Corporate Operations: Page 19

  • John Kelly is the incoming chief company restaurant office at Inspire Brands.
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    Permission granted by Inspire Brands
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    Inspire Brands adds chief company restaurant officer, two brand COOs

    These appointments coincide with Inspire’s turn toward nontraditional growth, including digital-only stores, ghost kitchens and modular construction. 

    By • Sept. 9, 2022
  • Brian Wright CEO of Bar Louie
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    Permission granted by Bar Louie
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    Bar Louie taps Tijuana Flats chief as CEO

    Brian Wright’s experience leading a three-year growth push at Tijuana Flats could improve Bar Louie’s expansion, profitability and diner experience. 

    By • Sept. 8, 2022
  • A photograph of chefs in a kitchen. Explore the Trendline➔
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    sam edwards via Getty Images
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    Trendline

    Menu development

    Restaurants big and small are experimenting with their menus to align with the preferences of on-the-go diners and mitigate the impact of rising food costs, supply chain disruption and shrinking consumer discretionary funds. 

    By Restaurant Dive staff
  • Au Bon Pain interior rendering
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    Courtesy of Au Bon Pain
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    Au Bon Pain to roll out modernized store design companywide in 2023

    The chain’s cafes will feature a self-serve bakery and to-go areas to add efficiencies for off-premise customers.

    By Alicia Kelso • Sept. 7, 2022
  • An image of a woman standing in front of a blue background.
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    Permission granted by Bojangles
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    Bojangles brings on Subway vet as VP of growth

    Patricia Halpin, who has over 20 years of restaurant experience, joins the chain as it signs large deals with new and existing franchisees. 

    By • Sept. 2, 2022
  • The Starbucks logo hangs outside one of the company's cafes in Northwich on 3 July, 2008 in Northwich, England.
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    Christopher Furlong via Getty Images
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    Starbucks names restaurant outsider as CEO

    Laxman Narasimhan, who served as CEO at consumer health company Reckitt, will assume the top role in April and work alongside interim CEO Howard Schultz during the transition.

    By , • Updated Sept. 1, 2022
  • An image of a white and red restaurant with Krystal on the signage
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    Permission granted by Krystal
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    Krystal’s prototypes spark new life for once-bankrupt brand

    Two years after a new owner bought Krystal out of Chapter 11, the brand plans to scale to 500 restaurants by 2027.

    By • Sept. 1, 2022
  • McDonald's Black & Positively Golden Change Leaders
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    Courtesy of McDonald's
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    McDonald’s launches new program to support Black community leaders

    The chain will select 10 applicants to receive financial resources and advertising support for their community-driven missions. 

    By Alicia Kelso • Aug. 29, 2022
  • An image of a beef sandwich, fries and a drink with Portillo's branding on it
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    Permission granted by Portillo's
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    Portillo’s taps Cracker Barrel exec as chief development officer

    Mike Ellis will be an instrumental part of the company’s growth strategy as it aims to reach 600 units within the next decade.

    By • Aug. 29, 2022
  • Panera new store design
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    Courtesy of Panera
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    Panera tests drive-thru AI

    The chain is working with OpenCity to deploy AI technology to two cafes in upstate New York with the goal of 5% to 10% faster service times.

    By • Aug. 29, 2022
  • An image of two white men in suites
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    Permission granted by Denny's
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    Denny’s hires presidents for both its brands

    John Dillon, Denny’s chief brand officer, will become president of Denny’s while David Schmidt, current Red Lobster CFO, will oversee Keke’s Breakfast Cafe.

    By • Aug. 26, 2022
  • A picture of a man in a suite and a woman
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    Courtesy of Focus Brands
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    Focus Brands taps operations experts for exec roles

    Shelley Harris and William Armstrong’s experience could support the company as it targets non-traditional and off-premise-focused growth. 

    By • Aug. 25, 2022
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    Flickr user Mike Mozart
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    McDonald’s hires PepsiCo exec as global chief impact officer

    Jon Banner joins the chain as it looks to improve its sustainability initiatives and its corporate and store-level culture around diversity. 

    By • Aug. 25, 2022
  • An image of a white building with a sign that says Krystal
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    Cculber007. (2005). "Krystal" [Photograph]. Retrieved from Wikimedia Commons.
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    Krystal hires CMO

    Casey Terrell, a former Focus Brands executive, joins the brand as it looks to accelerate growth by deploying a new prototype and partnering with celebrities.

