— By Russ Spencer — Strategies for restaurants in an evolving landscape. A new year symbolizes new beginnings, particularly within the restaurant industry’s evolving landscape. While some trends may persist from the previous year, Q1 presents an opportunity to reset, recalibrate and plan strategically. These include, but are not limited to, updating menu items, solving staffing challenges and implementing improved ways to reduce waste. Operators who focus on the trends shaping this year and pounce on them will get ahead of competitors and run a successful restaurant in 2024. Preparing …
restaurants
— By Katie Lee — Coming off a strong year of growth, pizza legend Papa Johns takes its ‘dough show’ on the road, both domestically and abroad, with a brand-new look. The best, by definition, outshine the rest — but some years the best outshines even itself. 2023 was one of those years for Papa Johns. Founded four decades ago in Louisville, Kentucky, the pizza legend notched a great year in 2023, a year that finished as one of its best for new North America store openings in the past …
Plano, Texas — KFC has opened its 30,000th location globally with a new restaurant in Rome, Italy. After the brand opened its very first restaurant in 1952, a new KFC location now opens somewhere in the world every 3.5 hours on average. KFC plans to enter its 150th country later this year. “Opening our 30,000th restaurant is a testament to the support of our local business partners, employees and customers over the past nearly 75 years,” says Sabir Sami, CEO of KFC Global. “While we are a global brand, we …
Atlanta — Krystal Restaurants LLC, the original quick-service restaurant chain in the South, plans to open its first location in North Carolina this fall. Located in Wilson, N.C., the store will be built alongside Circle K and feature Krystal’s new convenience store design, which has a sleek and contemporary look and caters to consumers on the go. “We are proud to bring our standout business model and our innovative restaurant design to the state of North Carolina,” says Josh Kern, CEO of SPB Hospitality. “As we continue to focus on …
New Hartford, N.Y. — PAR Technology Corporation, a global foodservice technology company and provider of unified commerce for enterprise restaurant brands, has closed two transactions that expand its cloud-based unified commerce software offerings into convenience stores and fuel retailers, as well as international markets. PAR has entered into an agreement to acquire TASK Group for cash and PAR common stock at an implied value of approximately $206 million assuming an all-cash transaction, and has completed its acquisition of Stuzo Holdings, LLC for approximately $190 million paid in cash and stock. …
San Diego — Dean Gordon, senior vice president and chief supply chain officer of Jack in the Box Inc., will retire after 15 years at the organization. Gordon joined the company in February 2009 and has been pivotal in driving its growth and success. He has been senior vice president and chief supply chain officer since November 2019. During his tenure, Gordon has spearheaded numerous cost-saving initiatives and built invaluable relationships with the company’s franchise owners, suppliers and vendor partners that propelled Jack in the Box Inc. forward through a …
Asheville, N.C. — Wicked Weed Brewing and its main production brewery located in Candler, N.C., has been award GOLD certification under the TRUE (Total Resource Use and Efficiency) rating system. Administered by Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI), TRUE helps facilities measure, improve and recognize zero waste performance by encouraging the adoption of sustainable waste management and reduction practices. Wicked Weed Brewing is one of only three breweries in the United States to receive zero waste certification. To reach this milestone, Wicked Weed diverted its waste to 99.3%, sending less than …
Atlanta — GoTo Foods, the parent company of Auntie Anne’s®, Carvel®, Cinnabon®, Jamba®, McAlister’s Deli®, Moe’s Southwest Grill® and Schlotzsky’s®, has announced that legacy brand McAlister’s Deli has officially crossed the $1 billion systemwide sales milestone. McAlister’s Deli is the first of GoTo Foods’ concepts to reach $1 billion in systemwide sales. Founded in 1989 in Oxford, Miss., McAlister’s Deli began as a regional brand but has since expanded to 29 states across the United States. After unlocking untapped revenue streams such as digital ordering, pickup windows, tableside service, to-go …
Meadville, Pa. — Voodoo Franchise Group, a franchise with 18 brewpubs open across the U.S., has named Erik Ivey its new chief operating officer. Ivey has over two decades of experience in the restaurant space, having worked at multiple major brands including Quiznos, Chipotle and Yum! Brands. Voodoo Brewing Co. is a community of passionate beer lovers dedicated to pushing the boundaries of craft beer. Each community-focused brewpub has a customized logo, locally inspired menu and consistent local events, allowing Voodoo Brewing Co. franchise partners to become truly immersed in …
— By Glen Greenawalt — 3 hospitality employment challenges facing the industry today. It’s ironic that “Down Under,” the 1980s anthem about a group of Australians traveling the world, is by the band Men at Work. In the song, the protagonists clearly are not working — just like much of today’s working age U.S. population. What’s going on with employment trends, and how can hospitality employers get the workers needed to ensure guests get a guest experience? Here are the top three workforce challenges our team sees facing the industry …