Corporate Operations

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 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 Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Aug. 16, 2022

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

BP plans to maximize East Coast footprint with NY c-store opening

California-based Ampm debuted in the Big Apple, with a hot deli and a grocery section of fruit, dry goods and a bakery.

By Brett Dworski • Aug. 12, 2022

Panera Brands appoints JAB exec as CFO

Konrad Meyer joins the company just over a month after its plans to go public via Danny Meyer’s SPAC fell through.

By Julie Littman • Aug. 12, 2022

Sweetgreen on track for 1K units by 2030 despite profitability issues

The salad chain expects to open at least 35 new restaurants this year, with many in suburban markets. 

By Julie Littman • Aug. 11, 2022

Fat Brands reaches agreement in principle in shareholder class action lawsuit

The company will pay $2.5 million and issue $500,000 in Class A common stock to impacted shareholders, who saw prices tank upon news Fat’s CEO and COO were under federal investigation.

By Julie Littman • Aug. 11, 2022

Wendy’s to slash at least 550 units from Reef pipeline

The burger chain now plans to open between 100 and 150 Reef locations by 2025, down from 700, as sales at U.S. outposts disappoint.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Aug. 10, 2022

Sweetgreen lays off 5% of support staff

These reductions could result in annual savings of $4 million and help the chain reach profitability potentially as early as 2024, according to the company.

By Julie Littman • Aug. 10, 2022

Whole Foods co-founder plans to launch vegetarian restaurant chain

John Mackey’s past success scaling a business promoting healthy lifestyles could attract more investor attention as plant-based diets grow in popularity.

By Alicia Kelso • Aug. 9, 2022

Pilot debuts in-house Tex-Mex deli among other foodservice upgrades

Prepared foods will play a substantial role in the convenience store chain’s new $1 billion store modernization project.

By Brett Dworski • Aug. 9, 2022

Picnic Works, Speedy Eats to deploy 5K automated drive-thrus

The companies expect to roll out the automated stations, worth an estimated $800 million, in the U.S. throughout the next five years.

By Alicia Kelso • Aug. 8, 2022

Study: Over 66% of independent restaurants seeing sales declines from inflation

Seventy-six percent of operators surveyed by Seated said they have increased menu prices to deal with current economic conditions.

By Alicia Kelso • Aug. 5, 2022

Jack in the Box promotes Del Taco COO to brand president

Chad Gretzema replaces John Cappasola, Del Taco CEO and president, who departed in June months after Jack in the Box acquired the Mexican QSR chain. 

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Aug. 5, 2022

Just Eat Takeaway reports $3B impairment following Grubhub deal

Despite the impairment, which JET blames on reduction in sector valuation, high interest rates and equity volatility, an earnings call pointed to early positive results from its Amazon partnership.

By Julie Littman • Aug. 4, 2022

Shake Shack expects up to 25 drive-thrus open by the end of 2023

With six drive-thrus currently open, the burger chain has seen average weekly sales of over $80,000 compared to $76,000 at a traditional location. 

By Julie Littman • Aug. 4, 2022

TGI Fridays expands C3 partnership with new virtual brands

TGI Fridays’ test phase, which began with a rollout of Krispy Rice in select markets last fall, generated up to $1 million in sales per restaurant.

By Alicia Kelso • Aug. 3, 2022

Church’s Texas Chicken and Texas Chicken name new CEO

Joe Guith, a former executive of Focus Brands, joins the brand as its top executive nearly a year after it was bought by High Bluff Capital Partners. 

By Julie Littman • Aug. 2, 2022

Fat Brands plans to open 900 new restaurants in 5 years

The aggressive expansion strategy would raise the company’s total location to over 3,200 while also adding $50 million in incremental adjusted EBITDA. 

By Julie Littman • Aug. 2, 2022

McDonald’s names global CIO following other executive changes

Brian Rice will serve on the global senior leadership team as EVP and global CIO, reporting directly to CEO Chris Kempczinski.

By Lindsey Wilkinson • Aug. 1, 2022

Danny Meyer to resign as CEO of USHG

Chip Wade, currently Union Square Hospitality Group president and COO, will take the top leadership position in the full-service restaurant group, effective Sept. 6. 

By Julie Littman • Aug. 1, 2022

Wingstop expects its food costs to shrink this year

The chain is experiencing a 19% drop in chicken wing costs, allowing it to lean more heavily on value offerings as other restaurants hike menu prices. 

By Julie Littman • July 29, 2022

McDonald’s US plant-based burger test is over

The company said the test “concluded as planned,” but the news comes amid analyst speculation of low product sales.

By Emma Liem Beckett • July 28, 2022

Study: Over one-third of restaurant operators implementing hiring freezes

Despite an ongoing labor shortage, 4% of small restaurant owners said they are cutting staff, a July Alignable report also found. 

By Alicia Kelso • July 28, 2022

Chipotle plans 4% menu increase in August

The price hike will help offset rising operating costs due to increased wages and inflation, especially around dairy, tortillas and packaging.  

By Julie Littman • July 27, 2022