Atlanta — FOCUS Brands Inc. has appointed Michael Dixon as chief financial officer for its more than 5,000 ice cream shops, bakeries, restaurants and cafes through its affiliate brands, which include Auntie Anne’s®, Carvel®, Cinnabon®, McAlister’s Deli®, Moe’s Southwest Grill® and Schlotzsky’s®.
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New Hartford, N.Y. — Giardino Gourmet Salads has selected PAR Brink POS software for its corporate and franchised stores. ParTech Inc. (PAR) is a leading global provider of point-of-sale (POS) and food safety solutions to the restaurant industry and subsidiary of PAR Technology Corporation. Giardino’s is a fast-casual salad chain with 12 locations, based in southern Florida.
Seattle — Nordstrom, Inc. has opened its new, relocated store at Ala Moana Center in Honolulu. The three-level, 186,000-square-foot store features new interior and exterior design concepts, a full-service restaurant and bar, cocktail lounge, new departments and an enhanced beauty shopping experience. The store is a relocation from its previous home at the other end of the mall, which opened in 2008.
Manchester, Conn. — Bob’s Discount Furniture has promoted Michael Skirvin to president and chief executive officer of the company. He has served as president and chief operating officer since 2011. Skirvin succeeds Ted English, who has overseen the company’s expansion from 27 stores in seven states when he joined in 2006 to 69 stores in 12 states across the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic and Midwest today. English, who has been elevated to executive chairman, will remain actively involved with the company.
Boston — Wahlburgers, the better burger restaurant founded by Chef Paul Wahlberg with celebrity brothers Mark and Donnie, has signed franchise deals with five new franchise groups to open over 30 stores in several major metro markets in Massachusetts, California, Georgia, Michigan, Ohio, North Carolina and South Carolina. Seven restaurants are currently open, with three more slated within the next few months in Boston’s Logan Airport, Las Vegas and Philadelphia.
Canton, Mass. — Dunkin’ Donuts has signed a franchise agreement with Alimentacion Mexico Americana, part of Berny Group, to develop 20 new restaurants in Mexico. With the signing of this agreement, Dunkin’ Donuts has plans to develop nearly 150 restaurants in Mexico over the coming years.
Princeton, N.J., and Austin, Texas —Whole Foods Market has teamed up with NRG Energy, Inc., the country’s leading integrated competitive power company, to install rooftop solar at up to 84 Whole Foods stores and distribution centers across nine states to generate renewable energy onsite.
Minneapolis — Restaurant Technologies has partnered with Twisted Root Burger Co., the Dallas-based, award-winning restaurant brand. With 11 new total oil management solution installations from Restaurant Technologies, the burger joint reports several successes to its back-of-house operations.