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Dine Brands to Acquire Fuzzy’s Taco Shop

by Katie Lee

Glendale, Calif. — Dine Brands Global, Inc., the parent company of Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill + Bar® and IHOP® restaurants, has agreed to acquire Fuzzy’s Taco Shop® from Experiential Brands LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of NRD Holding Company, for $80 million in cash. Fuzzy’s is a fast-casual restaurant concept serving Mexican favorites with a Baja twist. Net of tax benefits, the purchase price is approximately $70 million. Founded in 2003 in Fort Worth, Texas, Fuzzy’s is a category innovator, offering a new twist on Mexican favorites at a value price …

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REGO Restaurant Group Names New Chief Development Officer

by Katie Lee

Denver — REGO Restaurant Group has hired quick-service industry veteran Vanessa Fox as chief development officer, a new role in which Fox will utilize her extensive industry expertise to support the continued transformation of the Quiznos and Taco Del Mar brands. On the heels of several recent Quiznos development deals to expand across the U.S., Fox brings to the company more than 20 years of experience as an ROI-driven leader with vast knowledge in strategic planning, market growth, portfolio management and business development. In this new role, Fox will aim …

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Rubio’s Coastal Grill Partners with SMG

by Katie Lee

Kansas City, Mo. — Service Management Group (SMG), a global customer, employee and brand experience management partner to more than 500 brands, has formed a new partnership with Rubio’s Coastal Grill. The fast-casual restaurant chain specializing in Baja-inspired Mexican food selected SMG to improve real-time, prescriptive feedback across its guest journey. Based in Carlsbad, Calif., Rubio’s has more than 150 locations across California, Arizona and Nevada. Co-founder Ralph Rubio opened the first location as a walk-up taco stand in 1983 in San Diego’s Mission Bay, and the brand’s reputation and …

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Chicken Salad Chick Debuts in Chicago Area

by Katie Lee

Atlanta — Chicken Salad Chick, the nation’s only fast-casual chicken salad restaurant concept, will open its first-ever location in the Chicago metro area and the fourth in Illinois on Jan. 10, 2023. Located at 220 North Randall Rd., Chicken Salad Chick Batavia is opening in the former Crabby Boil building in front of Menards and features a drive-thru as well as a private event space. Kim and Garrett Seaman of Fox Valley Chick, LLC are the duo bringing Chicken Salad Chick to the Chicago area. The husband-and-wife team met when …

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Paytronix Partners with Voicify to Bring Voice-Based Ordering to Restaurants

by Katie Lee

Newton, Mass. — Voicify, a conversational AI (Artificial Intelligence) platform used to deliver custom voice assistants, and Paytronix Systems, Inc., the most advanced digital guest experience platform for restaurants and retail, have formed a new partnership that enables restaurants to incorporate voice ordering across all customer touch points. Integrating the Voicify voice food ordering assistant with the Paytronix customer experience platform (CXP) allows both organizations to accelerate business development goals in the restaurant industry while offering expanded digital products and services to shared customers. Restaurant ordering options range from mobile …

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Smoothie King Makes 3 Key Additions to Executive Leadership Team

by Katie Lee

Dallas — Smoothie King has made three key additions to its executive leadership team: Marianne Radley, chief marketing officer; Juan Salas, chief information officer; and Laura Scavone, chief people officer. All three have been added to the brand’s C-suite and will be responsible for leading effective, cross-functional teams to achieve Smoothie King’s strategic business goals. “We’re excited to have Marianne, Juan and Laura join our growing leadership team. They are exemplary leaders in their respective segments, each possessing a wealth of experience in the QSR industry and will undoubtedly make …

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FAT Brands Opens First Tri-Branded Location

by Katie Lee

Los Angeles — FAT (Fresh. Authentic. Tasty.) Brands Inc. has opened its first tri-branded location: a Fatburger, Buffalo’s Express and Hot Dog on a Stick. This unique new location is situated in the Los Angeles neighborhood of Valley Village. “Since 2013, we have been able to effectively scale the co-branded model of Fatburger and Buffalo’s Express,” says Mason Wiederhorn, chief brand officer of FAT Brands. “As FAT Brands has continued to expand its portfolio, we have been exploring other like-minded brands to join together, most recently, Johnny Rockets and Hurricane …

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Bonchon Opens 20th Location in Virginia

by Katie Lee

Virginia Beach, Va. — Bonchon is continuing to grow in the state of Virginia. The popular restaurant, known for its crispy, hand-brushed Korean fried chicken, has a new opening in the Hilltop West shopping center in Virginia Beach, Va. The new location opened on November 22. The Virginia Beach Bonchon location has full table service and everything on the menu is available for takeout and delivery. Founded in Busan, South Korea, in 2002, Bonchon today has more than 390 locations across eight countries including Thailand, Philippines, Singapore, Cambodia, Myanmar, Australia, …

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Island Fin Poké Co. Debuts in Tennessee

by Katie Lee

Clarksville, Tenn. — Rapidly expanding franchise Island Fin Poké Co. has made its debut in Clarksville, Tenn., marking its 26th location and its first in Tennessee. The new location opened on November 14. Island Fin Poké Co. is a Florida-based fast-casual concept known for its Hawaiian-style build-your-own poké bowls. “Our area has been craving something new and fresh, so we are glad to be able to provide these exciting, Island-inspired flavors to Clarksville,” says Jeff Bryant, franchise owner of the new Island Fin Poké Co. “We’re looking forward to introducing …

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Caribou Coffee Opens First Domestic Franchise Location

by Katie Lee

Minneapolis — Caribou Coffee®, a national premium coffeehouse and Panera Brands company, has opened its first-ever domestic franchise location. Located in Wooster, Ohio, the grand opening on Nov. 17 marked a significant milestone for Caribou Coffee since announcing its domestic franchise program in October 2021. Earlier this year, Caribou Coffee announced its first multi-unit agreement with franchisee Mike Mariola, who intends to develop locations in the Columbus, Dayton and Cincinnati markets. “We’ve been anticipating the day when we could welcome guests to Caribou’s first U.S.-based franchise location,” says Matthew Walls, …

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