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Del Taco Posts 8th Consecutive Year of Franchise SSS Growth

by Katie Lee

Lake Forest, Calif. — Del Taco, the nation’s second largest Mexican quick-service restaurant chain, is carrying tremendous momentum into the first quarter of 2021. Despite pandemic-induced pressures, the brand was resilient during the initial COVID-19 slowdown and began to thrive during the second half of 2020. This led to the company’s 8th consecutive year of positive franchise same store sales growth. In Del Taco’s recent financial reports, the following notable highlights were included: In Q3, franchised same store sales increased 6.5%. In Q4, franchised same store sales increased 7.5%. For …

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franchise developmentNewsrestaurants

The Halal Guys Builds Midwest Momentum with Kansas City Debut

by Katie Lee

Kansas City, Mo. — The Halal Guys, the largest American Halal street food concept in the world, is expanding rapidly across the Midwest, recently announcing a multi-unit franchise deal to open locations in Missouri. The first is slated for Kansas City with at least four additional units to follow. The announcement comes on the heels of an expansion into Ohio that will more than double The Halal Guys’ footprint in the region. Franchisee Osama Hanif will bring the quintessential New York City street cart food experience to Kansas City diners …

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HVAC/RNewsrestaurantsUncategorizedvendors

New Air Purification Company, Boston Air Solutions, is Formed

by Katie Lee

Boston — The founder of EarthSafe Chemical Alternatives® and its EvaClean® system, RJ Valentine, is now launching a new company: Boston Air Solutions (BAS). Valentine recognized the importance of indoor air quality (IAQ) improvement, particularly as a strategic weapon against COVID-19, to restore building wellness and re-instill confidence as the world returns to work, school and life in the new normal. As CEO, Valentine tapped a team of highly experienced business leaders with Steven Wilson as chief operating officer and Alex Biljic as executive vice president of strategic partnerships. Together, …

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Industry Voicesrestaurantssignagevendors

Getting Serious About Signage

by Katie Lee

— By Dan Smith — Investing in the right commercial-grade digital signage is as strategic as a brand’s messaging.   Would you like fries with that? Increasingly, thanks to digital signage, the answer is yes. At quick-service, fast-casual and other national restaurants, digital signage and menu boards are gaining adoption and believed to contribute to increased sales. So it’s important that restaurants adopt technology that protects and augments those gains. There’s plenty of opportunity out there. According to the QSR Drive-Thru Performance Study, about 20% of brands deployed digital menu …

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franchise developmentNewsrestaurants

Saladworks Signs Deal with Ghost Kitchen Brands to Open 90 Non-Traditional Locations by End of 2021

by Katie Lee

West Conshohocken, Pa. —  Saladworks, a leading fast-casual salad brand, has signed a deal with Ghost Kitchen Brands to double its footprint across the United States and Canada. The agreement will bring 60 non-traditional locations to the U.S. and 30 to Canada by the end of 2021. Many of these new kitchens will live inside Walmart stores offering some seating, and all locations included in the deal will offer carry-out and third-party delivery. “Saladworks is a perfect strategic partner for Ghost Kitchen Brands as we continue to grow and reinvent …

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Newspeoplerestaurantssoftware/technology

Biscuitville Names New Director of IT, Enterprise Applications

by Katie Lee

Greensboro, N.C. — Rusty Everhart has been hired as the director of IT, enterprise applications, at Biscuitville Fresh Southern. His primary responsibility will be to oversee all technology systems that support Biscuitville’s operations. From point-of-sale to back-end digital platforms such as business intelligence and reporting tools, he will ensure that everything is running efficiently from both a workstream and a financial return perspective. Prior to Biscuitville, Everhart garnered vast IT experience, serving in technical leadership roles in the tobacco, software engineering, furniture manufacturing, IT consulting, and telecom industries. Headquartered in …

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construction and designNewsrestaurants

Dunkin’ Celebrates 1,000th Next Generation Restaurant Opening

by Katie Lee

Canton, Mass. — In 2018, Dunkin’s first Next Generation restaurant opened in Quincy, Mass., featuring a new design with a modern atmosphere and innovative features. Now, just 3 years later, Dunkin’ is opening its 1,000th Next Gen restaurant in Woodstock, Ga. On March 26, it hosted a small grand opening ceremony outside the new restaurant to mark the milestone. The openness, colors and materials used in the new design help create an approachable, positive and energetic environment. A front-facing bakery case is one example of the eye-catching design elements that …

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construction and designNewsrestaurants

Silver Diner to Open 19th Restaurant, First in Washington, D.C.

by Katie Lee

Rockville, Md. — Silver Diner plans to open its first Silver Diner restaurant in Washington, D.C., in 2022. The 8,000-square-foot, two-story space is located next to Nationals Park. This new two-story concept will feature an updated Silver Diner restaurant on the first floor and a bar, Bar Silver, on the second floor. The 300-seat layout includes an outdoor terrace overlooking Nationals Park. Bar Silver will provide drinks and small plates while downstairs will offer dining with a menu featuring the most popular items served at Silver Diner restaurants. “This location …

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construction and designCover StoryFrom The Magazineremodelsrestaurants

Driving Force

by Katie Lee

Just in time for its 50th anniversary, Schlotzsky’s rolls out two new prototypes with plans to build on lessons learned during COVID-19. — By Katie Lee —   At Schlotzsky’s, the drive-thru has always been a driving force of its business. Eighty-five percent of its 339 locations already had a drive-thru — often with double lanes — and this positioned the sandwich chain well when COVID-19 changed the world in early 2020. Schlotzsky’s already understood customers’ evolving needs — and the pandemic accelerated that evolution. Several years prior to the …

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Newspeoplerestaurants

Olga’s Kitchen/TEAM Schostak Names New Marketing Director

by Katie Lee

Livonia, Mich. — Olga’s Kitchen, owned and operated by Livonia, Mich.-based TEAM Schostak Family Restaurants (TSFR), has promoted Loredana Gianino from senior marketing manager to director of marketing. Gianino joined Olga’s Kitchen in 2011 as a marketing intern and soon after joined the Olga’s Kitchen team as the marketing coordinator. Later she became the marketing manager and senior marketing manager. “Loredana has created an impressive track record of success and made incredible contributions to the Olga’s Kitchen brand and TEAM Schostak Family Restaurants,” says Bill Angott, president and CEO at …

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