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Nashville, Tenn. — Captain D’s has signed its first-ever franchise development agreement in Canada. Ontario-based entrepreneurs Ali Saeed and Mudassir Choudri will bring five Captain D’s restaurants to the greater Toronto metropolitan area over the next several years. The brand, which has its roots in the southeastern U.S., has been expanding rapidly with multiple franchise development agreements throughout 2023 as far west as Utah and into the northern states of New York and New Jersey. Captain D’s also has aggressive plans for growth throughout Canada. “As Captain D’s continues to …

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San Francisco — Williams-Sonoma, Inc. has announced the retirement of Marta Benson, chief executive officer of Pottery Barn Brands, effective April 26, 2024. Benson’s responsibilities will transition to the two existing Pottery Barn presidents, Monica Bhargava, president of Pottery Barn, and Jennifer Kellor, president of Pottery Barn Kids and Pottery Barn Teen. “On behalf of the board of directors and the entire Williams-Sonoma, Inc. team, I want to thank Marta for her significant accomplishments and commitment to driving growth during her 13-year tenure,” says Laura Alber, president and CEO of …

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Los Angeles — FAT Brands Inc. has opened its inaugural West Coast co-branded Johnny Rockets and Hurricane Wings restaurant. Located in Alhambra, Calif., the new unit marks a milestone in the expansion of the recently launched co-branded model, which first opened in late 2022 in Washington, D.C. “Following the resounding success of our first Johnny Rockets and Hurricane Wings co-branded restaurant in Washington, D.C., we’re thrilled to introduce this unique concept to the West Coast,” says Jake Berchtold, chief operating officer of FAT Brands’ Fast Casual Division. “Similar to Fatburger …

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San Francisco — Gap Inc. has appointed Eric Chan as chief business and strategy officer and Amy Thompson as chief people officer. Both leaders will join Gap Inc.’s executive leadership team and report to Gap’s president and chief executive officer, Richard Dickson. “Eric Chan and Amy Thompson will play a critical role in solidifying our foundation as we redefine Gap Inc. for a new era — one where operational rigor becomes a consistent cornerstone of strength for us, bolstered by best-in-class talent and a culture of creativity — all paving …

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Brewster, N.Y. – The Fiero Group has formed a strategic partnership with ASM Culinary Equipment, based in Mechanicsville, Md. This collaboration appoints ASM as the exclusive marketing agents for the Fiero brand in Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C. The partnership is set to leverage ASM’s dominance in the Mid-Atlantic pizza category to significantly expand the Fiero brand’s footprint in the region. ASM Culinary Equipment and the Fiero Group also plan to establish a state-of-the-art regional demonstration and training facility in the Washington, D.C., area. Slated to open in late first …

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Garden City, N.Y. — New York Fries, a premier fresh-cut fries concept, has marked its latest opening and re-entrance into the U.S. after growing the brand throughout Canada. New York Fries was first born in New York City’s South Street Seaport in 1983 where it began as a small french fry shop before going on to become a staple in food courts across Canada. New York Fries was acquired by Recipe Restaurant Group in 2015. Opening on Jan. 9 inside the Dining District of Roosevelt Field, one of the largest …

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Seattle — Specialty outdoor retailer REI Co-op plans to open 10 new stores in 2024. Locations have been finalized for summer 2024 openings in Glendale, Ariz., and Rancho Mirage, Calif. A store in St. George, Utah, will open in fall 2025. The co-op will open in formerly occupied retail spaces at Arrowhead Promenade in Glendale, Ariz., The River in Rancho Mirage, Calif., and St. George Place in St. George, Utah. Each location will offer a full-service bike shop. The new Utah location will also feature a ski and snowboard shop. …

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Tampa, Fla. — FSC Franchise Co., the parent company of Beef ‘O’ Brady’s and The Brass Tap, had a record year in 2023. In addition to acquiring Newk’s Eatery, a fast-casual café concept, the franchisor opened 10 Brass Tap locations and one Beef ‘O’ Brady’s, and it awarded another 36 and four, respectively. “We’ve been looking to add something to our platform for several years, and we think that Newk’s is the perfect complementary brand. It’s fast-casual with average unit volumes of $2.2 million, and it has the same geographical …

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New York City — Re-Bath, the nation’s largest complete bathroom remodeling franchise, has signed a multi-unit agreement in New York that will cover Brooklyn, Bronx, Manhattan, Queens and Staten Island. Re-Bath is actively expanding its presence along the East Coast and is set to venture into even more new markets within the state. Spearheading this massive growth across the Empire State are longtime New York residents, Robert Citrangola and Grace Campbell. While the duo is new to Re-Bath, they bring 30 years of combined franchise experience in the remodeling and …

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Atlanta — Sterling Hospitality has promoted two team members to new roles within the company. Ben Krawiecki has been elevated to the role of director of culinary and purchasing, and Mike Fickett has been promoted to director of support and client relations. “We couldn’t be more thrilled with Ben and Mike’s contribution to Sterling Hospitality and the growth of our concepts during their tenure across the board,” says John C. Metz, executive chef, CEO and co-founder of Sterling Hospitality. “Their relationships, attention to detail and hospitality will enhance our offerings …

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