Wednesday, May 7, 2025
Read the Magazine Subscribe

News

franchise developmentNewsrestaurants

MilkShake Factory® Awards 100th Franchise Unit on First Anniversary of Franchise Launch

by Katie Lee

Ann Arbor, Mich. — MilkShake Factory, a Franworth portfolio brand and beloved dessert destination, has reached a milestone by awarding its 100th franchise unit on the first anniversary of its franchising journey. MilkShake Factory, a fourth-generation family business, was built on a legacy of quality. The journey began in 1914 when Charlie and Orania opened their first chocolate shop and soda fountain in Pittsburgh’s Lawrenceville neighborhood. More than a century from its early soda fountain days, the company was renamed “MilkShake Factory” and by 2016, had established itself as the …

Continue Reading
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
energy managementNewsProduct Spotlightrestaurantssoftware/technologyvendors

Budderfly Acquires Sunverge’s Distributed Energy Resource Management Platform

by Katie Lee

Shelton, Conn. — Budderfly, a preferred sustainability partner for commercial businesses with repeatable footprints, has acquired a grid-edge distributed energy resource management system (DERMS) from Sunverge Energy. Former Sunverge employees with decades of DERMS and energy market experience will join Budderfly’s growing team of almost 400 employees. Using Sunverge’s technology, Budderfly can aggregate distributed energy resources (DERS) across its sites, positioning it to create virtual power plants (VPPs) capable of providing flexibility to the grid, increasing resiliency for customers and growing new revenue streams. With greater control over its energy …

Continue Reading
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Newspeopleretailers

Victoria’s Secret & Co. Appoints New CEO

by Katie Lee

Reynoldsburg, Ohio — Victoria’s Secret & Co. and its board of directors have appointed Hillary Super as chief executive officer and a member of the board, effective September 9, 2024. Super succeeds Martin Waters in both roles. Timothy (TJ) Johnson, VS&Co’s chief financial and administrative officer, will serve as interim CEO effective today through September 8, 2024. Waters will remain employed as an advisor to the company through August 31, 2024 to support a smooth transition. Super brings nearly three decades of retail merchant expertise and a successful track record …

Continue Reading
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Newspeopleretailers

Starbucks Names Chipotle Chief as New Chairman and CEO

by Katie Lee

Seattle —  Starbucks has appointed Brian Niccol to chairman and chief executive officer. He will start in his new role on September 9, 2024. Rachel Ruggeri, chief financial officer of Starbucks, will serve as interim CEO until that time. Mellody Hobson, Starbucks board chair, will become lead independent director. Niccol currently serves as chairman and CEO of Chipotle. Since becoming CEO in 2018, Niccol has transformed Chipotle, focusing on people and culture, brand, menu innovation, operational excellence and digital transformation. “We are thrilled to welcome Brian to Starbucks. His phenomenal …

Continue Reading
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
construction and designNewsretailerssupply chain

DICK’S Sporting Goods Plans New Distribution Center in Fort Worth, Texas

by Katie Lee

Pittsburgh, Pa. — DICK’S Sporting Goods plans to construct an 800,000-square-foot regional distribution center in Fort Worth, Texas, which is expected to bring 300 new full-time jobs to the region over the next 10 years. The Fort Worth location joins five existing DICK’S distribution centers in Atlanta; Conklin, N.Y.; Goodyear, Ariz.; Plainfield, Ind.; and Smithton, Pa. The next-generation facility will support DICK’S business in Texas and provide distribution capabilities to more than 100 DICK’S Sporting Goods stores across several states. DICK’S selected Fort Worth for its business-friendly environment, qualified and …

Continue Reading
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
franchise developmentNewsrestaurants

Surcheros to Debut in South Carolina with Multi-Unit Franchise Deal

by Katie Lee

Columbia, S.C. — Surcheros® is expanding into South Carolina. The fast-casual favorite plans to open 4 new locations in the Columbia area over the next 4 years, with the first restaurant in Forest Acres set to open in November 2024. Surcheros also recently announced plans to enter Tennessee. Surcheros currently operates 30 restaurants across Georgia and Florida. Earlier this year, the company announced plans to open 100 restaurants within the next 5 years, with 15 to 20 locations expected to open in the next 10 to 18 months. “This is …

Continue Reading
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
construction and designNewsremodelsretailers

Ace Hardware Launches ‘ELEVATE³ Ace’ Experiential Store Format

by Katie Lee

Oak Brook, Ill. — Ace Hardware, the world’s largest retailer-owned hardware cooperative, plans to roll out ELEVATE3 Ace, a new experiential store concept that will be launched in new and existing stores over the next 5 years, supported with a $1 billion investment. This groundbreaking, immersive store design was unveiled this month at the fall convention in Chicago, celebrating Ace’s 100-year anniversary and marking a fundamental shift in the Ace store model to boost both the customer experience and drive store growth. “Elevate Ace is not just a new store …

Continue Reading
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Newspeoplerestaurants

Rosa Mexicano Appoints New Chief Operating Officer

by Katie Lee

New York City — Mexican restaurant chain Rosa Mexicano has appointed hospitality veteran Matthew Licciardello as its new chief operating officer. “Licciardello is very accomplished with a wealth of experience and a proven track record in the hospitality industry. He will lead our operations team with excellence and innovation,” says Jim Mazany, CEO of Rosa Mexicano. Licciardello’s experience in the hospitality industry includes serving as senior vice president of operations at SPB Hospitality, where he led brands such as Rock Bottom Brewery, Gordon Biersch and Old Chicago Pizza & Taproom. …

Continue Reading
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Newspeopleretailers

Party City Appoints New President & CEO

by Katie Lee

Woodcliff Lake, N.J. — Party City Holdco Inc. has appointed Barry Litwin as its new president and chief executive officer (CEO). He brings a disciplined model to strategy setting and operational execution that delivers new revenue growth, gross profit improvement and operating expense efficiency. “The team and I look forward to welcoming Barry to the Party City family,” says Bob Hull, chairman of the board at Party City. “We are extremely confident that Barry’s expertise in fostering business growth and transformation as well as his people-focused leadership style will bring …

Continue Reading
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
franchise developmentNewsrestaurants

Dave’s Hot Chicken Signs 10-Unit Deal for Pittsburgh

by Katie Lee

Pittsburgh — Dave’s Hot Chicken, the Los Angeles-based street food sensation turned break-through fast-casual brand, has signed a multi-unit agreement to open 10 locations over the next 5 years across Pittsburgh. The 10-unit deal is with established entrepreneurs and business partners Danny Costa, Michael Costa and Jonathan Wise along with Raj Patel, who already owns seven Dave’s Hot Chickens across Chicago and Indiana. The Costas and Wise, who own and operate 75 Dunkin’ locations in Pennsylvania and Maine, along with Patel, who owns and operates over 100 franchise locations with …

Continue Reading
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Newer Posts
Older Posts