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Smalls Sliders® Welcomes New Chief Operating Officer

by Katie Lee

Atlanta — Smalls Sliders has appointed industry veteran Julie Hauser-Blanner as its chief operating officer. In her new role, Hauser-Blanner will oversee all aspects of the brand’s daily operations, driving strategic initiatives to elevate efficiency, scalability and overall performance. With an illustrious career spanning over 25 years in multi-unit, multi-brand, global hospitality and restaurant companies, Hauser-Blanner brings a wealth of experience to the brand’s growing executive leadership team. Having most recently served as chief franchise officer at European Wax Center, Hauser-Blanner was responsible for all growth, strategy and support functions …

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Newsretailersstore closings

Express Files for Bankruptcy, Plans to Close 107 Stores; Names New CFO

by Katie Lee

Columbus, Ohio — Fashion retailer Express Inc. has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and plans to close 107 of its 602 stores. The Columbus, Ohio-based company’s portfolio includes apparel brands such as Bonobos, Express and UpWest Express. As part of the proceedings, 95 stores under the company’s Express banner will be shuttered alongside all 12 of its UpWest Express locations. The closing sales at affected stores are scheduled to begin on April 23, 2024. Express concurrently announced that it has received a non-binding letter of intent from a consortium …

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franchise developmentNewsrestaurants

Bojangles to Debut in Los Angeles County with 30-Unit Franchise Agreement

by Katie Lee

Charlotte, N.C. — Bojangles, the North Carolina-born restaurant chain specializing in Southern-style chicken, biscuits, breakfast and tea, has signed a 30-unit agreement that will bring the concept to Los Angeles for the first time. The agreement, spearheaded by seasoned entrepreneur Lorenzo Boucetta and Poulet Brothers, LLC, is expected to introduce Bojangles to Los Angeles County in early 2025. Boucetta’s lifetime of experience in the hospitality industry and his background in real estate development, e-commerce and technology make him the perfect fit to lead the brand’s break into the Los Angeles …

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construction and designNewsretailers

Wegmans to Open 110,000 SF Grocery Store in Charlotte, NC

by Katie Lee

Charlotte, N.C. — Wegmans Food Markets Inc., a Rochester, N.Y.-based grocer, plans to open a 110,000-square-foot store in Charlotte, N.C. Located along North Community House Road, the grocery store will be situated within Ballantyne, Northwood Investors’ 2,000-acre master-planned development on the south side of Charlotte adjacent to the South Carolina border. Wegmans aims to open the new store by the third quarter of 2026. The store will feature all traditional Wegmans departments, including produce, seafood, meat, bakery, deli, cheese and wine and beer. Additional offerings will include Meals2Go and catering, …

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construction and designfranchise developmentNewsrestaurants

Canada-Based Freshslice Pizza to Bring First U.S. Locations to Texas

by Katie Lee

Dallas — Freshslice Pizza, an innovative Canadian pizza franchise, will debut in the U.S. with its first two locations slated for the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex. Marking a significant milestone in the company’s growth, with over 100 stores in Canada, Freshslice entered the U.S market in January. Local DFW resident and entrepreneur Trenton Parks is the first franchise partner in the U.S. to invest in Freshslice. “We are thrilled to welcome Trenton into the Freshslice family, bringing our style of fresh pizza to the great state of Texas,” says Ray Russell, …

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green newsNewsretailerswaste management/recycling

Southeastern Grocers Releases 2023 ESG Report

by Katie Lee

Jacksonville, Fla. — Southeastern Grocers Inc. (SEG), parent company and home of Harveys Supermarket and Winn-Dixie grocery stores, has released its 2023 Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) report. The grocer is also donating thousands of reusable bags and supporting local conservation efforts through volunteerism and monetary donations in honor of Earth Month. The annual report details forward-thinking sustainability strategies, including eco-responsible operations, associate and supplier diversity, and continued support of local communities in need. SEG further commits to reducing the environmental impact of plastic waste with donation of 33,500 reusable …

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construction and designfranchise developmentNewsremodelsrestaurants

Melting Pot to Open First Location in Arkansas

by Katie Lee

Bentonville, Ark. — The Melting Pot, the 92-unit fondue franchise that has built a brand around providing a one-of-a-kind experiential dining atmosphere, has signed a franchise agreement in Bentonville, Ark., to bring the first Melting Pot location to the state of Arkansas. The new Bentonville restaurant is one part of a larger-scale effort to drive franchise expansion nationwide and for the brand to reach 125 locations by 2026. “After years of strong unit-level growth, we are focused on revitalizing the brand nationwide, bringing Melting Pot restaurants to new communities and …

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ALDI Launches Checkout-Free Grocery Shopping, Powered by Grabango

by Katie Lee

Berkeley, Calif. — In partnership with ALDI, Grabango has launched ALDIgo checkout-free shopping at a Chicago-area grocery store. ALDI is the first major U.S. grocery retailer to deploy checkout-free technology in an existing, full-size store. The technology, which ALDI deployed at one suburban location, allows shoppers to skip the line and save time. “The launch of ALDIgo is a pivotal moment for the grocery industry,” says Will Glaser, CEO of Grabango. “Although more challenging, it was important to us to launch this technology in a typical store and not one …

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franchise developmentNewsrestaurantsretailers

7-Eleven, Inc. Completes Acquisition of 204 Stripes Stores

by Katie Lee

Irving, Texas — 7-Eleven, Inc., a premier chain in the convenience-store industry, has completed its acquisition of 204 stores from Sunoco LP, which includes Stripes® convenience stores and Laredo Taco Company® restaurants. Located across West Texas, New Mexico and Oklahoma, these stores join the more than 13,000 7-Eleven®, Speedway® and Stripes® locations that 7-Eleven operates, franchises and/or licenses across the U.S. and Canada. With the closing, 7-Eleven now owns and operates all Stripes and Laredo Taco Company locations across the U.S. “Stripes and Laredo Taco Company have been a great …

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franchise developmentNewsrestaurants

FAT Brands Inks 40-Unit Northern California Co-Branding Development Deal

by Katie Lee

Los Angeles — FAT (Fresh. Authentic. Tasty.) Brands Inc., parent company of Fatburger, Round Table Pizza and 16 other restaurant concepts, has signed a new development deal to open 40 new franchised Fatburger locations across Northern California. In partnership with franchisee California Burger, Inc., Fatburger will be added to 40 existing Round Table Pizza locations over the next 10 years with the first location set to open in 2024. “Since opening our first co-branded Fatburger and Round Table Pizza in the Dallas area last year, we have seen significant interest …

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