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Martha Stewart Launches First-Ever Restaurant Concept

by Katie Lee

Las Vegas — This spring, global lifestyle icon Martha Stewart will open her first-ever restaurant. The Bedford by Martha Stewart, a fully-immersive restaurant concept designed to bring Martha’s famed country farmhouse in Bedford, N.Y., to life, will open at Paris Las Vegas in spring 2022. “Caesars Entertainment has been an extremely hardworking, professional and excellent partner to work with on the planning and building of the first-ever Martha Stewart restaurant,” says Stewart. “It will be in the Paris Las Vegas and will very accurately portray the important aesthetic and taste …

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Speaking to the Next Generation

by Katie Lee

— By Katie Lee —   KFC eyes 2022 with a new, urban-oriented evolution of its prototype design, focused on customer convenience and digital efficiency.     When Retail & Restaurant Facility Business last featured KFC on its cover, the year was 2018 and a new design called ‘American Showman’ was rolling out, marking a new era of expansion for KFC following 10 years of downsizing. At the time, the company’s U.S. development goal was to become a 5,000-unit franchise once more. Now, 3 years and a global pandemic later, …

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Fuzzy’s Taco Shop Names New Chief Operating Officer

by Katie Lee

Irving, Texas — Fuzzy’s Taco Shop has named franchise veteran Scott Shotter as its new chief operating officer. The Texas-based restaurant group is recognized for its Baja-style fare with nearly 150 franchise- and corporate-owned locations in 17 states. Most recently, Shotter served as president of Condado Tacos, and prior to that was CEO of Backyard Burgers. Notably, Shotter and Fuzzy’s Taco Shop CEO Paul Damico served together at Moe’s Southwest Grill as vice president and CEO, respectively, and led the team responsible for the explosive growth of the brand between …

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Clean Juice Enters 5 New States with New Franchise Partners

by Katie Lee

Charlotte, N.C. — Clean Juice, a USDA-certified organic juice bar franchise and quick-service restaurant, has added five new franchise partners in five new states: Connecticut, West Virginia, Kentucky, Montana and Washington. Clean Juice expects fourth quarter 2021 to be the brand’s best Q4 yet as it doubles down on expansion plans heading into 2022. “We are proud and honored to welcome these new families into our Clean Juice family,” says Landon Eckles, CEO, Clean Juice. “Next to our more than 3 million guests, our franchise partners are the driving force …

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Ziggi’s Coffee Inks Milestone 150th Franchise Agreement

by Katie Lee

Mead, Colo. — Ziggi’s Coffee, the rapidly-growing Colorado-based franchise known for its fast and friendly drive-thru coffee service, has just signed its 150th franchise deal. New franchise owners Ron and Denise Cazares have joined the Ziggi’s Coffee franchise family with a multi-unit agreement. Their first Ziggi’s will open in Parker, Colo. Ziggi’s launched its national franchise program in 2016 and has since experienced great success. The company celebrated its 100th franchise signing in April and has already signed an additional 50 agreements. With 44 open locations nationwide and over 100 …

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Darden Restaurants Announces Upcoming CEO Transition

by Katie Lee

Orlando, Fla. — Darden Restaurants, Inc. has announced that Eugene (Gene) I. Lee, Jr., chairman and chief executive officer, will retire as CEO effective May 29, 2022. Lee will continue to serve on Darden’s board of directors as executive chairman until the 2022 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. At that time, Lee is expected to stand for re-election to the board and continue to serve as chairman in a non-executive capacity. The board has unanimously elected Ricardo (Rick) Cardenas, Darden’s current president and chief operating officer, as chief executive officer, as …

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Good Times Restaurants’ VP of Operations to Retire

by Katie Lee

Golden, Colo. — Good Times Restaurants Inc., operator of Bad Daddy’s Burger Bar and Good Times Burgers & Frozen Custard, has announced the retirement of Scott LeFever, vice president of operations, effective March 31, 2022. The company has identified a candidate who is expected to join the brand in early 2022 and to succeed LeFever upon his retirement. “On behalf of the entire Good Times team, I would like to thank Scott for his numerous contributions to the company,” says Ryan Zink, president and chief executive officer. “Since his beginnings …

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Casey’s Closes Acquisition of 40 Pilot Stores

by Katie Lee

Ankeny, Iowa — Casey’s General Stores, Inc., a leading convenience store chain in the United States, has closed the previously announced acquisition of 40 stores from Pilot Corporation. The acquisition gives Casey’s immediate scale in the Knoxville, Tenn., market and is part of the implementation of its 3-year strategic plan that was shared in January 2020 when the company set a 3-year goal of adding 345 stores to its chain. “We are pleased to complete this transaction and expand our footprint in Tennessee and Kentucky,” says Darren Rebelez, president and …

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Ziggi’s Coffee Opens New Headquarters

by Katie Lee

Mead, Colo. — Colorado-based Ziggi’s Coffee® has opened its new headquarters in Mead, Colo. In addition to housing the corporate team and an on-site training facility, this location features a café and a drive-thru. Situated on the corner of Third and Welker (241 Welker Ave.), this new location is owned by the company’s founders, Brandon and Camrin Knudsen. “We are excited to grow our footprint in the community that has witnessed and supported our growth over the last 17 years. Northern Colorado has been our home base since we started …

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A&W Restaurants Marks 10 Years Under Franchisee Ownership

by Katie Lee

Lexington, Ky. — Ten years ago, the future of America’s oldest chain restaurant franchise was in question. A&W, owned by YUM! Brands, was struggling. But then a group of franchise owners formed a partnership and bought the company, which was 92 years old at the time, on Dec. 19, 2011. A&W is still the only major restaurant brand 100% owned by its franchisees. Since the acquisition: Same-store sales have increased every year, reversing 7 years of declines; sales this year are up 10.2%, following last year’s 9.2% growth. Average unit …

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