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Clean Juice Opening First Location in Austin, Texas

by Katie Lee

Austin, Texas — Clean Juice®, the first and only USDA-certified organic juice and food bar franchise, is opening its first Austin, Texas, store with father-and-son duo franchisees Jeff and Ty Mobley. The new Clean Juice will open on July 29 in the William Cannon area across from Arbor Trails Plaza. “We were impressed from the first moment we walked through the doors,” says Ty Mobley, who is also a former award-winning collegiate soccer player. “The cleanliness of the restaurant and the freshness of the food presentation was on point. We …

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Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers Adds 31 Locations to Growth Pipeline

by Katie Lee

Wichita, Kan. — Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers® has signed a franchise development agreement led by new franchisee, Ellis Choi, to debut eight new restaurants in LA County, Calif., a key target market in the U.S. for the brand. This announcement comes on the heels of two quarters of growth, ending the first half of the year with more than 480 locations across 36 states. Freddy’s has set its sights on reaching 500 units later this year. “As we build upon a momentous first half of the year, we are …

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Maggiano’s Little Italy EVP and President to Retire

by Katie Lee

Dallas — According to Brinker International, Inc., Steve Provost, executive vice president and president of its Italian casual-dining brand, Maggiano’s Little Italy®, will retire at the end of August 2023. Provost has dedicated more than 4 decades to the foodservice industry. “Steve is a one-of-a-kind, humble and courageous leader with an incredible presence and knack for storytelling that will be missed,” says Kevin Hochman, president and CEO, Brinker International and president of Chili’s® Grill & Bar. “He is leaving the brand in a stronger position, having continued the legacy of …

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High Bluff Capital to Acquire 81-Restaurant Hardee’s Portfolio

by Katie Lee

San Diego — San Diego-based High Bluff Capital Partners will assume ownership of a portfolio comprising 81 Hardee’s locations following an auction. Located in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Missouri, Montana, South Carolina and Wyoming, the restaurants were previously owned by franchisee Summit Restaurant Group, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in May of this year. The transaction is expected to close in August. Dave Dixon will oversee operation of the restaurants. “High Bluff is the ideal partner to support our efforts…while making critical investments in restaurant remodels and other initiatives …

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Cracker Barrel Names New President and CEO

by Katie Lee

Lebanon, Tenn. — According to the board of directors of Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc., Julie Felss Masino will succeed Sandra B. Cochran as the company’s next president and chief executive officer. Masino most recently served as president, international of Taco Bell, overseeing the expansion of the division to more than 1,000 restaurants in 32 countries, and before that led the $11 billion U.S. Taco Bell business. “Today’s announcement represents the culmination of a multi-year CEO succession-planning process by our board of directors and Sandy, and we are thrilled …

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construction and designFeaturesIndustry Voicesrestaurants

By Design

by Katie Lee

— By Tony Hunsoo Ahn — A bakery concept that features delicious design and a tasty layout. Store design and layout are pivotal to making a favorable first impression — and to maintaining the feeling for returning guests. Walk into any TOUS les JOURS (TLJ) location across the U.S., and you’ll find an inviting ‘cafeteria-style’ grab-and-go environment with a large display of individually wrapped pastries, encouraging customers to add their items — all-time favorites and new desires — to a tray as they approach the register. TLJ is committed to …

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Paris Baguette on Track to Reach 160 U.S. Stores in 2023

by Katie Lee

Moonachie, N.J. — After an big year of growth in 2022, Paris Baguette, the global bakery café franchise with over 4,000 open cafés, has finalized 66 new franchise agreements and opened 20 new stores at the end of the second quarter 2023. “With 66 signings, 20 openings and almost 50 more cafés in various stages of construction, we’re climbing toward the goal of 64 cafés opened this year, and we see a pathway to get there,” says Mark Mele, chief development officer at Paris Baguette. “In the second quarter, we …

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Paytronix Appoints New CEO; Founder Becomes Executive Chairman

by Katie Lee

Newton, Mass. — Paytronix, the leader in guest engagement for restaurants and convenience stores, has named industry veteran and current Paytronix board member Jeff Hindman (pictured here) as its new chief executive officer. Paytronix’s founder and current CEO, Andrew Robbins, will assume the role of executive chairman. “Paytronix continues to revolutionize the way restaurants and convenience stores build and nurture guest relationships. Our exceptional team is driven by a passion to meet the growing industry hunger for more personalized guest experiences and accelerate the pace of innovation needed to do …

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Smalls Sliders® Appoints Vice President of Technology

by Katie Lee

Atlanta — Smalls Sliders, a cheeseburger sliders QSR concept, appoints Kris Douglas as its vice president of technology. In this role, Douglas will leverage his extensive experience as a technology thought leader in the QSR industry to lead the brand’s technology strategy development and planning while also managing its digital presence. “Smalls Sliders has taken the restaurant industry by storm with just a handful of existing locations. I’m excited to introduce innovative technological solutions that will further enhance the customer experience and operational efficiencies as we grow to be a …

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WOWorks Unveils 7 New Virtual Brands

by Katie Lee

St. Petersburg, Fla. — WOWorks, parent company of Saladworks, Frutta Bowls, Garbanzo Mediterranean Fresh, The Simple Greek, Barberitos Southwestern Grille and Cantina, and Zoup! Eatery, is launching seven new virtual brands. These new online-only delivery and takeout concepts harness the power of WOWorks’ strategic collaboration with Olo, a leading open SaaS platform that revolutionizes the restaurant industry’s digital landscape. Third-party delivery services, such as DoorDash, UberEats and Grubhub, have become the driving force behind a culinary revolution, reshaping the way consumers experience food. With their convenience and accessibility, these platforms …

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