restaurants

Detroit — Michigan-based Savvy Sliders has named QSR veteran Bryon Stephens as chief development officer. Stephens brings 35 years of industry knowledge to the Savvy Sliders brand.  With 35 stores open today, and another 30 in development, Stephens will guide the 3-year-old brand to a growth trajectory of more than 500 stores over the next 48 months. “With Bryon’s leadership and knowledge, this unique partnership will lead us to explosive growth throughout the world,” says Happy Asker, founder and CEO of Savvy Sliders. While at A&W Restaurants, Stephens spearheaded the …

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Shanghai — Yum China Holdings, Inc. (“Yum China”) has celebrated the opening of Pizza Hut’s 3,000th store in China, located in Qinhuangdao, a coastal city in Hebei province. It marks a significant milestone in Pizza Hut’s 33-year growth journey in China. The new restaurant enjoys a sweeping view of the sea. Not only does it provide a contemporary dining experience, but also showcases advanced sustainability solutions, including an IoT-based intelligent energy management system and outdoor solar lamps. The restaurant also incorporates renewable and recycled materials in its decoration and layout, …

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Austin, Texas — Popular family-friendly Texas restaurant Smokey Mo’s TX BBQ has named Martin Hornsby as its new chief financial officer. “Bringing Martin to Smokey Mo’s will support more financial opportunities for franchising and corporate strategy,” says Craig Haley, president of Smokey Mo’s TX BBQ. “Smokey Mo’s is in the beginning stages of a substantial growth plan and we are very excited to add Martin’s financial and franchising expertise to our team.” Having worked as chief financial officer for companies such as Alamo Drafthouse and Sport Clips Haircuts, Hornsby’s experience, …

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— By Michael Spataro — Why intelligent automation will be key for successful workforce management in 2023 and beyond.   Throughout 2022, many businesses were left scrambling to fill shifts, properly serve customers and attract and retain hourly employees. In 2023, businesses in the retail, hospitality and restaurant industries will need to find new ways to manage their hourly workforce, find ways to streamline their labor operations and operate more effectively — while also delivering a better experience for their frontline employees and customers. The solution: intelligent automation powered by …

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Orlando, Fla. — Darden Restaurants, Inc. has completed its acquisition of Ruth’s Hospitality Group, Inc. The Ruth’s Chris Steak House brand now joins and complements Darden’s portfolio of differentiated brands that include Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, Yard House, Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen, The Capital Grille, Seasons 52, Eddie V’s and Bahama Breeze. Ruth’s Chris has 155 locations around the globe, including 81 company-owned or company-operated restaurants and 74 franchised restaurants. The $715 million acquisition was completed on June 14, 2023. Following the consummation of the merger, Ruth’s became an indirect, wholly …

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Denver — Smashburger has appointed Jose Miñana Jr. as interim president in place of Carl Bachmann upon his departure from the company on June 30th. Miñana is the chief sustainability and public affairs officer for Smashburger’s parent company, Jollibee Foods Corporation, and will serve as the president until the permanent lead executive has been appointed. Miñana has over 25 years of experience working for the Jollibee Foods Corporation and has held multiple positions within the global restaurant company. Before being named the chief sustainability and public affairs officer in 2019, …

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Los Angeles — Great American Cookies, the Original Cookie Cake franchise, plans its first location in the state of Alaska. The new store will be located in Anchorage. “This year, Great American Cookies arrived in Arizona, New Mexico and Illinois,” says Allison Lauenstein, president of Great American Cookies. “Growing domestically has been a key growth pillar for us so we are pleased to be able to expand our footprint to four new states, including Alaska, in just a few months. We see Anchorage as a great market to make our …

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Moonachie, N.J. — Paris Baguette, the bakery café concept with 4,000 units worldwide, currently has nearly 150 units open in the U.S. and is working toward reaching the 1,000 unit mark in the States by 2030. After a great end to 2022, the concept has kicked off 2023 by signing 40 franchise agreements and opening one restaurant per week in the first quarter. “We are very proud of the momentum we have. Last year we opened 24 stores. This year, we are more than halfway there in just 3 months,” …

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St. Louis — Interface Systems, a leading managed service provider of business security, actionable insights and purpose-built networks for multi-location businesses, has been selected by BRIX Holdings, a leading multi-brand franchising company that specializes in the “better-for-you” QSR segment, to deploy managed network, business voice, PCI compliance, business security and business intelligence solutions for all their franchise locations, including Red Mango Cafe, Smoothie Factory + Kitchen, Souper Salad, Orange Leaf, Humble Donut Co, Greenz, Friendly’s and Pizza Jukebox. Interface’s solutions enable BRIX to offer its franchisees a modern and proven …

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Fort Lauderdale, Fla. — BurgerFi International Inc., owner of leading fast-casual brand BurgerFi and Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza & Wings, is making a change in senior leadership as Christopher Jones will be joining as chief financial officer on July 10, 2023. Jones is replacing the current CFO, Mike Rabinovitch, who is transitioning to Lionheart Capital as a senior advisor. Lionheart Capital along with its founder and the company’s executive chairman, Ophir Sternberg, is the company’s largest shareholder. Rabinovitch will remain in his role as CFO until July 10, 2023 and …

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