— By Candise Shanbron, Esq.— How retailers and restaurateurs can prepare for increasing natural disasters and insurance challenges. In recent years, weather patterns across the United States have become increasingly erratic and severe. Over just the past year, nearly every region of the country has experienced some form of extreme weather event — be it hurricanes, tornadoes, hailstorms, floods, wildfires or other wind-related catastrophes. No geographical area seems immune, and all signs point toward a continued increase in the frequency and severity of these natural disasters. For those in the …
vendors
Columbia, S.C. — Groucho’s Deli, a South Carolina-based sandwich shop with an 84-year legacy, has chosen Square’s comprehensive commerce platform to power its operations across more than 30 locations. By leveraging Square’s integrated hardware, software and partner ecosystem, Groucho’s is unifying its operations, streamlining service and preparing for its next phase of franchise expansion — without losing the neighborhood hospitality that has defined the brand for generations. “As we look toward our next phase of growth, we needed a technology partner that could unify our operations across corporate and franchise …
— By Tom Dawson — Rooftop grease should not be out of sight, out of mind. For restaurant operators, inspections are a regular part of doing business. McDonald’s owner/operators have discovered that proper rooftop grease containment is a critical factor in ensuring top scores for their Running Great Restaurant (RGR) inspections. McDonald’s owner/operators and other leading restaurant brands understand that every inspection point is important. Careful preparation across all parts of the operation is essential for achieving high scores. From general roof cleanliness to safety, McDonald’s owner/operators share how their …
— By Andrew Brister, AIA — How as-built consulting and technology drive faster, profitable store openings. Retailers managing large property portfolios face growing complexity — tight timelines, overlapping projects and pressure to hit grand opening dates. To stay ahead, many are embracing advanced as-built consulting powered by technologies like Building Information Modeling (BIM), laser scanning, mobile mapping and virtual tours. When integrated early in the pre-design and design phases, these tools help reduce uncertainty, align stakeholders and streamline execution. The result: faster, more efficient rollouts with fewer surprises. Managing Multiple …
Irving, Texas — Everon, a leading security integrator and premier provider of commercial security, video, fire and life safety solutions, has promoted Carson Clemons to vice president, national accounts installation. With 13 years of combined operational and sales experience in the security industry as senior manager, operational excellence and senior director, national accounts for Everon, Clemons brings proven leadership to this new role. He will oversee the company’s centralized project and program management teams within the National Accounts and Integrated Solutions departments. His expertise in operational excellence will be critical …
Tampa, Fla. — IFCO, a global leader in reusable packaging solutions for fresh food, has opened its newest service center in Mesquite, Texas, near Dallas. A purpose-built facility in North America, the Dallas Service Center advances IFCO’s mission to create smarter, safer and more sustainable supply chains for fresh foods across the region. The opening comes at a pivotal time, as growing demand for reusable packaging solutions, increased fresh food shipments, and rising safety and sustainability standards made expanding IFCO’s service center footprint a strategic imperative. After extensive market analysis and site alignment, IFCO …
— Interview with CJ Jernigan — R&R: Where are you based? How long have you been in business? CJ Jernigan: Vixxo Facility Solutions is headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona, and has been in the FM industry since 1980 through the merger of several companies. Vixxo brings decades of expertise in delivering proactive, scalable solutions for multi-site facilities across North America. We help our clients spend less and stress less, one work order at a time. R&R: What is your name and title? Jernigan: I’m CJ Jernigan, president of Vixxo, with over …
New Hartford, N.Y. — Taco Bueno, a popular quick-service Tex-Mex chain, has selected PAR Technology Corporation as its unified technology partner. The brand will implement PAR POS™ and PAR Hardware™ solutions across its 140 locations to modernize operations, enhance the guest experience and support long term growth. As Taco Bueno scales and streamlines operations across its expanding footprint, the leadership team prioritized finding a technology partner that could offer both enterprise-grade capabilities and intuitive usability for in-store staff. Taco Bueno selected PAR Technology for its comprehensive ecosystem of industry-leading integrations …
— Interview with Nathan Willard — R&R: Where are you based and how long has the company been in business? Nathan Willard: HOODZ is based out of Ann Arbor, Michigan. We have been in business since 1972 and have provided franchising opportunities since 2009. R&R: What is your name and title, and how long have you been with the company? Willard: My name is Nathan Willard, and I have acted as president of HOODZ International since 2015. R&R: What trades/services do you offer retailers and restaurants? Willard: As the leading …
Orlando, Fla. — Bluebox Smart Ice and Water introduces the industry’s first on-premise ice and water vending solution functioning as an “Ice-as-a-Service” enterprise. Using an exclusive licensing agreement for the convenience store sector, Bluebox Ice as a Service employs Everest’s VersaVendTM proprietary ice vending equipment. Bluebox lifts responsibility off operators and handles all delivery, setup, preventative maintenance and repairs. With proven 99% uptime and a daily ice production capacity of 2 tons, this equipment produces fresh ice on demand, right at the point of use, and is available 24 hours …