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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 …

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  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 …

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San Antonio — Whataburger® has named QSR finance veteran Ryan Moore as its next chief financial officer. Moore joins Whataburger July 31, bringing deep restaurant experience to help guide the company’s financial strategy as the brand continues to grow. “Ryan is a proven financial leader with deep experience in the restaurant industry and a strong track record of helping brands navigate periods of meaningful growth,” says Debbie Stroud, Whataburger’s president and CEO. “He’s a collaborative leader who understands that when you invest wisely in your people, your operations and the …

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Dallas — Sports entertainment leader Topgolf will open its newest location near Madison in Monona, Wis., on Aug. 14, 2026. Topgolf Madison, the first venue in the state of Wisconsin, is the brand’s new prototype featuring Topgolf’s legendary golf games plus new entertainment and technology enhancements that include arcade games, a reimagined outfield, targets, lights and slope, and the brand’s new “My Bay, My Way” personalized offering. Topgolf Madison, located 8 miles east of Madison, is the brand’s 103rd venue in the country. The two-level venue will offer a dynamic …

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Snohomish, Wash. — Trinity Energy, a leading provider of integrated operating systems for sustainable energy solutions, has taken Costco Wholesale off grid with the launch of an independent, on-site energy system at Costco’s distribution center in Port St. Lucie, Fla. The fully integrated solar and battery platform was installed significantly faster than installing a traditional energy backup system from local power providers, enabling Costco to accelerate its operational readiness, bypass lengthy grid interconnection queues and permitting delays, and benefit from substantial cost savings. The energy independence solution, which combines solar …

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Atlanta — Mellow Mushroom is entering the second half of 2026 with significant franchise development momentum after signing six franchise deals through the first half of the year, preparing to open new restaurants and expanding into new markets — including its first-ever location in Montana. During the first quarter, Mellow Mushroom signed four franchise agreements representing six restaurants across Kentucky, Montana, Arkansas and Georgia. Since then, the development pipeline has continued to expand. The brand is now preparing for four restaurant openings next year, including its highly anticipated debut in Bozeman, …

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Westlake, Ohio — IKEA will open its newest Ohio location at the Crocker Park mixed-use lifestyle center in Westlake in spring 2027. The new store will feature the Swedish retailer’s small-format concept and will occupy about 80,000 square feet in the former Dick’s Sporting Goods space. For more than two decades, Crocker Park has attracted visitors from across the region with its mix of shopping, dining, office, residential and entertainment experiences. Combined with its location along the I-90 corridor, accessibility and strong demographics, Crocker Park was the natural choice for …

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Jackson, Miss. — Newk’s Eatery has promoted longtime executive Matt Wilson to chief operating officer. Wilson joined Newk’s straight out of college as an assistant manager at the brand’s original restaurant in Oxford, Miss. Over the next two decades, he steadily advanced through the organization, serving in leadership roles across operations, training, restaurant development and franchise support before most recently serving as senior vice president of operations. “Matt’s story is the Newk’s story,” says Chris Elliott, CEO of Newk’s Eatery and FSC Franchise Co. “His career demonstrates what’s possible when talented people are …

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Lebanon, Tenn. — Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. has appointed David Deno to serve as its next chief executive officer and on the board of directors, both effective Aug. 10, 2026. He succeeds Julie Masino, who will step down as CEO and a member of the board on the same date. Masino will remain with the company in an advisory capacity until Oct. 9, 2026 to support a smooth transition. Deno joins the company from Bloomin’ Brands. “Following a robust and thoughtful search process, we are pleased to welcome …

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White Plains, N.Y., and Sunny Isles Beach, Fla. — Mavis Tire Express Services Corp. and Icahn Enterprises LP have entered into a definitive agreement under which a subsidiary of Mavis will acquire Pep Boys from Icahn Automotive Group LLC for approximately $700 million in cash. IEP will retain the owned real estate previously transferred to IEP from Pep Boys, as well as the AAMCO Transmissions and Precision Tune Auto Care businesses. Formally named The Pep Boys-Manny, Moe & Jack Holding Corp., Pep Boys is an automotive service company offering tires, …

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