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construction and designfranchise developmentNewspeoplerestaurants

Church’s Texas Chicken® Appoints New Chief Development Officer

by Katie Lee

Atlanta — Church’s Texas Chicken®, one of the largest quick-service chicken restaurant chains in the world, has appointed Bobby Morena as chief development officer, effective Nov. 3, 2025. He joins the company from GoTo Foods. In his new role, Morena will lead all aspects of Church’s domestic development strategy, including franchise sales, real estate, design and construction, with a focus on accelerating the expansion of the brand across the U.S. Morena will report to Roland Gonzalez, CEO and president. Morena has more than 25 years of experience in franchise development …

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construction and designfranchise developmentNewsrestaurants

Taco John’s Signs 5-Unit Deal in North Dakota

by Katie Lee

  St. Louis Park, Minn. — Taco John’s®, a leading Mexican quick-service restaurant, is bolstering its Midwest presence with a multi-unit signed area development agreement in North Dakota, a key development state for the brand. The agreement will bring five new units to Fargo, with the first slated to open by the end of the year and the second following in early 2026.  Behind the deal is seasoned Taco John’s franchisee Brett Itterman.  Taco John’s is doubling down on its footprint in the Midwest, and North Dakota is positioned as …

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franchise developmentNewspeoplerestaurants

Ascent Hospitality Management Names New CEO

by Katie Lee

Atlanta — Ascent Hospitality Management, franchisor to Huddle House and Perkins American Food Co., has appointed Paul Damico as chief executive officer, effective immediately. As CEO, Damico will lead Ascent’s next chapter of growth and modernization, building on the company’s long history of bringing people together around great food and supporting franchisees’ success. He will also explore opportunities to expand Ascent’s portfolio through the acquisition of additional brands that align with the company’s growth strategy, vision and values. Damico brings over four decades of extensive food and beverage experience within …

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franchise developmentNewsrestaurantsstore closings

Jack in the Box Inc. to Sell Del Taco Holdings Inc. for $115 Million

by Katie Lee

San Diego — Jack in the Box Inc. has entered into a definitive agreement to sell Del Taco Holdings Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of the company which operates and franchises more than 550 Del Taco restaurants, to Yadav Enterprises Inc. for $115 million in cash, subject to certain adjustments. The transaction is expected to close by January 2026. The company expects to use the net cash proceeds after taxes and transaction costs to retire debt within its securitization structure. In line with the company’s “Jack on Track” plan announced …

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green newskitchen exhaust/grease controlNewsrestaurantsvendorswaste management/recycling

Beyond Oil USA and Eazy Grease Partner to Redefine Sustainable Frying Oil Management

by Katie Lee

Miami — Beyond Oil USA, a food-tech innovator with patented oil purification technology, has formed a strategic partnership with Eazy Grease, a leading used cooking oil recycling company that is currently contracted with more than 6,700 customers. This collaboration delivers an end-to-end solution that transforms restaurant frying oil management from extended use to responsible recycling. The partnership combines Beyond Oil’s FDA-approved filter powder, which extends frying oil life from 2-3 days to 35-45 days, with Eazy Grease’s multi-state collection and recycling services. Together, they’re establishing a new sustainability standard, enabling …

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franchise developmentNewspeoplerestaurants

Panera Bread Names New Chief Financial Officer

by Katie Lee

St. Louis — Panera Bread, a leader and pioneer in the fast-casual restaurant industry, has appointed Earl Ellis as chief financial officer, effective immediately. Ellis will report to CEO Paul Carbone and join the executive leadership team. “Earl is a proven finance leader who blends disciplined financial stewardship with an owner’s mindset,” says Carbone. “He has scaled complex, multi-brand organizations, led successful transformations and developed high-performing teams. His experience will help accelerate our plan to strengthen the core business, elevate the guest experience and drive long term, profitable growth. Panera …

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franchise developmentNewsrestaurantsretailers

RaceTrac Completes Acquisition of Potbelly Corporation

by Katie Lee

Atlanta — RaceTrac, Inc., a family-owned, high-growth leader in the convenience store industry, confirms it has completed the acquisition of Potbelly Corporation, previously announced in September. As part of the transaction, RaceTrac acquires Potbelly’s iconic neighborhood sandwich shop brand, which includes more than 445 company and franchise-owned shops across the United States, and Potbelly’s franchise development platform with a long term goal of reaching 2,000 shops. “Potbelly has spent more than 40 years creating the neighborhood sandwich shop experience customers love, and we are excited to welcome this beloved brand …

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construction and designNewsrestaurants

Topgolf Breaks Ground on First Venue in Wisconsin

by Katie Lee

Dallas — Construction is underway on a two-level Topgolf venue in Monona, Wis., located 8 miles east of Madison. The highly anticipated venue will be Topgolf’s first venue in the state of Wisconsin and is set to open in the fall of 2026. Topgolf Wisconsin will have 72 outdoor climate-controlled hitting bays spanning two levels. Each bay will have lounge-type furniture or high-top tables. The venue will be equipped with Toptracer technology, which traces each golf ball’s flight path, distance and other metrics. Topgolf offers a full-service restaurant and bar helmed …

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construction and designfranchise developmentNewsrestaurants

Firehouse Subs® Opens Milestone 1,400th Restaurant

by Katie Lee

Jacksonville, Fla. — Firehouse Subs has officially opened its 1,400th restaurant, marking a significant milestone in the brand’s continued expansion across the U.S. and internationally. The new Clearwater, Fla., restaurant reflects the brand’s growth trajectory as franchisees continue to expand within the Firehouse Subs family. The Clearwater restaurant is owned and operated by Colin Means, a Tampa, Fla.-area franchisee whose journey reflects the opportunities Firehouse Subs provides. Means began his career with the brand at 21 years old as a team member. Over the next several years, he worked his …

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Newspeoplerestaurantssoftware/technology

Whataburger Welcomes New Chief Digital and Technology Transformation Officer

by Katie Lee

San Antonio — Whataburger has appointed Rohit Kapoor as executive vice president, chief digital and technology transformation officer. He brings more than three decades of global leadership experience across the restaurant and retail industries, where he has consistently led large-scale digital transformations that elevate both customer and team member experiences while enabling sustainable growth. Before joining Whataburger, Kapoor served as executive vice president and chief information officer at Claire’s, where he modernized the company’s end-to-end technology landscape, strengthening its digital foundations and enhancing omnichannel engagement. He previously held senior leadership …

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