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Academy Sports + Outdoors Adds EVP & Chief Information Officer

by Katie Lee

Katy, Texas — Academy Sports + Outdoors, a leading full-line sporting goods and outdoor recreation retailer, has appointed Sumit Anand to the role of executive vice president and chief information officer. He will oversee all enterprise technology operations including cybersecurity, IT infrastructure and operations, and IT shared services supporting the company’s corporate, distribution center and retail initiatives. Prior to joining Academy, Anand served in a variety of executive roles for At Home, based in Dallas, including chief information officer and head of strategy and was previously senior vice president of …

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Mountain Mike’s Pizza Names Chief Operations Officer

by Katie Lee

Irvine, Calif. — Mountain Mike’s Pizza, a leading family-style pizza chain for over 45 years, has named Steven Adyani as chief operations officer. With 30+ years of experience in the restaurant industry, including at Mountain Mike’s Pizza, Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, The Cheesecake Factory and with celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay, Adyani brings a wealth of operational expertise to the position. Most recently, he served as vice president of operations. Since joining Mountain Mike’s in 2020, Adyani has been instrumental in refining and optimizing brand operations across a thriving network of …

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JOANN Begins Store Closing Sales at All 790 Locations Nationwide

by Katie Lee

Hudson, Ohio — JOANN, the fabric and crafts retailer, has commenced store closing sales at all 790 locations nationwide. The store closing process is being managed by GA Group, a leading asset disposition, valuation, appraisal and real estate services firm with extensive expertise in large-scale retail liquidations, together with Tiger Group as part of a joint venture. “JOANN has been a beloved destination for makers and craft enthusiasts for more than 80 years,” says Tim Shilling of GA Group. “As we begin this store closing process, our priority is to …

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Perkins American Food Co. Unveils Flagship & New Restaurant Design

by Katie Lee

Orlando, Fla. — Perkins American Food Co. will unveil its highly anticipated flagship restaurant in Orlando, Fla., on March 19. The location signifies a major milestone in the brand’s evolution. The flagship restaurant will showcase a new state-of-the-art design, designed by Aria Group, that combines contemporary aesthetics with the brand’s heritage. The new venue spans 3,500 square feet and offers a bright and inviting atmosphere, showcasing how modern American hospitality comes to life. It also features an exterior patio and chic design elements. “We have put a lot of heart …

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The Home Depot Names EVP of Pro, President of Home Depot Canada & EVP of HR

by Katie Lee

Atlanta — The Home Depot® has named Michael Rowe as executive vice president (EVP) of Pro, effective immediately. He will be responsible for The Home Depot’s strategy to grow its business with professional customers. Most recently, he served as president of The Home Depot Canada. In his new role, Rowe will lead the expansion of key capabilities to serve the Pro market, including delivery capabilities, salesforce development, technology and CRM tools, order management and more. A 19-year veteran of the company, Rowe has held several leadership roles for the Canadian …

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Presto Expands Voice AI-Powered Drive-Thru Solutions at Wienerschnitzel

by Katie Lee

San Mateo, Calif. — Presto Phoenix, Inc., a leading provider of AI-driven solutions for the quick-service restaurant (QSR) industry, has expanded a partnership with Galardi Group, the parent company of Wienerschnitzel, to deploy its cutting-edge Voice AI ordering technology across the chain’s drive-thru locations. The Galardi Group now has 35 locations operating with Presto’s Voice AI in the drive-thru. The company has already enrolled over 50 locations, with rapid 2025 expansion plans for Wienerschnitzel’s nationwide network of over 350 corporate and franchise drive-thru locations. “We’re thrilled to expand our partnership …

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Imperial Dade Acquires Athens Janitor Supply Company and Chittom Industries

by Katie Lee

Jersey City, N.J., and Athens, Ga. — Imperial Dade, a leading North American distributor of foodservice packaging supplies, industrial products and janitorial supplies, has acquired Athens Janitor Supply Company, Inc. and Chittom Industries, Inc. The transaction represents the 97th acquisition for Imperial Dade under the leadership of Robert and Jason Tillis, chairman and CEO of Imperial Dade, respectively. Financial terms of the private transaction were not disclosed. Athens Janitor Supply (AJS) was purchased in 1979 by Jim Chittom Sr. The company has three locations in Athens, Rome and Augusta, Ga. …

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BJ’s Wholesale Club Plans to Expand in Texas & Add 25-30 Clubs in 2025

by Katie Lee

Marlborough, Mass. — BJ’s Wholesale Club plans to open 25-30 clubs over the next 2 fiscal years, including several clubs set for the Dallas-Fort Worth area starting in early 2026. BJ’s Wholesale Club is a membership-based retailer that has been delivering value and convenience to families for over 40 years. “We are eager to continue our expansion by bringing unbeatable value, convenience and assortment to the Dallas-Fort Worth community,” says Bob Eddy, chairman and CEO, BJ’s Wholesale Club. “Economic expansion and a growing population make Texas a great fit for …

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CKE Restaurants Appoints New Chief Executive Officer

by Katie Lee

Franklin, Tenn. — CKE Restaurants Holdings, Inc., parent company of Carl’s Jr.® and Hardee’s®, has appointed Joe Guith as chief executive officer, effective immediately. He joins CKE from Church’s Texas Chicken. Guith arrives at CKE with extensive experience in franchising, restaurant management and the expansion of consumer brands. Previously, he served as CEO of Church’s Texas Chicken, where he successfully repositioned the brand and built stronger relationships with the franchisee community, leading to significant improvements in unit-level profitability, record sales and traffic growth. These changes led to expanding the Church’s …

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Wawa to Open First Ohio Store During 61st Anniversary in April

by Katie Lee

Liberty Township, Ohio — Wawa, Inc. has named April 16, 2025 as the grand opening of the first Wawa store in the state of Ohio, kickstarting the retailer’s expansion into the Midwest. Located in Liberty Township, Ohio, this is the first of 8-10 Wawa stores slated to open in Ohio by year’s end. Not only does this grand opening date mark Wawa’s debut in its 10th state, but it coincides with the founding date of the first Wawa store that opened on April 16, 1964 in Delaware County, Pa. “We …

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