restaurants

Kitchen United Opens Third New York City Location

by Katie Lee November 25, 2021

Pasadena, Calif. — Kitchen United, the ghost kitchen industry leader with a proprietary tech platform and multi-concept ordering, has opened its newest location at 307 W. 38th St. in Manhattan. The opening marks the company’s third New York City and East Coast location, and it follows the recent news that the company has acquired software and ghost kitchen developer, Zuul. The acquisition saw Zuul’s existing locations in the Soho and Hudson Yards neighborhoods rebranded as a Kitchen United MIX kitchen center last month. The newest ghost kitchen center for the …

November 25, 2021

Slim Chickens Adds New Senior Vice President of Operations

by Katie Lee November 23, 2021

Fayetteville, Ark. — Slim Chickens, a leading fast-casual franchise, has strengthened its executive team with the appointment of restaurant industry leader Christina Vaughan to senior vice president of operations. Vaughan will work closely with the chief operating officer of Slim Chickens, Sam Rothschild, handling various aspects of the brand including franchise, corporate and training operations. Additionally, in this role, she will be overseeing the cross-functional leadership team and working directing with the partnership group. With more than two decades of experience in the restaurant industry, Vaughan is well suited to …

November 23, 2021

construction and design News restaurants retailers

Starbucks Pickup and Amazon Go Collaborate to Launch New Store Concept in New York City

by Katie Lee November 22, 2021

New York City — The new Starbucks Pickup with Amazon Go, located at 59th Street between Park & Lexington avenues, opened on November 18, 2021. The store is a combination of a Starbucks Pickup and Amazon Go, utilizing the order ahead feature in the Starbucks app and Amazon Go’s Just Walk Out technology to create an easy checkout experience, alongside a modernized lounge that features individual workspaces and expanded tables with power outlets and USB ports. The new store offers the full Starbucks menu and a curated assortment of food …

November 22, 2021

franchise development News restaurants

FAT Brands to Acquire Arizona-Based Native Grill & Wings for $20 Million

by Katie Lee November 22, 2021

Los Angeles — FAT (Fresh. Authentic. Tasty.) Brands Inc. has agreed to acquire Native Grill & Wings, an Arizona-based restaurant chain, for $20 million from Wingtime, LLC, a subsidiary of Cybeck Capital Partners, LLC. Marking FAT Brands’ third chicken wing concept, the acquisition of Native Grill & Wings will be funded with cash from the issuance of new notes from the company’s securitization facilities and is expected to close in mid-December 2021. With the acquisition of Native Grill & Wings, FAT Brands will have more than 2,300 franchised and corporate-owned …

November 22, 2021

energy management green building/LEED Industry Voices lighting restaurants

Warm Welcome

by Katie Lee November 18, 2021

— By Jeff Hungarter — Videri Chocolate Factory: an LED lighting solution showcases a sweet spot. When Roxanne Lundy began working at Videri Chocolate Factory in Raleigh, North Carolina, she was fresh out of college and the company was but 1 month old. Lundy has been a catalyst behind Videri’s growth from a small, 2-day-a-week operation into a handcrafted bean-to-bar emporium par excellence — far beyond her imagination. Lundy has advanced from chocolate wrapper to retail manager to, today, general manager. She’s a designer by inclination and training, and …

November 18, 2021

Industry Voices restaurants software/technology

Decision To Go Digital

by Katie Lee November 18, 2021

— By Dan Hyman — Davanni’s Pizza & Hot Hoagies invests in staff with bold new software. For more than four decades, Davanni’s Pizza & Hot Hoagies has been a fixture in the Twin Cities metropolitan area. And now, with 20 locations, it has firmly cemented its role as not only a local mainstay but also a direct competitor to many of the national chains in its market. It’s why when tasked with the challenge of how to better train its employees and, more importantly, retain such employees and …

November 18, 2021

franchise development News restaurants

Slim Chickens Expanding in Dallas with 10 New Restaurants

by Katie Lee November 18, 2021

Dallas — Slim Chickens has inked a deal to bring 10 locations to cities throughout greater Dallas. Farouk Jamal and Ali Poonja of Slim Brothers will be bringing the restaurants to Collin and Denton counties in fourth quarter 2022. “After connecting with franchise owners in the system and learning about their experience owning Slims, we knew we had to be a part of the chicken segment,” says Jamal. “We’re excited to join an emerging brand that is growing rapidly, and we’re ready to hit the ground running.” Jamal and Poonja …

November 18, 2021

franchise development News restaurants

Savory Fund Invests in Hash Kitchen for National Expansion

by Katie Lee November 17, 2021

Scottsdale, Ariz. — Savory Fund has invested in the popular brunch concept, Hash Kitchen. The Scottsdale, Ariz.-based chain creatively designed around a social dining experience is the latest brand to attract growth capital from Mercato Partners’ $200 million Savory Restaurant Fund, which was formed to back promising emerging restaurant concepts. Founded in 2015 by celebrity chef Joey Maggiore, his wife Cristina and partner Flora Tersigni of The Maggiore Group, Hash Kitchen’s menu features high-quality and next-level breakfast and boozy brunch offerings. Its chef-driven, curated menu is distinctively paired with an …

November 17, 2021

franchise development News restaurants

Clean Juice Rides Tidal Wave of Growth Toward 2022

by Katie Lee November 16, 2021

Charlotte, N.C. — Clean Juice, the first and only national USDA-certified organic juice bar franchise and quick-service restaurant, has demonstrated another quarter of impressive guest count and sales growth. “Despite these record-breaking successes and forward-moving gains, we still feel as if we are just getting started, and we’re certainly not stopping,” says Landon Eckles, CEO, Clean Juice. “As cold weather and early sunsets encroach, and we spend more time celebrating the holiday season with our family and friends — and that typically revolves around food — Clean Juice remains focused …

November 16, 2021

franchise development News restaurants

Freddy’s Signs Multi-Unit Agreements to Develop 15 New Restaurants Across 6 States

by Katie Lee November 15, 2021

Wichita, Kan. — Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers has signed four new multi-unit agreements with new and existing operators to bring more than a dozen new restaurants to New Jersey, Texas, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee and South Dakota. Year-to-date, Freddy’s has executed a total of 13 multi-unit agreements adding nearly 70 new restaurants to the brand’s overall development pipeline. With additional openings slated to take place through the end of fourth quarter, the brand is on track to open over 35 locations this year. “Freddy’s commitment to the success of our …

November 15, 2021

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