Miami — According to José Cil, CEO of Restaurant Brands International, industry veteran Tom Curtis has been appointed president of Burger King U.S. & Canada. “Tom joined us a few months ago and has quickly established a strong leadership position in the business and trust with our franchisees, informed by his 35 years of previous restaurant experience as both a franchisee and senior operations executive,” says Cil. “Tom will lead the acceleration of our business to deliver on our vision that Burger King should always be our guests’ first choice …
restaurants
Taco Bell to Reinvent Drive-Thru Concept with Futuristic Restaurant in Suburban Minneapolis
Brooklyn Park, Minn. — Taco Bell is building a restaurant with a new drive-thru concept in Brooklyn Park, a suburb of Minneapolis. Construction is underway on the 3,000-square-foot, two-story restaurant. Completion is scheduled for summer 2022. Known as Defy, the new restaurant concept was developed in partnership with Minneapolis-based Vertical Works Inc., a design company that works with quick-serve restaurants, retailers and healthcare tenants. In 2020, Border Foods, one of the largest privately held Taco Bell franchisees in America, enlisted Vertical Works to create a new restaurant design. With Defy, …
San Diego, Calif. — Jack in the Box Inc. has awarded 16 franchise development agreements year-to-date through the end of third quarter of fiscal year 2021 to build 64 new locations in Arizona, California, Idaho, Texas and Utah. The announcement follows the relaunch of Jack in the Box’s franchise development program earlier this year. “Relaunching the franchise opportunity has been exciting and was one of our main priorities going into 2021. Over the last year and a half, we’ve proven to be pandemic-resistant and we’re eager to grow with our …
Atlanta — Savi Provisions, neighborhood destination for locally-sourced gourmet foods, fine wines and spirits, is opening a new store in Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport at Concourse B. Located in the former Café Intermezzo space, this location will be operated by Crews Airport Concessions Operating Company. It is slated to open in mid-September. Founded in 2009 by Paul Nair, Savi Provisions aims to provide its airport customers the same high-end, affordable and healthy market experience as offered to its neighborhood locations, while fulfilling hasty travelers’ need for convenience and efficiency. “It’s …
— By Katie Lee — Farmer Boys marks its 40th anniversary with a new post-pandemic appreciation for quality and convenience. As Farmer Boys celebrates its 40th anniversary this year, the Riverside, California-based fast-casual concept recalls a memorable, milestone 2020 in which it opened four new restaurants, entered a new state (Arizona) and saw its total systemwide sales increase by $17 million — all during a global pandemic. Also in summer 2020, Farmer Boys’ senior vice president of operations transitioned to president and chief operating officer — during perhaps the …
Cheyenne, Wyo. — Taco John’s International Inc., a leading quick-service Mexican franchise, has inked its biggest area development agreement to date with the largest Wendy’s franchisee, Meritage Hospitality Group, Inc. The group will build 50 new Taco John’s restaurants by March 31, 2026 with options to develop an additional 150 restaurants. “Taco John’s is the perfect fit for our company. While exploring concepts to expand our portfolio, we were quickly attracted to Taco John’s,” says Gary Rose, president and COO of Meritage Hospitality Group. “We are excited about the Mexican …
Chicago — Potbelly Corporation, the iconic neighborhood sandwich shop, has appointed David Daniels as its chief marketing officer (CMO) effective August 23, 2021. In this senior leadership role, he will report to Bob Wright, president and chief executive officer of Potbelly. Daniels will lead the branding, marketing and digital teams. “We are very excited to welcome David to the Potbelly family,” Wright says. “He brings significant executive experience and success leading some of the world’s best-selling brands, delivering top- and bottom-line growth. We will immediately benefit from his broad experience …
Wichita, Kan. — One of Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers’ co-founders, Scott Redler, has been appointed to the new role of chief experience officer (CXO). In 2002, Redler co-founded Freddy’s alongside business partners, Bill and Randy Simon. With 45 years of industry experience, Redler spent the last 19 years serving as COO of Freddy’s. The creation of this new role follows Freddy’s recent acquisition by private equity firm Thompson Street Capital Partners in March 2021. “Who better than Scott to continue the work of providing our guests with a truly …
Boston — Dunkin’ unveiled its most recent non-traditional openings and growth plans for the year. Thus far in 2021, the coffee company has expanded across Las Vegas at the Convention Center, LINQ Hotel and Arizona Charlie’s Boulder Casino, as well as reopened with the unveiling of the new Virgin Hotel. Additionally, the brand opened its 12th location with Great Wolf Resorts at the Manteca, Calif., park and further strengthened its presence in the healthcare setting with locations debuting at the Oak Hill Hospital in Brooksville, Fla., and UMass Memorial Medical …
Newton, Mass. — Paytronix Systems, Inc., an advanced digital guest experience platform, has partnered with Kansas City restaurant management group KC Hopps to leverage its Paytronix Order & Delivery to open two takeout-only establishments bearing the name Stroud’s Express. The new restaurants are located in Lee’s Summit, Mo., and Mission, Kan. When COVID-19 restrictions shut down indoor dining rooms, KC Hopps took advantage of Paytronix Order & Delivery to start a new brand, Stroud’s Express. An offshoot of the original Stroud’s, a Kansas City institution since 1933, the Express locations …