New York City — Rosa Mexicano, a pioneering brand in elevated Mexican dining, has appointed Richard Zoob as chief executive officer. Zoob’s appointment marks a full-circle return to Rosa Mexicano, where he previously served as both a consultant and board advisor. Having worked closely with the brand over the years, he brings a nuanced understanding of its legacy, its operational opportunities and its untapped potential in today’s evolving dining landscape. “Rosa Mexicano is an iconic brand with a powerful legacy and tremendous opportunity ahead,” says Zoob. “I’ve had a long …
restaurants
Los Angeles — Sweetgreen, Inc. has appointed Ryan Slemons as its new chief development officer, effective May 4, 2026. He now leads all aspects of real estate, design, construction, facilities and portfolio management, and he reports directly to Jonathan Neman, co-founder and CEO. Slemons brings nearly two decades of experience in real estate, franchising and store development across various industries. Most recently, he served as chief development officer of Unleashed Brands, a portfolio of franchise brands including Urban Air Adventure Park, The Little Gym, Sylvan Learning Centers and more. “Ryan …
Orlando, Fla. — Huey Magoo’s, a fast-casual chicken tenders chain, is introducing a freestanding drive-thru prototype designed to lower build costs and increase site flexibility for franchisees. The design allows development on sites that were previously not viable, supporting growth in more markets while reducing upfront investment. The prototype extends the brand’s cost-conscious design approach into a stand-alone drive-thru format, building on momentum from 2025, when Huey Magoo’s introduced a condensed 1,500-square-foot inline model to reduce buildout costs and expand access to high-traffic retail centers. That format created a more …
Wichita, Kan. — Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers is strengthening its development team. Rafik Farouk has joined as vice president of business development, and Jackie Lobdell has been named vice president of franchise sales. As Freddy’s approaches 600 restaurants, the addition of these experienced leaders reinforces the team driving the brand’s expansion. Together, Farouk and Lobdell bring more than four decades of restaurant industry experience, adding significant depth to Freddy’s development bench. “Freddy’s is entering an exciting phase of growth, and Rafik and Jackie are two important additions to our …
Santa Clara, Calif. — SoundHound AI, Inc., a global leader in voice and conversational AI, has renewed and expanded its long-standing partnership with Casey’s, the third-largest convenience retailer in the United States. The expanded deal highlights the strength of the collaboration, as SoundHound’s AI-powered ordering agents have already supported Casey’s in handling more than 21 million guest interactions, successfully processing millions of food orders. Casey’s has deployed the technology across more than 2,600 locations, helping ensure guests can place orders quickly and easily. Casey’s is focused on delivering convenient, high-quality …
New York City — goop kitchen, the upscale, chef-crafted restaurant concept founded by Gwyneth Paltrow, made its highly anticipated New York City debut on April 20, marking the brand’s first expansion outside of California and a major new phase of growth. Built as a dark kitchen model, goop kitchen operates without traditional dining rooms, offering thoughtfully crafted meals designed specifically for delivery and takeout. The New York launch represents a significant milestone for the brand, bringing its delivery-focused model to one of the most sophisticated and competitive food markets in …
— By Koji Kanematsu — Why landlords are turning to light-infrastructure food concepts to fill retail dead zones. Landlords and shopping center owners are facing a familiar problem. Many retail properties have space that gets foot traffic but doesn’t work for a traditional restaurant. Old kiosks, narrow inline units, corridors and spaces that cannot support full restaurant infrastructure are hard to lease. Too often, they sit empty. At the same time, many food operators want to expand but can’t justify the cost, time or risk of a full restaurant buildout. …
Fort Lauderdale, Fla. — Bagels & Co. has added to its leadership team (CEO and CFO) as the brand continues to expand in Florida and Pennsylvania with plans to also open in Ohio, Arizona, Georgia and Alabama. Kevin Armantrout, who joined Bagels & Co. in 2025 as chief operating officer, has been promoted to chief executive officer, succeeding Bagels & Co. co-founder and board member Mike Marsh. Armantrout previously served as president and COO of Another Broken Egg Café and franchise president & corporate vice president of operations for Ruth’s …
Dallas — Smoothie King is marking the beginning of the next chapter in its 53-year history by introducing a new brand evolution plan. The new plan is designed to build on its continued momentum, reinforce category leadership and accelerate long term growth. It includes more than 200 new store commitments, over 1,500 available trade areas in its development pipeline and a newly expanded food menu. The new brand evolution also introduces a transformed in-store experience, rolling out over the coming year. In 1973, Smoothie King introduced a new category to …
Dallas — Nothing Bundt Cakes reached a major milestone as it opened the doors to its 800th bakery on April 15. The 800th bakery opened at 2660 Oswell St. in East Bakersfield, Calif., and will be operated by owners Chiral and Dixit Desai, who also own multiple bakeries within the state. “This achievement reflects the work and passion of our bakery owners and teams, along with the fans who make us part of their everyday celebrations,” says Dolf Berle, CEO of Nothing Bundt Cakes. “At this stage of growth, what …