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Schlotzsky’s

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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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Focus Brands Bolsters Leadership Team with 3 New Additions

by Katie Lee

Atlanta — Focus Brands®, parent company of Auntie Anne’s®, Carvel®, Cinnabon®, Jamba®, McAlister’s Deli®, Moe’s Southwest Grill® and Schlotzsky’s®, has appointed three senior leaders across two areas of the business. Effective immediately, the following executives will be leading these key business functions within the company: Chris Newman, Senior Vice President, Real Estate Jim Cannon, Senior Vice President, Design & Construction Julie Younglove-Webb, Chief Brand Officer, Auntie Anne’s “One of the most important investments a leader can make is in recruiting the best talent and assembling the right teams,” says Jim …

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Blaze Pizza Names Focus Brands President as its New CEO

by Katie Lee

Los Angeles — Blaze Pizza, the nation’s leading fast-casual franchise pizza brand, has appointed Beto Guajardo as its new president and chief executive officer. Guajardo formerly served as president of Focus Brands International. Guajardo joins Blaze Pizza after overseeing the international business at Focus Brands, which included more than $400 million of chain sales in over 50 markets with 1,900 restaurants, 100 franchisees and eight brands (Cinnabon, Auntie Anne’s, Jamba, Seattle’s Best Coffee, Moe’s Southwest Grill, McAlister’s Deli and Schlotzsky’s). Before being promoted to this role, Guajardo was responsible for …

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Church’s Texas Chicken and Texas Chicken Names Industry Veteran as New CEO

by Katie Lee

Atlanta — Church’s Texas Chicken™ and Texas Chicken™, one of the largest quick-service chicken restaurant chains in the world, has named industry veteran Joe Guith as the brand’s new CEO, effective August 1, 2022. As Church’s Texas Chicken looks to accelerate a new phase of growth, Guith brings extensive experience in the consumer and restaurant businesses as well as deep expertise working in a highly franchised organization. “I’m impressed with this brand’s resiliency and its ability to navigate a challenging environment over the past few years. With a strong base …

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Driving Force

by Katie Lee

Just in time for its 50th anniversary, Schlotzsky’s rolls out two new prototypes with plans to build on lessons learned during COVID-19. — By Katie Lee —   At Schlotzsky’s, the drive-thru has always been a driving force of its business. Eighty-five percent of its 339 locations already had a drive-thru — often with double lanes — and this positioned the sandwich chain well when COVID-19 changed the world in early 2020. Schlotzsky’s already understood customers’ evolving needs — and the pandemic accelerated that evolution. Several years prior to the …

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Schlotzsky’s Testing 2 Off-Premise-Driven Prototypes

by Katie Lee

Atlanta — Schlotzsky’s has unveiled two new prototypes that will put its drive-thru front and center and enhance speed of service for delivery, to-go and catering. While driving off-premise sales has been underway for Schlotzsky’s for some time, it’s now become an even bigger priority. During the pandemic, 35% of Schlotzsky’s sales were driven by off-premise and were a major part of the brand’s rapid recovery. Now, Schlotzsky’s has designed two new options referred to as “Design 1800” and “Design 1000” that will lean heavily on off-premise and reduce seating. …

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Saladworks Taps Former Schlotzsky’s President as New CEO

by Katie Lee

Conshohocken, Pa. — Saladworks has appointed a new chief executive officer, Kelly Roddy, effective August 1, 2019. He brings 30 years of industry experience to the brand. As former president of Schlotzsky’s, Roddy has demonstrated focus on unit level economics and franchisee success. Most notably during his tenure, Schlotzsky’s experienced 10 consecutive years of positive comp growth. Prior to his leadership in the QSR space, Roddy led operations, sales and marketing at the San Antonio-based supermarket chain H-E-B. “I am honored to have been elected as Saladworks’ new chief executive …

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