restaurants

Athens, Ga. — Zaxby’s, a premium quick-service restaurant brand founded in Athens, Ga., has named Patrick Schwing as chief marketing & strategy officer. He joins Zaxby’s from Inspire Brands, where he has served as Arby’s chief marketing officer and president of the Franchise Association for more than 2 years. In his new role, Schwing will oversee marketing communications, loyalty, e-commerce, R&D and media including digital and social to help the organization architect its future growth plans. “As Zaxby’s focuses on brand and culinary differentiation, we are excited to add Patrick …

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Charlotte, N.C. — Eric Gustafsson has been named the new vice president of franchise development for Famous Toastery. He will play an instrumental role in supporting incoming franchise owners as the brand moves closer to achieving its goal of reaching 50 units — doubling its current footprint — by 2024. Gustafsson brings many years of experience in the restaurant and franchising industries. Most recently, Gustafsson worked as director of business development for REEF, a global ghost kitchen technology company with 400 operations throughout the world. Prior to that, Gustafsson worked …

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Seattle — Starbucks Corporation’s board of directors has provided an update to affirm the search details for the company’s next chief executive officer. The board has agreed with founder Howard Schultz that he will remain as interim CEO through the first fiscal quarter of 2023. This timeline provides the company the ideal runway for a seamless transition and continuity of leadership through the 2022 holiday season, as the business transformation continues. Since returning as interim CEO on April 4, Schultz has engaged deeply with employees of all levels of the …

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Scottsdale, Ariz. — Fransmart plans for a multibillion-dollar portfolio of category-leading franchise brands by the end of 2030. To reach this goal, Fransmart will continue to identify and invest in concepts ripe for national and international expansion, while accelerating growth of its legacy brands. Additionally, the company is expanding its best-in-class leadership team to support each of its brands with operational expertise and highly-effective sales and marketing strategies. “To succeed in the world of franchising requires continual improvements to the brand’s business model, growth strategy, systems and processes,” says Dan …

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St. Louis — Panera Bread has opened the first “Panera To Go,” a new Panera Bread restaurant format offering digitally-enabled convenience for Rapid Pick-Up® and Delivery orders. The Chicago-based restaurant is the first of three Panera To Go test locations scheduled to open this year. Two additional Panera To Go cafes will open in California and Washington D.C. this year; the company will also evaluate adding in kiosk and catering orders to the new format in the future. Panera To Go is a digital-only bakery-cafe, with a reduced front of …

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Brooklyn Park, Minn. — Taco Bell has opened its new and innovative drive-thru prototype in the Minneapolis suburb of Brooklyn Park. Coined Taco Bell Defy, the two-story restaurant features four drive-thru lanes. A proprietary vertical lift transports food items straight from the kitchen to guests. The drive-thru experience at Taco Bell Defy is designed to be 2 minutes or less. The restaurant was built in partnership with longtime franchisee Border Foods. Minneapolis-based Vertical Works Inc. handled the design of the concept. The project was first announced last year.     …

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Chicago — On June 7, 86 Repairs, the repair and maintenance (R&M) management platform built for the restaurant industry, released The State of Repairs. The annual report offers restaurant operators invaluable insight into repairs and maintenance data. Today’s restaurant operator is pressed for time and resources from all directions, juggling the customer experience, high employee turnover and navigating changes in the supply chain. Repairs might only become a priority once a critical repair need has forced them to stop service. And routine maintenance can fall through the cracks because of …

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New York City — Tim Hortons® is launching two new next generation restaurant designs in the U.S.: a 900-square-foot drive-thru only model and a 1,600-square-foot restaurant with a 24-seat dining room. The first drive-thru only model will open this summer in Cross Lanes, W.Va., with at least 8 more opening throughout 2022 across Ohio, Michigan and New York. The new restaurant model offers guests an improved customer experience, while maintaining Tim Hortons’® warm and welcoming feel of your neighborhood coffeeshop. Modern and timeless, the new restaurants are designed for an …

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Dallas — BRIX Holdings, LLC, a Dallas-based multi-brand restaurant management and franchising company, has appointed Pamela Hunt as its chief financial officer. Hunt has more than 20 years of experience as a financial and operational leader for global organizations. In her new position, Hunt will oversee the BRIX Holdings’ finance organization and all financial activities including accounting, financial planning and analysis, treasury and tax for the BRIX Holdings’ portfolio companies, which includes Friendly’s Restaurants, Orange Leaf, Red Mango, Smoothie Factory and other brands. Hunt was most recently vice president of …

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Denver — Rush Bowls, a fast-casual concept known for its fresh and healthy meals-in-a-bowl, is continuing its rapid national expansion with several new locations expected to open in 2022. These new additions will be located in Alabama, Florida, Idaho, Louisiana, Texas, Minnesota and Colorado. Some of these new Rush Bowls locations will be making their debut: Just opened in late May in Southlake, Texas. Opening in mid-June in Birmingham, Ala. Opening in late June in Naples, Fla. Opening in mid-July in Boise, Idaho. Opening in August in Gainesville, Fla. Opening …

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