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Restaurant Technology Company Chowly Acquires Koala

by Katie Lee

Chicago — Chowly, a restaurant technology company that integrates third-party delivery marketplaces with point-of-sale (POS) systems, has acquired Koala, a guest experience platform that empowers established and emerging restaurant brands to elevate their digital ordering experience across web, app and kiosk to drive immediate results. The combined business will represent over 16,000 restaurant locations on the platform. “We’re thrilled to welcome Koala to the Chowly team,” says Sterling Douglass, co-founder and CEO, Chowly. “Merging these two businesses together represents a major leap forward in the mission of both organizations as …

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Focus Brands® Opened 400+ Locations Globally in 2022; Signed 650 New Franchise Deals

by Katie Lee

Atlanta — Focus Brands®, the parent company of Auntie Anne’s®, Carvel®, Cinnabon®, Jamba®, McAlister’s Deli®, Moe’s Southwest Grill® and Schlotzsky’s®, has closed out fiscal year 2022 exceeding $3.9 billion in system-wide sales for the first time in its history. Nearly 650 new franchise deals were signed, and 400-plus stores opened globally. Key to Focus Brands’ growth strategy has been its transformation into a platform company. Finding portfolio-wide synergies and cost savings adds more fuel to the company’s individual brands. In 2023, Focus Brands is prioritizing the ‘Power of the Portfolio,’ …

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Krystal Names New Vice President of Operations

by Katie Lee

Atlanta — Krystal Restaurants LLC, the original home of the slider in the South, has hired seasoned restaurant and hospitality leader Jermaine Walker is its new vice president of operations. The legacy brand has been undergoing aggressive growth plans, having opened its first international location last year and continues on this trajectory with a new restaurant that opened in Alabama last month and more on the way. “I am honored to join Krystal and be part of their expansion efforts,” says Walker. “I’ve spent my career supporting companies in their …

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FAT Brands Added 362 Stores to Development Pipeline in 2022

by Katie Lee

Los Angeles — FAT (Fresh. Authentic. Tasty.) Brands Inc., a leading global franchising company that owns a number of restaurant brands, including Johnny Rockets, Fatburger, Round Table Pizza, Twin Peaks, Fazoli’s and 12 other concepts, has experienced a historic year of growth, opening 142 new stores in 2022 and adding a total of 362 stores to its development pipeline which spans 29 states and 17 countries. Leading the way in new store development amongst FAT Brands’ concepts was Fatburger and Buffalo’s Express with 86 stores, Fazoli’s with 61, Round Table …

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Smoothie King to Open More Than 100 Stores in 2023

by Katie Lee

Dallas — Smoothie King, the world’s largest smoothie chain and the first health and fitness QSR brand of its kind, signed franchise and area development agreements in 2022 to add over 160 stores to new and existing markets. More than half of the signed agreements are with existing franchisees. In addition to bolstering its development pipeline, Smoothie King opened 77 new stores in 2022 in key target markets, including Albany, N.Y.; Cleveland, Ohio; and Washington, D.C. Smoothie King is forecasted to open more than 100 locations in 2023. “Over the …

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Presto Named Supplier of the Year for Innovation by Checkers & Rally’s

by Katie Lee

San Carlos, Calif. — Presto Automation Inc., the largest drive-thru automation technology provider in the hospitality industry, has been awarded the Supplier of the Year Innovation Award for 2022 by iconic drive-thru restaurant chain Checkers & Rally’s. Presto has been recognized for successfully delivering and scaling its A.I.-powered voice assistant, Presto VoiceTM, at hundreds of Checkers & Rally’s drive-thru restaurants nationwide. Over the past year, Presto Voice has consistently demonstrated that drive-thru A.I.-driven voice automation can significantly lower labor costs while simultaneously driving up revenue. “We announced a rollout of …

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Crisp & Green Inks Largest Multi-Unit Deal in Company History with 40 Units Sold

by Katie Lee

Minneapolis — STEELE BRANDS®, a Minnesota-based company known for establishing and developing healthy lifestyle restaurants, including its flagship brand CRISP & GREEN®, has signed a record-breaking 40-unit Crisp & Green development deal franchise partner Salads & Smoothies, LLC. This milestone comes at a time when the brand is embarking on its busiest year yet with a goal of 50 locations slated to open across 15 additional states before the end of 2023. This new 40-unit development agreement adds to Salad & Smoothies’ existing 11-unit agreement with CRISP & GREEN, totaling …

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After Successful Pop-Up, pastaRAMEN to Open First Brick-and-Mortar Restaurant

by Katie Lee

Montclair, N.J. — After gaining a cult following during its 2-year run as an exclusive, invite-only pop-up, pastaRAMEN is debuting its first brick-and-mortar restaurant in Montclair, N.J., in early February. The first-ever Italian ramen shop marries Japanese and Italian cuisines in a style called “Wafu-Italian,” which blends ingredients, textures and techniques from both worlds. “The response we received from our pop-ups in Seattle, Jersey City, Miami and Los Angeles was overwhelmingly positive, so when it became clear that there was an appetite for pastaRAMEN and this new type of cuisine, …

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Dine Brands International Expands with Dual-Brand Locations in the Middle East

by Katie Lee

Glendale, Calif. — Dine Brands International, an affiliate of Dine Brands Global, Inc., the parent company of Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill + Bar®, IHOP® and Fuzzy’s Taco Shop® restaurants, has opened a dual-brand Applebee’s and IHOP location in the United Arab Emirates and plans to open a minimum of 4 additional locations in the Middle East in partnership with established franchisees Eagles Landing International Restaurants and Kout Food Group. Eagles Landing International Restaurants opened its first dual-brand location in the UAE at the Dubai Festival City Mall on January 21 and …

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In-N-Out Burger to Expand to Tennessee, Plans to Open First Restaurant by 2026

by Katie Lee

Franklin, Tenn. — In-N-Out Burger, a popular fast-food chain based in California, plans to expand to Tennessee, beginning with a regional office in the Nashville suburb of Franklin. The company plans to open its first Tennessee restaurant in the Nashville area by 2026, which represents the furthest east location for In-N-Out. “We are very excited to provide Tennesseans with our quality burgers, fries and shakes,” says Lynsi Snyder, In-N-Out owner and president. “This expansion is significant for our company. For many years, we’ve heard requests from our customers in Tennessee …

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