— By Ahmed Abouelenein — Today, ghost kitchens are more important than ever. Early on, The Halal Guys embraced the possibilities inherent in ghost kitchens as a tool to expand the reach of our business and grow revenue. We now have become one of their leading proponents for several reasons. In essence, ghost kitchens are 100% delivery-only facilities, alleviating our brick-and-mortar and cart locations, especially during peak times. They help take the pressure off our retail businesses. As a result, our brick-and-mortar locations have been able to wholly focus …
restaurants
Salt Lake City — Mercato Partners has launched its inaugural food and beverage fund, Savory. This new fund of $90 million will make investments into compelling, up-and-coming restaurant concepts by providing access to capital together with a team of experienced industry professionals to fuel growth and operations. To create this unique investment practice, Mercato Partners founder Greg Warnock partnered with restaurant industry veteran Andrew K. Smith to lead the newly formed fund along with several members of his leadership team. Savory combines the experience of Smith and his team in …
Greenwood Village, Colo. — Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc., a full-service restaurant chain, expects to have reopened approximately 270 dining rooms with limited capacity by June 7, 2020, representing approximately 65% of currently open company-operated restaurants. “With our relentless focus on health and safety for our team members and guests, we are continuing to make progress reopening our dining rooms across the country,” says Paul J.B. Murphy III, Red Robin’s president and chief executive officer. “To build on the momentum we are experiencing in off-premise and dine-in sales, we are …
Redwood City, Calif. — Presto, known for its in-house ordering tablets, has pivoted its business to help out the restaurant industry and is now offering a free Contactless Dining kit. The new kit enables restaurants to provide an end-to-end contactless in-house dining experience to guests. Guests can view the complete menu, place orders and pay at the table — without the need for any human contact. Free to order, the kit is easy to implement and use. Guests can use their personal mobile devices to scan NFC tags and QR …
Louisville, Ky. — May 2020 sales at Papa John’s restaurants were up 33.5% in the U.S. and Canada on a year-over-year basis, marking the second month in a row that the pizza chain recorded its highest sales on record, according to Papa John’s Inc. president and CEO Rob Lynch. The May sales period was recorded from April 27 to May 24, and the company said it will continue to provide monthly updates through the end of the second quarter. In April, the Louisville, Ky.-based chain reported a 26.9% increase in …
Rosemont, Ill. — US Foods Holding Corp. is giving away free reopening kits to qualifying independent restaurant owners to help support restaurant reopening efforts in communities across the U.S. The reopening kits provide independent restaurant operators with must-have supplies such as masks and safety guidance posters as well as resource guides to navigate state and local COVID-19 reopening requirements and help create a safer environment for staff and customers alike. This initiative builds on the company’s ongoing commitment to providing foodservice operators with the expertise, resources and tools to help …
Glendale, Calif. — The board of directors of Dine Brands Global, Inc. has retained executive search firm Spencer Stuart to assist the company in identifying an individual to succeed its chief executive officer, Steve Joyce. Joyce’s employment agreement expires February 1, 2021. “I am proud of the growth that we have experienced during my tenure as chief executive officer,” says Joyce. “Since 2017, we have established and executed on strategic plans, strengthened the franchisee base, completed a $1.3 billion securitization transaction and returned significant capital to stockholders. With the occurrence …
Irvine, Calif. — Wienerschnitzel, the world’s largest hot dog franchise, has signed a new area development agreement with Lake Charles, La.-based Henderson Family Restaurants, LLC to build 20 new Wienerschnitzel restaurants throughout the state of Louisiana over the next 13 years. Since 1961, Wienerschnitzel has become the nation’s largest hot dog quick-service chain, and with the integration of the iconic Tastee Freeze ice cream, the California-based franchise system has seen 8 years of consecutive same store sales growth. Wienerschnitzel is actively expanding outside its historic footprint and is targeting new …
Savannah, Ga. — Stoner’s Pizza Joint, a quick-service pizza franchise, will expand with three new units from existing franchisee John Stetson in the Georgia market. The first new location, which was slated to open on May 20, is located in Warner Robins, Ga. The next two will open in the Savannah, Ga., market before mid-July. “Since opening my first Stoner’s in Fort Lauderdale, I have been impressed with the consumer’s response to the product and branding,” says Stetson. “The brand appeals to a wide audience of customers who enjoy fresh, …
Durham, N.C. — Rise Southern Biscuits and Righteous Chicken, the nation’s fastest growing biscuits and fried chicken chain with over 100 units in development across the country, has signed an area development agreement for the state of Virginia. BDVA Holdings, LLC has committed to opening at least 25 Rise locations throughout Virginia over the next 9 years. “We’re confident in the economics of Rise to drive sales through delivery and pickup during and after this crisis,” says BDVA’s Nash Osborn. “Tom Ferguson, founder and CEO of Rise, has created a …