Lending Your Expertise

— By Jon McClure —   Responsible, creative financing supporting QSRs — how to find success in a challenging economy.   How is it that with high inflation and high costs of borrowing, many QSRs owners continue to manage successful

Twin Peaks Hits Key Growth Milestone with 100th Opening

Indianapolis — Twin Peaks Restaurant celebrated its 100th lodge opening on June 2 in the Indianapolis suburb of Greenwood, Ind. From the time Twin Peaks CEO Joe Hummel opened his first lodge in the Atlanta area as a franchisee, it

Lightspeed Reimagines How U.S. Customers Run Front-Of-House Operations

Montréal — Lightspeed Commerce Inc., a one-stop commerce platform for merchants and restaurateurs around the world, has released the latest version of its powerful restaurant solution: the Next Generation of Lightspeed Restaurant. This update, now available in the United States,

Panera Launches Drive-Thru Pick-Up Nationwide

St. Louis — On May 31, Panera launched Drive-Thru Pick-Up nationwide, combining the ease of the digital ordering experience with the comfort and convenience of the drive-thru window. Guests can now choose the Drive-Thru Pick-Up option when ordering ahead on

The Big Squeeze

— By George Lessmeister — 3 areas of margin pressure on restaurants.   Operating a restaurant can feel like a roller coaster ride. Revenue and volume plummeted during the pandemic and then climbed back to pre-COVID levels in 2022. Rising

Jersey Mike’s Opens in 50th State, Alaska

Wasilla, Alaska — Jersey Mike’s Subs has achieved a major milestone with the opening of its first restaurant in Alaska. The sub chain now offers its fresh sliced/fresh grilled sub sandwiches in all 50 states. “We now have more than

Panera Brands Establishes Next Generation of Leadership

St. Louis — Panera Brands Inc., which includes the fast-casual and hospitality brand Panera Bread as well as Einstein Bros. Bagels and Caribou Coffee, has established its next generation of CEO leadership and board governance in preparation for its eventual

Bonchon U.S. Appoints New CEO

Dallas — Bonchon, a global leader in fast-casual Asian fusion dining known for its Korean double-fried chicken, has appointed former global CFO Bryan Shin to lead Bonchon U.S. as CEO. Shin joined Bonchon as head of global finance in 2019

Essential Convenience

— By Bart Waldeck —   Retailers will need to embrace creative innovations in order to thrive in 2023 and beyond.   The retail landscape doesn’t look like it used to anymore — from buy online, pickup in store (BOPIS)

Vicky Bakery Appoints New CEO; Continues Franchise Growth

Miami — Vicky Bakery, South Florida’s original family-owned Cuban bakery since 1972, has named Mauricio Romero as its new chief executive officer. This announcement comes as Vicky Bakery is experiencing record-setting growth, continuous double-digit revenue gains, the opening of multiple

TGI Fridays CEO to Step Down

Dallas — Ray Blanchette, chief executive officer of TGI Fridays, is stepping down. Rohit Manocha, chairman of the board and co-founder of TriArtisan Capital Advisors, will be assuming Blanchette’s responsibilities in the interim. The TGI Fridays executive team will report

Island Fin Poké Co. Debuts in Nashville, Tenn.

Nashville, Tenn. — On May 22, Island Fin Poké Co. will open its 26th location in the U.S. and second location in Tennessee, in Nashville. Offering Hawaiian-style poké bowls, this fast-casual restaurant is set to become a go-to spot for

Wetzel’s Pretzels Names New Brand Leader

Pasadena, Calif. — Wetzel’s Pretzels has appointed Vincent Montanelli to the company’s top leadership position. Montanelli joined Wetzel’s nearly 20 years ago as the senior vice president of operations and most recently held the post of COO. He will maintain

Shipley Do-Nuts Appoints New CEO

Houston — Shipley Do-Nuts, a fast-growing franchisor of a leading do-nut, kolache and coffee concept, has named Flynn Dekker as its new CEO. Dekker succeeds Clifton Rutledge, who will return to the company’s board of directors. Dekker most recently served

Milk Jar Cookies Launches Franchise Program in 39 States

Los Angeles — Milk Jar Cookies, a growing gourmet cookie shop born in Los Angeles, has launched its franchising program in 39 states across the country. “The Milk Jar Cookies brand has waited 10 years to prove the concept, maintaining

sweetgreen Pilots Automation at New Store

Los Angeles — sweetgreen has opened its first restaurant powered by automation, accelerating the industry’s adoption of advanced technology and taking steps toward the future of dining. The pilot store, located in Naperville, Ill., debuts new technology called the sweetgreen

A&W Restaurants Aims to Open at Least 10 New Units in 2023

Lexington, Ky. — A&W Restaurants, the All-American restaurant franchise with 500-plus units nationwide, has had fast start to the year with three new restaurants opened, all indicative of the brand’s real estate flexibility and willingness to embrace non-traditional spaces. With

Presto and CKE Restaurants Partner for Drive-Thru Voice AI Automation

San Carlos, Calif. — Presto Automation Inc., one of the largest drive-thru automation technology providers in the hospitality industry, has expanded its partnership with CKE Restaurants Holdings, Inc., the parent company of Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s. Presto will be rolling