Tuesday, November 26, 2024
Read the Magazine Subscribe

restaurants

Newspeoplerestaurants

TGI Fridays Names U.S. President & COO; President of International Markets & CFO

by Katie Lee

Dallas — TGI Fridays® has hired Ray Risley as U.S president and chief operating officer and Nik Rupp as president of international markets and chief financial officer. Both will report directly to CEO Weldon Spangler. This news comes as TGI Fridays continues the revitalization of its brand. In the role as U.S. president and COO, Risley will be responsible for the supervision and management of the operational facets and performance standards of all TGI Fridays establishments within the United States, both company-owned and franchised entities. Risley joins TGI Fridays after …

Continue Reading
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Newspeoplerestaurantssoftware/technologyvendors

QSR Tech Leader Qu Expands Executive Leadership Team

by Katie Lee

Bethesda, Md. — Qu, the unified commerce platform built for enterprise-scale, quick-service and fast-casual restaurants, has added two new executives to its management team. John Morrison, formerly an executive at Toast, is a 20+ year restaurant tech veteran that will serve as senior vice president of operations. Peter “Reyn” Holden will take the reins as Qu’s chief financial officer. “One of the key differentiators Qu is known for in the industry is the customer experience it provides,” says Amir Hudda, CEO of Qu. “As we grow to serve larger brands …

Continue Reading
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
construction and designfranchise developmentNewsrestaurants

BurgerFi® and Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza & Wings Open First-Ever Co-Branded Location

by Katie Lee

Kissimmee, Fla. — BurgerFi International, Inc., owner of leading fast-casual brand BurgerFi® and the casual dining pizza brand Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza & Wings, has opened its first-ever co-branded BurgerFi and Anthony’s restaurant. The momentous occasion for the brand also signifies the inaugural franchise site for Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza & Wings. The new location is owned and operated by franchisee NDM Hospitality, one of the original franchisees for BurgerFi and the first franchisee of Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza. “The debut franchise location of Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza & Wings …

Continue Reading
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
construction and designCover Storyfranchise developmentFrom The Magazinekitchen equipmentremodelsrestaurants

Wendy’s Next Generation

by Katie Lee

— By Katie Lee — The QSR leader never stops innovating — from the current rollout of its new Global Next Gen restaurant design to the highly anticipated launch of its future high-capacity kitchen. It’s hard to imagine that quick-service restaurants once existed without drive-thrus, but someone had to start somewhere. In 1970, Wendy’s Founder Dave Thomas popularized the “Pick-Up Window” at a freestanding Wendy’s restaurant and that innovation became, essentially, one of the first modern drive-thrus. While the pick-up window wasn’t brand new, no one had made it work …

Continue Reading
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Newspeoplerestaurants

Shake Shack CEO to Retire in 2024

by Katie Lee

New York City — Randy Garutti, chief executive officer of Shake Shack Inc., has informed the board that, after more than two decades with the company, he will retire in 2024 upon the selection of his successor. He will continue to lead the company as its CEO and as an executive board member through that time. The company intends to retain Garutti as an advisor following his CEO service through the end of 2024 to ensure a proper transition. The board of directors has launched an external search led by …

Continue Reading
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
franchise developmentNewsrestaurants

BIGGBY® COFFEE Closes 2023 with 88 Franchises Awarded & 48 New Openings

by Katie Lee

Lansing, Mich. — BIGGBY® COFFEE, a high-energy coffee franchise with 379 units nationwide, is pursuing the 500-unit mark across markets nationwide. With 150+ stores currently in development, the franchise is on pace to achieve its goal. “This year, we opened 48 new locations and awarded another 88 franchises,” says Tony DiPietro, vice president of emerging market development. “Around one-third of our franchise agreements came from existing franchise owners, and that’s a great indicator of franchisee happiness and success in the system.” BIGGBY® COFFEE awarded franchises in Michigan, Indiana, Wisconsin, Ohio, …

Continue Reading
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
construction and designNewsrestaurants

McDonald’s to Test Small-Format, Beverage-Led CosMc’s Concept with First Location in Metro Chicago

by Katie Lee

Bolingbrook, Ill. — McDonald’s has announced plans to test CosMc’s, a new smaller format concept featuring a beverage-led menu with new food and drink items. The first location will open this month in the Chicago suburb of Bolingbrook, where the first McDonald’s franchise location opened in 1955. By the end of 2024, the company plans to open 10 pilot locations for the concept, with target markets set to include the Dallas-Fort Worth and San Antonio metropolitan areas. CosMc’s will offer digital and drive-thru ordering formats only, with dynamic menu boards, …

Continue Reading
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Newspeoplerestaurants

Firebirds Wood Fired Grill Adds Former Krispy Kreme Executive as CFO

by Katie Lee

Charlotte, N.C. — Firebirds Wood Fired Grill has appointed Caren Prince as chief financial officer. Prince, who formerly held executive roles at both Krispy Kreme and Mars Inc., succeeds now-retired Firebirds CFO Christopher Olson. Earlier this year, Firebirds was acquired and re-capitalized by Garnett Station Partners, a New York-based principal investment firm that manages over $2 billion of assets. The award-winning restaurant concept operates 58 restaurants in 20 states and has aggressive growth plans, which Prince’s strategic financial expertise will help fuel. “Caren brings a brilliant and unique perspective to …

Continue Reading
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
construction and designIndustry Voicesparking lotsremodelsrestaurants

Lending Expertise

by Katie Lee

— By Alicia Chandler — Franchise remodeling for maximum benefits. If you’ve been notified that your franchisor is requiring you to remodel your restaurant, you may be thinking of the headaches you’re likely to encounter. While it’s true that remodeling a franchise restaurant comes with challenges, it can have big payoffs in terms of increased sales. Planning for challenges can help you manage any difficulties that do arise and maximize the benefits to come. Why Remodel? Outside of the obvious reason — the franchisor requires it — remodeling can lead …

Continue Reading
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Newspeoplerestaurants

Former Long John Silver’s CEO Joins Huddle House as Brand President

by Katie Lee

Atlanta — Huddle House has named Blain Shortreed as its new brand president. Shortreed is a career restaurant professional with more than 30 years of experience leading top brands, most recently as CEO of Long John Silver’s. As Huddle House brand president, he will oversee company operations, the franchise system, marketing and culinary innovation. “We are thrilled to welcome Blain to the Ascent Hospitality Management senior executive team as he assumes leadership of the Huddle House system,” says James O’Reilly, chief executive officer for Ascent Hospitality Management®. “He brings extensive …

Continue Reading
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Newer Posts
Older Posts