restaurants

Red Lobster CEO to Resign

by Katie Lee April 5, 2022

Orlando, Fla. — Red Lobster® CEO Kelli Valade plans to resign from her position on April 15. Red Lobster will immediately begin a search for a successor. Valade joined Red Lobster in August 2021. Under her leadership, she has created a new strategic framework and go-forward plan with a focus on the core guest and the need for value, as well as built out the executive team, adding the newly-created roles of chief marketing officer and chief information officer and recruiting a new chief financial officer. “Red Lobster is a …

April 5, 2022

News people restaurants retailers

Starbucks Founder Howard Schultz Takes the Helm as CEO

by Katie Lee April 4, 2022

Seattle — On April 4, Starbucks Corporation marked the return of founder Howard Schultz as chief executive officer and as a director on the company’s board. The news follows the retirement of Kevin Johnson, former president and CEO, who spent 13 years with the company, including the last 5 years as CEO. In an early morning letter, Schultz shared with all company stakeholders a vision and invitation to join in the reimagination of the company he built, one with a storied history and an enduring mission to inspire and nurture …

April 4, 2022

construction and design franchise development News remodels restaurants

H&H Bagels Introduces New Service Model and Brand Design

by Katie Lee April 4, 2022

New York City — H&H Bagels, a legendary New York City brand since 1972, is reopening its Upper West Side location after a 9-week remodeling and renovation project. The 50-year-old bagel company was started with a single location on the Upper West Side, one of Manhattan’s cultural and intellectual hubs, and has now expanded to five locations throughout the New York City area. The newly renovated space features an upgraded customer experience, accompanied by a new modern design. The storefront features the brand’s innovative fast-casual service model, which allows customers …

April 4, 2022

franchise development News restaurants

California Pizza Kitchen Signs 2 International Development Agreements

by Katie Lee March 31, 2022

Costa Mesa, Calif. — California Pizza Kitchen has signed two new international franchise agreements and plans to open seven international restaurants and two airport locations by year-end. These milestones follow the brand’s development momentum last year that included the launch of its domestic franchise program in December 2021. Recently signed international deals include agreements in Costa Rica and Chile, bringing the brand’s locations to approximately 50 overseas restaurants. Additionally, new locations are set to open in India; Chile; Costa Rica; Alberta, Canada; as well as in the Santiago, Chile, and …

March 31, 2022

kitchen exhaust/grease control News people restaurants vendors

Restaurant Technologies Adds to Senior Leadership Team

by Katie Lee March 31, 2022

Minneapolis — Restaurant Technologies has named two new executive placements as the company accelerates its growth to support new and existing commercial partnerships. Andy Dulka and Mike St. Clair join Restaurant Technologies, the top provider of foodservice cooking oil and hood and flue management solutions, with over 35 years of combined senior leadership experience. As chief information officer, Dulka will oversee the continued development of innovative, scalable and secure technologies for all of Restaurant Technologies. Previously, Dulka was the chief information officer at Starkey Hearing Technologies. Preceding Starkey, Dulka served …

March 31, 2022

franchise development News restaurants

WaBa Grill Continues California Expansion with 13-Store Deal

by Katie Lee March 30, 2022

Anaheim Hills, Calif. — WaBa Grill, one of the nation’s leading healthy rice bowl chains, is continuing to grow the brand’s California presence after inking a 13-store development deal. The deal was signed by franchisees Harsimran “Sim” Nagra and Jerry Bajwa with the Bajwa Group of Companies, which currently owns and operates 19 other WaBa Grill locations throughout Southern California. The Bajwa Group now has exclusive territory rights to develop WaBa Grill locations north of Bakersfield through Fresno, introducing WaBa Grill to many new markets including Visalia, Tulare and more. …

March 30, 2022

construction and design News remodels restaurants

Restaurant Suntory to Reopen at Royal Hawaiian Center Following Extensive Renovation

by Katie Lee March 29, 2022

Waikīkī, Oahu, Hawaii — Royal Hawaiian Center is celebrating the reopening of Restaurant Suntory on March 27 following an extensive renovation that began in fall 2021. The enhanced restaurant presents a captivating new design, inspired by the Japanese art of minimalism as well as Honolulu’s magnificent scenery, complemented by a refreshed menu to elevate the authentic Japanese dining experience guests have enjoyed for 42 years. Most notable of the transformation is the Sushi Tokiwa, the new sushi counter that provides a luxury omakase-style indulgence. The transformation is aimed at creating …

March 29, 2022

kitchen equipment News people restaurants vendors

Vulcan Promotes Meghan Hurst to VP of Sales and Marketing

by Katie Lee March 28, 2022

Baltimore — Vulcan, a leading provider of commercial cooking equipment, has promoted Meghan Hurst to vice president of sales and marketing for Vulcan. Hurst has been with Vulcan for almost 8 years, having most recently served as marketing director. “Meghan’s analytical nature combined with her creative expertise and strong understanding of the foodservice industry and its customers made our choice easy when deciding to promote her to this important position,” says Chris Stern, vice president and general manager, North America Cooking. “We focus on promoting strong performers within our company …

March 28, 2022

facilities management Industry Voices kitchen equipment restaurants vendors

Flipping the Script

by Katie Lee March 25, 2022

— By Danny Koontz — Advantages of having worked on both sides of the same coin: on the facilities management side and the vendor side. Ever wondered when ordering something, buying something or taking a sales call, why did the person on the other side choose that particular job? Maybe they didn’t choose it; maybe circumstances did — or maybe they enjoy that job as their passion. After almost 4 decades in the restaurant facilities management side of the business, I now find myself on the vendor side, …

March 25, 2022

energy management HVAC/R Industry Voices restaurants vendors

Clean Power

by Katie Lee March 25, 2022

— By David Sansenbach — Protecting power quality is key to restaurant and retail revenue. One of the most critical elements of running a successful restaurant or retail location is being fully operational whenever you are open to diners or shoppers. In order to do that, electrical equipment like a POS system, a WiFi modem, kitchen printers, security cameras, computing platforms and automation tools need to reliably operate exactly as expected. Given that this equipment is likely quite expensive to purchase (and to fix) and its timely and accurate …

March 25, 2022

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