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The Dolly Llama to Open First Florida Location

by Katie Lee

Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. — The Dolly Llama, the L.A.-based waffle and artisanal ice cream sensation, plans to open in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., as part of the concept’s current 40-store national expansion plan. Projected to open within the next month, this location marks The Dolly Llama’s entry into the Sunshine State. The shop will be located within the Tournament Plaza. “Our family is originally from Los Angeles and learned about the Dolly Llama through our son, who happened to be in school with the co-founder’s daughter,” says Josh Popkin, …

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Panera Brands Appoints New Chief Financial Officer

by Katie Lee

St. Louis — Panera Brands Inc., whose brands include Panera Bread, Caribou Coffee and Einstein Bros. Brands, has appointed Konrad Meyer as chief financial officer, effective August 22, 2022. Meyer joins Panera Brands from JAB, where he has been a partner helping to source and oversee its investments, including its fast-casual restaurant portfolio. He brings significant experience in the industry, including previously serving as interim CFO of Pret a Manger. Ted Stedem, current Panera Brands CFO, is stepping down from his role to pursue other interests after supporting the company …

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Sweetgreen Expands Midwest Footprint With First Opening in Michigan

by Katie Lee

Los Angeles — On August 9, sweetgreen, the mission-driven restaurant brand serving healthy food at scale, opened its first Michigan location in the metropolitan Detroit suburb of Birmingham. The new restaurant, which is the 170th for the brand, is located at 167 North Old Woodward Ave. The Birmingham opening will be followed by two additional Michigan restaurants — in Ann Arbor on the University of Michigan campus, and in Troy, both slated to open this fall. “When we began to explore our expansion into the Midwest, we took notice of …

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WKS Restaurant Group Selects Interface to Deploy Virtual Security at its 394 Restaurants

by Katie Lee

St. Louis — Interface Systems, a leading managed service provider delivering business security, managed network, UCaaS and business intelligence solutions to distributed enterprises, has teamed up with WKS Restaurant Group, one of the fastest growing multi-brand restaurant franchisees in the U.S. WKS is deploying Interface’s Virtual Guard interactive remote video monitoring solutions across its major restaurant brands including El Pollo Loco, Wendy’s, Denny’s, Krispy Kreme Doughnuts and Blaze Pizza. By implementing virtual guard services, WKS will offer better security for its employees and customers while reducing the cost of securing …

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Starbucks, Volvo and ChargePoint Expand EV Charger Access from Denver to Seattle

by Katie Lee

Seattle — Starbucks Corporation, in partnership with Volvo Cars, has named the first Starbucks stores where new electric vehicle (EV) chargers, powered by ChargePoint Holdings, Inc., will be available to customers and members of the public — part of the company’s commitment to a sustainable future. Four charging stations have been installed at the first Starbucks location in Provo, Utah, and additional places to charge will be positioned along a 1,350-mile route that winds through national forests and major community hubs from the Colorado Rockies to Starbucks’ headquarters in Seattle. …

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Jack in the Box Inc. Promotes Del Taco’s COO to Brand President

by Katie Lee

San Diego — Jack in the Box Inc. has promoted Del Taco’s chief operating officer, Chad Gretzema, to Del Taco brand president. He replaces John Cappasola, who has stepped down from his role as Del Taco president & chief executive officer. “Chad has been an instrumental part of the executive team at Del Taco that has compiled an impressive 8 consecutive years of positive franchise same-store sales,” says Darin Harris, CEO of Jack in the Box. “He has been a champion for Del Taco operators, franchisees and guests as the …

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Yum! Brands Names New Chief Corporate Affairs Officer

by Katie Lee

Louisville, Ky. — Yum! Brands, Inc. has named Allyson Park to the role of Yum! Brands’ chief corporate affairs officer, effective August 15, 2022. An accomplished corporate affairs leader with more than 25 years of strategic communications and government relations experience, Park will join the company’s global leadership team, and report to Yum! Brands’ chief operating officer and chief people officer, Tracy Skeans. “Allyson’s proven record serving some of the world’s most recognizable brands makes her an ideal fit for the role, and she brings a wealth of expertise about …

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Church’s Texas Chicken and Texas Chicken Names Industry Veteran as New CEO

by Katie Lee

Atlanta — Church’s Texas Chicken™ and Texas Chicken™, one of the largest quick-service chicken restaurant chains in the world, has named industry veteran Joe Guith as the brand’s new CEO, effective August 1, 2022. As Church’s Texas Chicken looks to accelerate a new phase of growth, Guith brings extensive experience in the consumer and restaurant businesses as well as deep expertise working in a highly franchised organization. “I’m impressed with this brand’s resiliency and its ability to navigate a challenging environment over the past few years. With a strong base …

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franchise developmentNewsrestaurants

Paris Baguette Inks 72 Deals Since the Start of 2022

by Katie Lee

Moonachie, N.J. — Paris Baguette, the bakery café concept with 4,000 units across the globe, has signed 72 franchise deals since the start of 2022 and is marking more than 40% year-over-year growth. In fact, Paris Baguette is poised to meet, if not exceed, its goal of 56 units opened in 2022, expanding to Florida, Hawaii, Maryland and more. Moving forward, the brand continues to eye the 1,000-unit mark within the U.S. by 2030; the concept has recently debuted in the Minnesota, Maryland and Florida markets. Signing units in Hawaii, …

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construction and designNewsrestaurants

NELSON Renovates and Reimagines Original KFC Location and Museum

by Katie Lee

Corbin, Ky. — Located in North Corbin, Ky., the Sanders Cafe is a historic restaurant and museum widely recognized by enthusiasts throughout the globe as the birthplace of the now-famous fast food restaurant chain, Kentucky Fried Chicken. Operated by Harland Sanders in the 1940s, the site rose to prominence for the conception of the famous KFC secret recipe and has since been added to the National Register of Historic Places. Today, the Sanders Cafe, owned and operated by JRN, Inc., stands as a restaurant and museum that invites fans of …

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