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Craveworthy Brands Appoints First In-House General Counsel

by Katie Lee

Chicago — Craveworthy Brands, an innovative, multi-brand restaurant platform, has appointed its first in-house general counsel, John Silvestri, J.D. With over 25 years of experience, Silvestri’s addition to the team strengthens Craveworthy’s goal to build a comprehensive legal framework that enhances operational resilience, supports partner success and drives the company’s vision forward. As general counsel, Silvestri will oversee corporate governance, franchise compliance, M&A negotiation and risk management across Craveworthy’s expanding portfolio of legacy brands and emerging concepts. “John’s expertise and leadership will be a game-changer for Craveworthy as we redefine …

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construction and designNewsremodelsrestaurants

Chipotle Reaches 1,000th Chipotlane Milestone

by Katie Lee

Newport Beach, Calif. — Chipotle Mexican Grill opened its 1,000th Chipotlane restaurant on Nov. 21. Located in the Kansas City metro area, in Olathe, Kan., the milestone restaurant features the company’s signature digital order drive-thru pickup lane. Of the company’s more than 3,600 restaurants in its real estate portfolio, nearly 30% feature a Chipotlane. “Chipotlanes are a critical piece of our long term growth goal of reaching 7,000 restaurants in North America,” says Chris Brandt, chief brand officer. “This restaurant format is the fastest way for fans to get Chipotle …

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Skiptown, Upscale Pet Care Services Concept, Opens First Atlanta Location

by Katie Lee

Atlanta — Pet parents can now book pet care services, including grooming, training, daycare and boarding for their pups at the first Atlanta location of Skiptown, the upscale off-leash dog park, social club and pet care concept. Skiptown Kirkwood will be hosting its grand opening event in December, including the debut of the dog park + restaurant and social club areas. Daycare: A stay in Skiptown’s daycare includes a schedule packed with play, so pet parents don’t have to worry while they’re away. Daycare pups are separated into play groups …

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franchise developmentkitchen equipmentNewsProduct Spotlightrestaurantssoftware/technologyvendors

Dave’s Hot Chicken Partners with Qu to Enhance Operations

by Katie Lee

Pasadena, Calif. — Dave’s Hot Chicken is enhancing operational capabilities with the integration of Qu’s unified commerce platform. Designed to streamline the brand’s expanding network, Qu’s real-time data management and offline resiliency with Edge computing provide a critical upgrade to the brand’s in-store processes, ensuring seamless operational and guest experiences across locations. “Qu has been a game-changer for us because it provides an easy-to-connect API that allows us to push and pull data in real time,” says Leon Davoyan, chief technology officer of Dave’s Hot Chicken. “Its flexibility and stability …

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franchise developmentNewsrestaurants

Blackstone Agrees to Acquire Majority Ownership Position in Jersey Mike’s Subs

by Katie Lee

Manasquan, N.J. — Private equity funds managed by Blackstone have agreed to acquire a majority ownership position in Jersey Mike’s Subs. The deal would value the Manasquan, N.J.-based sandwich restaurant chain at around $8 billion, including debt, according to The Wall Street Journal. Jersey Mike’s founder and CEO Peter Cancro will maintain a significant equity stake and continue to lead the business. Blackstone says the partnership is intended to help Jersey Mike’s accelerate its expansion across and beyond the U.S. market, as well as its continued investment in technology and …

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Jack in the Box Inc. Names Chief Financial Officer

by Katie Lee

San Diego — Former CFO Lance Tucker is returning to Jack in the Box Inc., again as chief financial officer, effective Jan. 13, 2025. Tucker is currently chief financial officer of Davidson Hospitality Group, while having also served as CFO at CKE Restaurants Inc. and Papa John’s International, Inc. Tucker succeeds Brian Scott, who resigned from the company on Nov. 20. Tucker served as CFO of Jack in the Box Inc. from March 2018 to July 2020, during which he played an instrumental role in implementing the company’s securitization, while …

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Surcheros Reports 29% Growth, Targets 100 Units in 5 Years

by Katie Lee

Alpharetta, Ga. — Surcheros® is on a steady growth path as it builds on a successful 2024 with ambitious plans for the upcoming year. With a 29% revenue increase from 2023 to 2024, Surcheros is gaining momentum and attracting franchise interest due to its strong AUVs, cost-effective buildout models and flexible real estate options. The brand currently operates 34 locations across Georgia, Florida and Tennessee. In 2024, the brand opened nearly 10 new stores and entered new markets in Tennessee and is set to enter South Carolina, while also strengthening …

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construction and designfranchise developmentNewsrestaurants

Smoothie King Marks Growth Milestone With 1,200th Store Opening

by Katie Lee

Dallas — Smoothie King, the world’s largest smoothie brand and the first health and fitness fast-casual brand of its kind, has opened its 1,200th domestic store, located in Roanoke, Texas. The new store, located near Smoothie King’s corporate headquarters in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, celebrated its ribbon-cutting ceremony on Nov. 14. In addition to the Roanoke opening, Smoothie King is accelerating its expansion in the Chicago area — one of its fastest-growing markets — with 10 new locations in various stages of development. This includes recent openings in Dekalb on …

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facilities managementNewsProduct Spotlightrestaurantssoftware/technologyvendors

ResQ Celebrates Tradesgiving, Honors FM Vendors

by Katie Lee

Miami — ResQ, a leading modern facility management platform, is shining a spotlight on the unsung heroes behind the success of restaurants and hospitality businesses this November with ‘Tradesgiving.’ To celebrate its vendors and their tradespeople, ResQ is offering a limited-time promotion for new vendor selections on the ResQ directory. Customers can enjoy 15% off (up to $100) their next work order when they choose a new vendor from November 1 through November 30, 2024. “Rising labor, inventory and repair costs make it increasingly difficult for hospitality operators to find …

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Nothing Bundt Cakes Appoints Chief Development Officer

by Katie Lee

Dallas — Nothing Bundt Cakes®, the nation’s largest specialty cake company, has appointed franchise development veteran Joel Larkin as chief development officer to lead the 635-unit brand’s continued expansion. Larkin brings over two decades of franchise development and operations expertise to Nothing Bundt Cakes. He most recently served as chief franchise and development officer at European Wax Center, where he oversaw its expansion to more than 1,000 locations. “Joel’s background is uniquely suited to the fast-paced growth we are undertaking here at Nothing Bundt Cakes,” says Dolf Berle, CEO of …

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