Wednesday, April 2, 2025
Read the Magazine Subscribe

restaurants

construction and designNewsremodelsrestaurants

Perkins American Food Co. Unveils Flagship & New Restaurant Design

by Katie Lee

Orlando, Fla. — Perkins American Food Co. will unveil its highly anticipated flagship restaurant in Orlando, Fla., on March 19. The location signifies a major milestone in the brand’s evolution. The flagship restaurant will showcase a new state-of-the-art design, designed by Aria Group, that combines contemporary aesthetics with the brand’s heritage. The new venue spans 3,500 square feet and offers a bright and inviting atmosphere, showcasing how modern American hospitality comes to life. It also features an exterior patio and chic design elements. “We have put a lot of heart …

Continue Reading
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
NewsProduct Spotlightrestaurantssoftware/technologyvendors

Presto Expands Voice AI-Powered Drive-Thru Solutions at Wienerschnitzel

by Katie Lee

San Mateo, Calif. — Presto Phoenix, Inc., a leading provider of AI-driven solutions for the quick-service restaurant (QSR) industry, has expanded a partnership with Galardi Group, the parent company of Wienerschnitzel, to deploy its cutting-edge Voice AI ordering technology across the chain’s drive-thru locations. The Galardi Group now has 35 locations operating with Presto’s Voice AI in the drive-thru. The company has already enrolled over 50 locations, with rapid 2025 expansion plans for Wienerschnitzel’s nationwide network of over 350 corporate and franchise drive-thru locations. “We’re thrilled to expand our partnership …

Continue Reading
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
HVAC/RIndustry Voicesrestaurantsvendors

Warming Up Winter

by Katie Lee

— By Jaime Tuinstra — How infrared heat can help fill your restaurant and breweries’ seats. As the days grow shorter and temperatures begin to drop, service or entertainment establishments that utilize outdoor seating areas face a challenge: How to keep guests comfortable and extend the outdoor dining season. Providing comfortable al fresco dining or social options, even when temperatures drop, can significantly boost revenue and customer satisfaction. Thus, in lieu of hoodies or jackets, when there’s a nip in the air, addressing comfort proactively is essential for customer satisfaction …

Continue Reading
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
jan/sanNewsrestaurantssupply chainvendors

Imperial Dade Acquires Athens Janitor Supply Company and Chittom Industries

by Katie Lee

Jersey City, N.J., and Athens, Ga. — Imperial Dade, a leading North American distributor of foodservice packaging supplies, industrial products and janitorial supplies, has acquired Athens Janitor Supply Company, Inc. and Chittom Industries, Inc. The transaction represents the 97th acquisition for Imperial Dade under the leadership of Robert and Jason Tillis, chairman and CEO of Imperial Dade, respectively. Financial terms of the private transaction were not disclosed. Athens Janitor Supply (AJS) was purchased in 1979 by Jim Chittom Sr. The company has three locations in Athens, Rome and Augusta, Ga. …

Continue Reading
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
franchise developmentNewspeoplerestaurants

CKE Restaurants Appoints New Chief Executive Officer

by Katie Lee

Franklin, Tenn. — CKE Restaurants Holdings, Inc., parent company of Carl’s Jr.® and Hardee’s®, has appointed Joe Guith as chief executive officer, effective immediately. He joins CKE from Church’s Texas Chicken. Guith arrives at CKE with extensive experience in franchising, restaurant management and the expansion of consumer brands. Previously, he served as CEO of Church’s Texas Chicken, where he successfully repositioned the brand and built stronger relationships with the franchisee community, leading to significant improvements in unit-level profitability, record sales and traffic growth. These changes led to expanding the Church’s …

Continue Reading
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
construction and designenergy managementgreen building/LEEDgreen newsNewsrestaurants

Largest Solar-Powered Starbucks in the U.S. Now Open

by Katie Lee

Gilbert, Ariz. — Mercy Center, a highly anticipated 11-acre mixed-use development in Gilbert, Ariz., is now open. Developed and leased by Diversified Partners, the new community hub includes Arizona’s largest Starbucks — and the largest solar-powered Starbucks in the country. The two-story design redefines eco-conscious, customer-centric retail. This first-of-its-kind Starbucks location features a rooftop solar array supplying 80% to 100% of the store’s energy needs. Excess power is fed back into the grid to support nearby homes. Designed for efficiency and accessibility, the flagship Starbucks includes a 23-car drive-thru, designated …

Continue Reading
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
franchise developmentNewspeoplerestaurants

A&W Restaurants Promotes New CEO and President

by Katie Lee

Lexington, Ky. — A&W Restaurants, an all-American QSR with over 100 years of experience in business, has promoted Betsy Schmandt to chief executive officer and president of A&W Restaurants. Previously serving as the chief operating officer and president for the brand, Schmandt will inherit the responsibility from former CEO, Kevin Bazner, who will continue his tenure as chairman. Schmandt spent the last 18 months as COO and president of A&W Restaurants where she led day-to-day operations, ensuring efficiency, productivity and alignment with the businesses’ long term strategic goals. Prior to …

Continue Reading
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
construction and designfranchise developmentNewsrestaurantssoftware/technologyvendors

Bonchon Opens 150th U.S. Restaurant

by Katie Lee

Dallas — Bonchon, a global leader in Korean fried chicken, is marking a franchise milestone with its 150th U.S. location, which opened in February. The Jonesboro, Ark., location was Bonchon’s first restaurant in the state with additional Arkansas stores to open this year. Bonchon’s strong start to 2025 also involved entering new markets in Florida, Arkansas and Iowa. “This year is off to an exciting start with new store openings and franchise agreements, bringing Bonchon’s craveable Korean fried chicken to even more guests,” says Bonchon CEO Suzie Tsai. “We’re accelerating …

Continue Reading
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
construction and designfranchise developmentNewsrestaurants

Shipley Do-Nuts Expands in New Markets Across the U.S.

by Katie Lee

Houston — Shipley Do-Nuts, one of the nation’s largest donut and kolache brands, plans to expand its national footprint with a 30-unit development deal that will bring the brand to New Mexico and the Miami-Dade area of Florida, both new markets for Shipley. This follows the recent new opening in Concord, N.C. — marking the first Shipley in the state of North Carolina. Existing Shipley franchisee Vik Agrawal will bring 10 shops to Sandoval, Santa Fe, Bernalillo, Valencia, Torrance, Socorro, Lincoln, De Baca, Guadalupe and San Miguel counties in New …

Continue Reading
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
green newsIndustry Contentkitchen exhaust/grease controlrestaurantsVendor Spotlightvendorswaste management/recycling

Rubicon: Signature Vendor Spotlight

by Katie Lee

— Interview With Chandra Balter — R&R: Where are you based and how long has the company been in business? Chandra Balter: Rubicon is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, and I’m personally based in Toms River, New Jersey. The company has been in business for 16 years. R&R: What is your name and title, and how long have you been with the company? Balter: I’m Chandra Balter, strategic account executive, and I have been with Rubicon for over 11 years. For most of that time, I served as a key account …

Continue Reading
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Newer Posts
Older Posts