    By • Aug. 24, 2022
  • A picture of various salad bowls
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    Retrieved from Woworks on August 23, 2022
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    Woworks creates 2 VP of culinary roles

    The holding company brought on Cole Thompson and is transitioning executive chef Katie Cavuto to each oversee menu development at three different brands.

    By • Aug. 24, 2022
  • An image of an adult male dressed in a blue sweater.
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    Permission granted by SPB Hospitality
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    SPB Hospitality appoints interim CEO, CFO

    After his promotion to temporary chief, Josh Kern hired Jessica Hagler as chief financial officer of the restaurant group, which owns J. Alexander’s and Logan's Roadhouse, among others.

    By • Aug. 23, 2022
  • A McDonald's store is shown in Houston, Texas.
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    Brandon Bell via Getty Images
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    McDonald’s board member to retire after Carl Icahn squabble

    Sheila Penrose, who Icahn sought to unseat along with Richard Lenny over McDonald’s suppliers’ treatment of pigs, will step down on Sept. 30.

    By • Aug. 23, 2022
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    Scott Olson via Getty Images
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    Starbucks dissolves COO role

    John Culver’s departure marks the chain’s third major executive exit in four months, and comes amid interim CEO Howard Schultz’s call for “a different kind” of leadership.

    By • Aug. 19, 2022
  • A marketing image featuring several Taco Bell products with the company's new plant-based protein blend.
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    Courtesy of Taco Bell
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    Taco Bell pilots its own plant-based protein option

    Customers will be able to try the proprietary soy and pea protein blend in menu items at participating stores in the Birmingham, Alabama, area. 

    By • Aug. 18, 2022
  • A McDonald's store is shown in Houston, Texas.
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    Brandon Bell via Getty Images
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    Judge approves McDonald’s franchisee’s $1.5M settlement in sexual harassment suit

    About 100 plaintiffs, who alleged they were harassed by a Michigan store manager, will be able to claim an average of $10,000 each.

    By • Aug. 18, 2022
  • Jack in the Box's unchicken sandwich, which was an LTO during fall of 2020.
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    Courtesy of Jack in the Box
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    Jack in the Box offers multi-unit franchisees discounted royalty rates

    The incentive program, which is available to operators who develop at least three stores, could save franchisees $180,000 per unit, the chain claims.

    By • Aug. 17, 2022
  • Paris Baguette
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    Courtesy of Paris Baguette
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    Paris Baguette targets 1K US locations by 2030

    The bakery cafe expects to open 40 units this year and another 96 in 2023 following strong sales growth over the past two years. 

    By Alicia Kelso • Aug. 17, 2022
  • Wendy's Global Next Gen store design features a pick-up window for delivery orders and in-store shelving for digital pick-up orders.
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    Courtesy of Wendy's
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    Wendy’s unveils omnichannel prototype for traditional restaurants

    The burger chain will add a pickup window for delivery drivers, in-store shelves for digital orders and a redesigned kitchen.

    By • Aug. 17, 2022
  • A young woman customer placing her order at a fast food convenience restaurant.
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    YinYang via Getty Images
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    Nashville bank execs launch Sonata to serve fast food industry

    Dan Dellinger and Farzin Ferdowsi aim to solve turnover and banking access issues in the quick-service space, and add telehealth and financial literacy to help franchisees retain talent.

    By Anna Hrushka • Aug. 16, 2022
  • Bloomin' Brands is promoting Pat Hafner, currently VP of operations at Carrabba's, to president of the Italian brand.
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    Permission granted by Bloomin' Brands
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    Bloomin’ Brands promotes Pat Hafner to president of Carrabba’s

    Hafner, who first joined the company as an Outback waiter in 1996, will oversee operations across 220 Carrabba’s locations.

    By • Aug. 16, 2022
  • Gopuff
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    Courtesy of Gopuff
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    Gopuff taps Panera exec as new CFO

    Ted Stedem's addition to the ultrafast delivery company's C-suite comes a few months after it named a Pizza Hut alum to lead its Kitchen division. 

    By Brett Dworski • Aug. 15, 2022