s latest location is a push to increase brand visibility and promote luxury, urban-chic furniture in the U.S. Already well established across Europe, Asia and Latin America, BoConcept is now looking to dominate the premium furniture retail business across North America. With 15 locations in key metropolitan areas of the U.S., BoConcept aims to double its presence in 2019 …
Frederick, Md. — Roy Rogers® Restaurants has named Frank Cleveland senior manager of information technology. Based in the company’s Frederick, Md., headquarters, he reports to Jeremy Biser, executive vice president, and is responsible for directing all IT operations to meet internal and external customer requirements and developing new technical solutions to meet current and future needs for the brand. Cleveland previously worked at Marriott International as a senior infrastructure analyst overseeing maintenance and evolution of systems. He also has provided IT support to small to mid-sized companies through PB Networking …