Miami — Subway, one of the world’s largest restaurant brands, has officially opened its new global dual-headquarters in Miami’s Waterford Business District. (The brand will also maintain its headquarters in Milford, Conn.) Located at 1000 Sub Way — a new street name designated by Miami-Dade County — the space is designed to advance the brand’s multi-year transformation journey to improve across all aspects of the business, including its workspaces. The office features the first-in-Subway-history Innovation Center and Mock Restaurant as well as a modern, open layout with multiple collaborative spaces, …
restaurants
Los Angeles — Creative restaurant design studio TNI Design has been enlisted to redesign Sizzler locations around the country. TNI, an acronym for ‘The Next Idea,’ has completed its pilot design for Sizzler’s Corona, Calif., location. It serves as the new remodel other locations will undergo over the next few years. “In partnership with Sizzler, we created Sizzler’s new interior design and now we are applying the design to around 60 locations over the next 2 years,” says Robert Ancill, CEO and creative officer at TNI Design. Several are currently …
San Diego — Jack in the Box Inc., one of the nation’s leading QSR chains, has signed 14 new restaurant commitments that will bring Jack in the Box to two new states, Florida and Arkansas. This is the first time the brand has entered the Arkansas market, and over 30 years since it was last in Florida. “We’re excited to see the brand’s continued expansion into new cities and states across the country, as both of these groups bring tremendous experience to the Jack in the Box franchise system and …
Irvine, Calif. — While all locations have been strictly corporate-owned up until now, the Veggie Grill brand is officially launching its franchise opportunity and giving entrepreneurs the opportunity to join the runaway leader in the exciting plant-based movement. Since being founded in 2006, Veggie Grill has expanded to include 35 locations in California, Oregon, Washington, Illinois, Massachusetts and New York City. “This concept is good for you, good for the animals and good for the planet,” says John Billingsley, chief development officer. “Here is a chance to help the climate …
Ann Arbor, Mich. — Franworth, the well-known professional shared services platform, has formed a strategic partnership with the Milkshake Factory, a premium dessert retailer known for its heritage recipes and iconic family legacy throughout Western Pennsylvania. After successfully operating 11 Pittsburgh-area locations, the Milkshake Factory is prepared to share its business model with qualified franchise investors. Countless numbers of interested parties have inquired about the brand’s availability for franchising during the past two decades, and now the opportunity has arrived. “We’ve landed at this inflection point after a full year …
Atlanta — Church’s Texas Chicken® has hired Atlanta-based executive Danton Nolan as the company’s executive vice president, chief financial officer. Nolan, who joins the company from Inspire Brands, replaces Louis Profumo, who is retiring after 18 years of service with the brand. Reporting to CEO Joe Guith, Nolan brings a wealth of industry experience including several years at Arby’s in the role of senior vice president of finance, where he contributed to a successful brand turnaround initiative during his tenure. He joins Church’s Texas Chicken® from Inspire Brands, the second …
Dallas — As Twin Peaks Restaurant continues the march toward its 100th restaurant, it will turn to a new leader to oversee its increased growth across the country and more markets around the globe. Industry veteran Ray Bodnar is joining the brand’s team as vice president of franchise sales and development. Bodnar, who was most recently director of franchise sales for Captain D’s, brings more than 18 years of experience in franchising, enterprise sales and business development. “Our goal in 2023 and beyond is to start painting the globe buffalo …
— Interview with Eduardo Luz — Panera puts on a show with several new design formats catering to the needs of an increasingly digital and off-premise guest. If variety is the spice of life, the many evolving iterations of Panera these days is keeping its real estate and construction game pretty hot. Currently boasting more than 2,100 bakery-cafes (in 48 states and Ontario, Canada), Panera operates under the Panera Bread® or Saint Louis Bread Co.® names; roughly half of these cafes are company-owned. Never a brand to sit …
Alpharetta, Ga. — Your Pie, the original down-the-line pizza concept, ended 2022 with a footprint of over 70 stores across the U.S.; the brand is poised to accelerate momentum in 2023, projecting 20 store openings. Since January, Your Pie has already opened one new location and has two slated for remodel. Despite downward trends in the overall industry, the fast-casual concept saw year-over-year sales jump by nearly 8.46%, AUV increase by 18% and witnessed the top 50% of restaurants garner over $1 million in sales. Your Pie also closed the …
Panda Express Selects Darling Ingredients as Nationwide Provider for Used Cooking Oil Recycling
Irving, Texas — Darling Ingredients Inc., the world’s leading company turning food waste into sustainable products and renewable energy, has been chosen by Panda Restaurant Group, Inc. to recycle Panda’s used cooking oil into sustainable products, such as cleaner burning renewable diesel. Darling Ingredients’ restaurant service brand, DAR PRO Solutions, will collect and recycle used cooking oil from nearly all of the approximately 2,400 Panda Express restaurants in the United States. “We admire Panda Express’ commitment to sustainability and reducing waste in the communities where it operates and its employees …