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SpotOn Names New Chief Product Officer & Chief Innovation Officer

by Katie Lee

San Francisco — SpotOn, the top-rated software and payments partner for restaurants and small businesses, has named Bryan Solar as its new chief product officer. Solar joins SpotOn from Block, where he was the general manager for Square for Restaurants. He has also held leadership positions at Google, where he managed various SMB and restaurant-related projects. SpotOn’s co-founder and former chief product officer, Doron Friedman, will take on the newly-created role of chief innovation officer. “I’ve been closely watching SpotOn since its founding in 2017. Their ability to combine innovation, …

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Gala Capital Partners to Purchase Rusty Taco from Inspire Brands

by Katie Lee

Atlanta — Gala Capital Partners (GCP), an investment firm focused on emerging restaurant franchise brands, has reached an agreement to purchase Rusty Taco from Atlanta-based Inspire Brands. The terms of the deal were not disclosed. The Rusty Taco leadership team has co-invested in the acquisition and will remain in place to guide this new phase of the brand’s evolution. Inspire Brands acquired a majority interest in the Rusty Taco brand along with its purchase of Buffalo Wild Wings in 2018. Inspire successfully reinvigorated the brand, clarifying its positioning and rebranding …

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Daddy’s Chicken Shack Opens Flagship Location in 2022 & Has 120 Units in Development

by Katie Lee

Houston — In 2022, Daddy’s Chicken Shack opened a flagship restaurant in Houston Heights (Houston), as well as signed eight franchise agreements across California, Oregon, Texas, Colorado, Arizona, Georgia and Florida. The brand now has 120 units in development nationwide. During 2022, the emerging chicken brand also hosted its first-ever regional developer conference, a rare achievement after launching its franchise opportunity only in 2021. The brand’s first conference was hosted by founders Pace Webb and Chris Georgalas, as well as Dave Liniger, former CEO and co-founder of RE/MAX realty, who …

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energy managementgreen newsHVAC/RIndustry Voicesrestaurantsvendors

All In On Energy Efficiency

by Katie Lee

— By Al Subbloie —   How one Arkansas-based IHOP operator received new equipment, lowered his energy bills and improved operations without out-out-pocket costs.   Restaurants use anywhere from five to seven times more energy per square foot than other commercial buildings, and for quick-service restaurants energy consumption can be up to 10 times more. In an industry that traditionally operates on narrow profit margins, any reduction in energy costs will dramatically improve the bottom line. As many restaurant businesses are feeling the squeeze from rising inflation and increasing labor …

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construction and designNewsrestaurantsretailers

Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield Underway on Redevelopment of Westfield Old Orchard Mall

by Katie Lee

Skokie, Ill. — Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield is underway on the redevelopment of the Westfield Old Orchard shopping mall in Skokie, Ill. Plans call for retail, apartments, restaurants, gourmet markets, health and wellness amenities and entertainment space. The project will also include a park and event space designed as the center’s focal point and social gathering space. The multi-phase project began in fall 2022 with the modernization of the existing shopping center, starting with enhancements to the common areas as well as the opening of new restaurants, health and wellness components and retailers …

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Negroni Bistro & Bar to Open First West Coast Venture in Los Angeles

by Katie Lee

Los Angeles — World-renowned Latin American bistro and bar brand, Negroni, will open its first West Coast restaurant just in time to ring in the New Year in the Los Angeles neighborhood of West Hollywood/Beverly Grove. This expansion marks the brand’s second location in the U.S.; the first U.S. restaurant is in Miami, in addition to 20 other locations throughout Latin America. The restaurant concept originated in 2012 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, inspired by the prominent Italian and Nikkei culinary influences in the area. The restaurant presents an amalgamation of cultures …

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Quiznos to Expand in North Georgia with 10 New Units

by Katie Lee

Denver — Quick-service sandwich chain Quiznos has inked a new multi-unit development agreement with franchisee Sam Patel that will provide 10 new restaurants and exclusivity across Northern Georgia. The first location in this agreement is slated to open in early 2023. The new restaurants will be a mix of standalone drive-thru units and non-traditional locations built inside renewed fuel stations Patel owns along Interstate 75. The agreement follows a schedule of two units built per year for the next 5 years in Adairsville, Calhoun, Dalton, Resaca, Ringgold and Chatsworth. “Quiznos …

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franchise developmentNewspeoplerestaurantssoftware/technology

Salata Salad Kitchen Names Vice President of Information Technology

by Katie Lee

Houston — Salata, a leading built-to-order salad kitchen with 90 locations, has named Briton Smetzer as vice president of information technology. With a background in a variety of industries, including fast-casual restaurants, construction, ATM and technology services, Smetzer brings his expertise to the growing concept to lead the modernization of Salata’s IT infrastructure. Smetzer most recently served as director of ATM management & software deployment at NCR, an information technology company that manufactures self-service kiosks, point-of-sale terminals and automated teller machines. Smetzer will be the first to hold the vice …

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Clean Juice Hires its First Chief Financial Officer

by Katie Lee

Charlotte, N.C. — Clean Juice®, the nation’s first and only USDA-certified organic juice and food bar franchise, has hired Ashley Love to chief financial officer. Love is the first CFO for Clean Juice. In this newly created role, Love will oversee the finance, human resources, compliance and legal departments, while focusing on cost-saving efficiencies, streamlining financial operations, ensuring regulatory compliance and implementing scalable systems to support the brand’s strong growth trajectory. Love’s understanding and implementation of scalable systems and processes focus on several impactful areas important to Clean Juice’s operations, …

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Caribou Coffee Celebrates 30 Years

by Katie Lee

Minneapolis — Caribou Coffee®, a global premium coffeehouse and Panera Brands company, is celebrating 30 years of business this month. Founders John and Kim Puckett opened the doors of the first Caribou Coffee in Edina, Minn., on Dec. 14, 1992. What started as a dream of two young entrepreneurs has now transformed into a beloved brand and is currently one of the nation’s largest coffee chains with over 400 coffeehouses throughout the U.S. “As Caribou reflects on its 30 years of business, we’re proud to celebrate the successes achieved throughout …

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