News

Newspeoplerestaurants

Portillo’s Names New Chief Financial Officer

by Katie Lee

Chicago — Portillo’s, a fast-casual restaurant concept known for serving Chicago-style favorites for more than 60 years, has appointed Kevin Kalicak as chief financial officer and treasurer, effective Sept. 7, 2026. Kalicak joins Portillo’s bringing decades of financial leadership within the restaurant industry, serving in various roles with Darden Restaurants for more than 25 years. As CFO of Portillo’s, he will oversee the company’s finance organization, including financial planning and analysis, accounting, investor relations, internal audit, tax, supply chain and other corporate financial functions. “Kevin is a proven financial leader …

Continue Reading
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Newsretailers

Spencer Spirit Holdings, Inc. to Acquire Hot Topic, Inc., Expanding to More Than 3,000 Stores

by Katie Lee

City of Industry, Calif., and Egg Harbor Township, N.J. — Spencer Spirit Holdings, Inc. has signed a definitive agreement with Sycamore Partners to acquire Hot Topic, Inc. and its portfolio of brands: Hot Topic, BoxLunch and Her Universe. The transaction unites six highly complementary retail concepts under one umbrella, expanding the combined company’s total footprint to more than 3,000 stores across North America. Together, the combined entity creates a bicoastal retail ecosystem rooted in culture and entertainment. By combining deep consumer insights across distinct fan-centric segments, each of the brands …

Continue Reading
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
franchise developmentNewspeoplerestaurants

Mr Gatti’s Pizza Plans Full Ownership Transition as CEO Retires

by Katie Lee

Fort Worth, Texas — Mr Gatti’s Pizza, a fast-growing pizza and family entertainment brand, has said that entrepreneur and longtime franchisee G. Brint Ryan has acquired the remaining ownership interest in the company, becoming the primary owner of the Mr Gatti’s brand. The announcement also marks the beginning of CEO Jim Phillips’ planned retirement following more than a decade leading the company. Ryan first became a co-owner of Mr Gatti’s in December 2025. With the completion of this transaction, he assumes primary ownership of the franchisor and will oversee the …

Continue Reading
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Newspeopleretailers

Destination XL Group, Inc. Names Current Chairman as Interim CEO

by Katie Lee

Canton, Mass. — Lionel Conacher, chairman of the board of directors of Destination XL Group, Inc., has been named interim chief executive officer, effective Aug. 12, 2026. Conacher will continue in his role as chairman of the DXL board. His appointment follows the previously announced retirement of Harvey Kanter, effective Aug. 11, 2026. Kanter will also step down from the board at that time. “Our board will conduct a thorough search to identify the right leader to execute on our strategic priorities and capture the opportunities ahead in a dynamic …

Continue Reading
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
construction and designNewsrestaurants

Dog Haus Opens First International Restaurant

by Katie Lee

Pasadena, Calif. — Dog Haus has officially entered Mexico with the opening of its first restaurant in Mérida, Yucatán, marking its first permanent international restaurant. The restaurant is the first of three Dog Haus locations planned for Mexico in 2026. The Mérida restaurant welcomed its first guests in June. The opening represents a major milestone for the Pasadena, Calif.-based brand and also marks the first step in Dog Haus’ expansion across Mexico. Additional restaurants are planned for Mexico City and Tijuana before the end of 2026, with Monterrey and Riviera …

Continue Reading
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Newspeopleretailers

Best Buy Appoints New Chief Financial Officer

by Katie Lee

Minneapolis — Best Buy Co., Inc. has named Anne Bramman as executive vice president and chief financial officer, effective Aug. 19. She will succeed Matt Bilunas, who stepped down at the end of July. Bramman joins Best Buy with more than 30 years of leadership experience across finance, operations, strategy and transformation. In her new role, she will lead Best Buy’s global finance organization and help drive the company’s strategic priorities in partnership with incoming CEO Jason Bonfig and the rest of the leadership team. “Anne brings an impressive and …

Continue Reading
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
kitchen equipmentNewspeoplerestaurantsvendors

SilverChef USA Appoints Director of Operations and Customer Experience

by Katie Lee

Dallas — SilverChef USA, part of the Australian-founded hospitality equipment financier SilverChef Group, has appointed Madeleine Hopkins as director of operations and customer experience. Hopkins, who has led complex operations and departments across SilverChef’s Australian and Canadian teams, will work alongside Jon Jacobs, president of U.S. operations. With Hopkins’ appointment as the first operations lead in the U.S., SilverChef is building on its commitment to supporting its growing network of commercial kitchen equipment dealers, distributors and hospitality operators as it faces rapid growth in the country. In her new role, …

Continue Reading
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Newspeoplerestaurants

McDonald’s Appoints President of McDonald’s USA

by Katie Lee

Chicago — McDonald’s Corporation has promoted Skye Anderson, a company executive with more than 26 years of McDonald’s experience, to president, McDonald’s USA, effective Aug. 4. She succeeds Joe Erlinger, who has decided to leave the company after more than two decades with McDonald’s, including almost 7 years leading the U.S. business. Anderson most recently was chief operating officer. Anderson’s appointment reflects the company’s focus on improving everyday restaurant experience, strengthening value offerings for customers and driving long term profitable growth across the U.S. business. In this role, she will …

Continue Reading
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Newsretailers

Sleep Country Canada Acquires Sleep Number

by Katie Lee

Toronto — Sleep Country Canada Inc. has completed its acquisition of substantially all of the assets of Sleep Number, bringing together two iconic companies and forming the world’s second-largest sleep retailer. “This is one of the proudest days in our company’s history,” says Stewart Schaefer, president and chief executive officer of Sleep Country. “Today isn’t about the completion of a transaction. It’s about the beginning of a new future.” For more than 30 years, Sleep Country has helped Canadians sleep better through exceptional customer experiences, trusted expertise and a relentless …

Continue Reading
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Newsretailerssoftware/technologyvendors

Instacart’s Smart Trolleys Now Available at Morrisons Preston in the UK

by Katie Lee

  San Francisco and Bradford, England — Instacart, a leading grocery technology company in North America, and Morrisons, one of the UK’s largest supermarket chains, have launched Caper smart trolleys at Morrisons’ Preston supermarket, marking Instacart’s first retail partnership in the UK for its AI-powered smart trolley. Caper smart trolleys bring the convenience and intelligence of online shopping directly into the store, and the launch comes as consumers increasingly seek technology that helps them shop more efficiently, stay on budget and rediscover the joy of browsing the aisles. Caper smart …

Continue Reading
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Newer Posts
Older Posts