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Detroit — Little Caesars®, the third-largest pizza chain in the world, is building on its commitment to serving military communities with four new locations planned across U.S. Navy installations. The expansion follows the brand’s first military base opening at Pearl Harbor in 2025 and marks another step in its continued non-traditional growth. “Military communities are an important part of Little Caesars and our commitment to supporting those who serve,” says Sally Rampersad, director of non-traditional and development services for Little Caesars. “Since 2006, the Little Caesars Veterans program has helped …

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Carnesville, Ga. — Walmart, Inc. plans to build a high-tech, next-generation fulfillment center in Carnesville, Ga., creating 1,000 new jobs and bringing $1.3 billion in investment to Franklin County. The new 1.5 million-square-foot automated facility will be located at the Franklin 85 Logistics Center in Carnesville. Walmart’s next-generation fulfillment centers are located in strategic markets to expand same-day and next-day shipping capabilities across the United States. Construction is expected to begin in late 2026. “This massive investment from Walmart in a rural part of our state will not only create …

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St. Petersburg, Fla. — WOWorks, the parent company of better-for-you restaurant brands Saladworks, Frutta Bowls, Garbanzo Mediterranean Fresh, The Simple Greek, Barberitos and Zoup! Eatery, has opened 23 new restaurants so far this year, with 15 additional locations currently in development. This brings WOWorks’ total footprint to nearly 240 restaurants nationwide and puts the company on pace for nearly 40 new stores by year’s end. New restaurants have launched across the Midwest, Mid-Atlantic and Southeast — including Ohio, Missouri, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Florida, Alabama, Virginia, Georgia and Texas — as …

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Menomonee Falls, Wis. — Kohl’s has named Ryan M. Waymire as chief merchandising officer, reporting to CEO Michael J. Bender, effective Sept. 28. Waymire has 25 years of experience at large retailers including Walmart, Amazon and Target, most recently serving as senior vice president of fashion at Walmart U.S. In his new role, Waymire will be responsible for Kohl’s overall merchandise strategy and all merchandising functions, including buying, omnichannel merchandising, product design and development, allocation and planning, sourcing and product portfolio strategy. “I am thrilled to have Ryan join the …

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Woodbury, Minn. — Moe’s Southwest Grill is bringing its bold flavors and signature hospitality to the Twin Cities area with the opening of its first traditional restaurant in the market. Slated to open by late September in Woodbury, Minn., the new location marks a milestone in the brand’s regional expansion and introduces local guests to the full Moe’s restaurant experience. While Moe’s currently serves travelers at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, the new 2,605-square-foot Woodbury restaurant is the brand’s first brick-and-mortar location in the Twin Cities area. “The Twin Cities area …

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San Francisco — Gap Inc. has appointed Michael Francis as president and chief executive officer of Old Navy, effective Nov. 2, 2026. Francis will succeed Haio Barbeito, who will transition from his operating role into an advisory capacity. Francis joined Gap Inc. in March 2026 as chief customer officer, Old Navy, and head of marketing shared services. Past roles include strategic advisor to Walmart’s c-suite and board for a decade; marketing and operating roles at DreamWorks Animation and JCPenney; and a 26-year career at Target, where he served as executive …

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Boston — Toast has released its 2026 Voice of the Restaurant Industry Survey. Each year, Toast polls hundreds of restaurant operators to get a pulse check on the industry. How are restaurants faring in 2026? What are the biggest pain points? Where do they see opportunity, and how has that changed since last year? What was clear from its 2026 survey — which took place from April 3, 2026, to April 20, 2026 — of 676 restaurant operators and decision-makers is that restaurants are durable, and they’re doubling down on …

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Minneapolis — Target Corporation is bringing its new Target Beauty Studio, a reimagined beauty destination, to stores in September. Launching Sept. 10 in more than 600 Target stores nationwide and on Target.com, Target Beauty Studio combines Target’s expertise in curating the latest beauty trends with an elevated, discovery-led shopping experience. “When guests shop for beauty, they want to pick up their standbys while also exploring what’s new and trending, and Target Beauty Studio is designed with that mix in mind,” says Amanda Nusz, senior vice president of merchandising, essentials and …

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Boston — Gong cha, the global bubble tea brand with nearly 2,200 locations across 33 international markets, is expanding into the airport sector with a new location planned for Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. The store is expected to open by the end of 2026 and represents the brand’s first airport location in the U.S., signaling a major step forward in Gong cha’s non-traditional growth strategy. The location will be operated in partnership with Kind Hospitality, an experienced airport and hospitality operator led by Nava Singam, president and CEO. The …

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New York City — Primark, an international fashion retailer, will open its first store in Georgia on Sept. 8. Primark will open at Sugarloaf Mills in Lawrenceville, bringing Primark to 47 total U.S. locations. Located in a suburb of Atlanta, the Sugarloaf Mills store will boast more than 26,000 square feet of retail selling space. Soon to follow, Primark will open its second Georgia location in Augusta. “Our expansion into the state of Georgia is something we’re extremely excited about,” says Kevin Tulip, president of Primark US. “We know that …

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