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ITW Food Equipment Group Earns 2024 ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year – Sustained Excellence Award

by Katie Lee

Glenview, Ill. — ITW Food Equipment Group has received the 2024 ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year – Sustained Excellence award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). The Sustained Excellence award is the highest honor among ENERGY STAR awards. This year marks the 17th consecutive year ITW Food Equipment Group has been recognized as an ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year and 15th consecutive year receiving the Sustained Excellence award. “The development of energy-efficient products is an absolute priority for our brands …

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franchise developmentNewsrestaurants

Smoothie King Plans to Triple Las Vegas Store Count

by Katie Lee

Dallas — Smoothie King has signed development agreements that will bring seven new locations to Las Vegas. The expansion more than triples Smoothie King’s footprint in the market and is part of the larger growth path that the smoothie brand announced earlier this year, forecasting 100 new store openings in 2024. Smoothie King currently has three locations in the Las Vegas area — in Henderson, Summerlin and Spring Valley — with its most recent opening occurring in 2022. The first of the seven new locations is expected to open as …

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Industry Voiceskitchen equipmentrestaurantssoftware/technologyvendors

Gear Up

by Katie Lee

— By Sabina Campbell — The trend-driven revolution in modern kitchen equipment. The landscape of the culinary industry in 2024 remains fundamentally anchored in the time-honored tradition of crafting delicious dishes; however, the methods and tools at the disposal of chefs and restaurant owners are transforming at an unprecedented pace. Smart technology, artificial intelligence (AI) and a steadfast commitment to sustainability are at the forefront of this revolution, leading to significant advancements in operational efficiency and culinary prowess. In the modern restaurant’s kitchen, what was once the realm of hands-on …

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HVAC/RIndustry Voicesrestaurantsvendors

Let’s Heat

by Katie Lee

— By Jaime Tuinstra — How to find the right heating solution for your restaurant. After a few rough years, the restaurant industry has quickly recovered from the turbulent business environment that took hold from 2020-22. According to the National Restaurant Association, 2023 sales were forecast to reach $977 billion in the United States. In addition, it is projected that 500,000 new jobs entered the industry in 2023. That is a testament to the recovery of a resilient industry that was devastated during the COVID-19 pandemic. This winter, it will …

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Newspeoplerestaurants

Smashburger Appoints New Chief Executive Officer

by Katie Lee

Denver — Smashburger®, a leading fast-casual better burger brand, has appointed Denise Nelsen as its new chief executive officer, the company’s first female CEO. She joins the company from Starbucks. Under this new leadership, Smashburger is primed to further drive culinary innovation to enhance the guest experience, while expanding its industry footprint. “We are thrilled to welcome Denise Nelsen as Smashburger’s newest CEO. With her extensive experience and proven leadership in the food and beverage industry, she is set to propel the brand into a new era of growth,” says …

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construction and designenergy managementgreen building/LEEDgreen newsHVAC/RlightingNewsrestaurantswaste management/recycling

Starbucks Announces 6,000 Greener Stores Worldwide 

by Katie Lee

Seattle — Starbucks has certified 6,091 Greener Stores, nearly doubling its portfolio in the past year, and a milestone achievement toward the company’s goal of certifying 10,000 Greener Stores globally by 2025. In markets around the world, Greener Stores’ energy and water savings and waste diversion help advance the company’s goal to reduce carbon emissions, water usage and landfill waste by 50% by 2030. The company has Greener Stores in 44 markets with new markets including India, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Taiwan, Vietnam, Bahrain, Italy, …

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Toastique Opens First Texas Location

by Katie Lee

Addison, Texas — Toastique, the vibrant, artisan toast and juice café conceptualized on the East Coast, launched its first Texas storefront last month, in Addison. The new location is fueled by the family team of Penny and Mike Mrva, alongside their daughters who boast backgrounds in the nutrition and wellness industries. This collective experience ignited a passion for advocating a health-conscious world, aligning seamlessly with the mission of the Toastique franchise. “Toastique’s commitment to excellence, from presentation to operations, reflects our meticulous approach to creating a space where the values …

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Papa Johns Names Interim CEO

by Katie Lee

Louisville, Ky. — The president and CEO of Papa John’s International, Inc., Rob Lynch, plans to depart Papa Johns to become CEO of Shake Shack. The board has appointed Ravi Thanawala, current chief financial officer of Papa Johns, as interim CEO. To ensure a smooth transition, Lynch will provide continued support in an advisory role until April 30, 2024. The board is conducting a search to identify a successor for the CEO role. “I am confident that we have a strong leadership team in place — led by Ravi Thanawala …

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facilities managementIndustry Voicesrestaurantssoftware/technologyvendors

Managing Multiples

by Katie Lee

— By Katie Fairchild — 9 steps to managing multi-location restaurant businesses. The dynamic world of running multi-units, multi-brands and franchises offers many advantages. From full-service to fast food and everything in between, having the efficiencies that come with an existing brand, business model and established infrastructure can be an advantage for operators. However, with these advantages comes unique challenges. One of the major issues for operators of multiple entities is that the individual businesses or locations may have their own goals, processes, software, language and more. The final goal …

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Shake Shack Names Papa Johns CEO as its New CEO

by Katie Lee

New York City — The board of directors of Shake Shack Inc. has appointed Rob Lynch to chief executive officer and board member, effective May 20, 2024. Lynch currently serves as president and CEO of Papa John’s International, Inc. and under his leadership, the company has achieved record global systemwide sales (over $5 billion across approximately 5,900 units). Lynch will succeed Randy Garutti who will continue as the company’s CEO through May 20, 2024, which will also be his final day serving on the board, before transitioning to an advisor …

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