Corporate Operations: Page 14

  • An image of CKE Restaurants CEO Max Wetzel
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    Courtesy of CKE Restaurants
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    CKE names former Papa Johns COO as CEO

    Max Wetzel joins the parent company of Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s after working at Papa Johns for over three years in various executive positions. 

    By • March 17, 2023
  • A portrait photograph of Tabassum Zalotrawala, McDonald's incoming US chief development officer.
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    Courtesy of McDonald's
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    McDonald’s hires Tabassum Zalotrawala as chief development officer

    Zalotrawala, who resigned from Chipotle earlier this week, will lead McDonald’s effort to accelerate U.S. store development and unit growth.

    By • March 15, 2023
  • 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
  • Several vegan cinnamon rolls topped with fruit and frosting.
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    Courtesy of Cinnaholic
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    Cinnaholic debuts points-based loyalty program

    The 82-unit cinnamon roll brand plans to open 25 units in 2023, and is offering customers a number of minor rewards to incentivize enrollment.

    By • March 14, 2023
  • An image of a a white building with Chipotle signage at night.
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    Permission granted by Chipotle
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    Chipotle’s chief development officer departs

    Tabassum Zalotrawala, who has been at the fast casual chain for over four years and helped develop the Chipotlane, has resigned from her position. 

    By • Updated March 14, 2023
  • A photograph of Roland Gonzalez, U.S. COO at Church’s.
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    Courtesy of Church’s Texas Chicken
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    Church’s Texas Chicken hires Burger King vet as US COO

    Roland Gonzalez, who has over a decade of restaurant experience, joins the QSR amid a C-suite hiring spree, including CFO, CMO and CEO hires within the past year. 

    By • March 13, 2023
  • The interior of Dave's Hot Chicken in the old Tivoli theater in Washington, D.C.
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    Permission granted by Dave's Hot Chicken
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    How Dave’s Hot Chicken grew from 2 units to 118 in just 3 years

    The chicken brand’s meteoric rise is driven by a national supply chain deal, an emphasis on recruiting highly experienced operators and strong word of mouth.

    By • March 10, 2023
  • An image of a customer showing a smartphone to a Noodles & Company cashier
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    Courtesy of Noodles & Company
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    Noodles & Company to test dynamic pricing

    Digital menu boards will offer not only flexibility in promotions and featured items at the fast casual chain, but could also allow for pricing tweaks.

    By • March 10, 2023
  • Food hall in grocery store
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    Courtesy of Kitchen United
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    Why Kitchen United is pumping the brakes on mall strategy

    Grocery outposts through its Kroger partnership give Kitchen United better access to customers and deeper relationships with partner restaurants, executives said during a Curbivore conference.

    By • March 9, 2023
  • A photo of Jack Hinchliffe, global CMO for Habit Burger, holding a burger made by that brand.
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    Courtesy of The Habit Burger Grill
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    Habit Burger names first global CMO

    Jack Hinchliffe, who won awards for marketing at KFC U.K. and Ireland, has moved to the burger chain as Yum Brands looks to keep up rapid growth.

    By • March 9, 2023
  • Starbucks Workers United members on strike
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    Permission granted by Starbucks Workers United
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    Starbucks unionization efforts

    Starbucks to appeal major NLRB judge ruling

    Starbucks will fight a judge’s finding that the chain violated labor law as the brand uses the courts to run out the clock on the union drive.

    By • March 8, 2023
  • A photo of Natalia Franco, global CMO at Church's Texas Chicken.
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    Courtesy of Church's Texas Chicken
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    Church’s Texas Chicken adds global CMO amid new leadership push

    Natalia Franco, who started her role on Monday, joins a slew of recent corporate hires including CFO, CEO and procurement VP. 

    By • March 7, 2023
  • An image of a building with glass and a yellow sign that says Fatburger next to an image on orange buffalo
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    Permission granted by Fat Brants
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    Fat Brands CEO to resign, citing federal investigation

    Andy Wiederhorn will remain with the restaurant firm until May 5, at which point he will act as an outside consultant and strategic advisor for the holding company he founded. 

    By , • March 6, 2023
  • Just Salad CFO Jared Garber
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    Permission granted by Just Salad
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    Just Salad taps Goldman Sachs vet as CFO

    Jared Garber joins the company during the fastest growth period in its 17-year history, and will lead the chain’s financial operations as it scales up.

    By • March 6, 2023
  • Wendy's
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    Thai Phi Le/Restaurant Dive
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    Wendy’s offers franchisees reduced royalty rate, slashes fees on new restaurants

    The Pacesetter program, which waives a $50,000 technical assistance fee and offers discounts on royalty and marketing contributions, will shorten the amount of time it takes operators to make back their investments.

    By • March 3, 2023
  • People hold signs while protesting in front of Starbucks on April 14, 2022 in New York City.
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    Michael M. Santiago via Getty Images
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    Starbucks unionization efforts

    Starbucks faces corporate employee revolt

    A group of at least 83 corporate workers have signed a petition urging the company to pull back from its return-to-office policies and sign a fair election agreement with Starbucks Workers United.

    By • March 2, 2023
  • An image of the welcome center in Subway's secondary HQ
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    Courtesy of Subway
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    Subway opens second headquarters with sandwich test station

    The sandwich giant’s Miami office will help speed up menu innovation and may enable greater cooperation with franchisees on supply chain issues.

    By • March 2, 2023
  • An image of Danton Nolan at Church's Texas Chicken
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    Courtesy of Church's Texas Chicken
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    Church’s Texas Chicken hires Inspire Brands vet as CFO

    Danton Nolan joins the 1,500-unit chicken chain as it accelerates growth domestically and abroad. 

    By • Feb. 27, 2023
  • A picture of Ray Bodnar, the new VP of Franchise Sales and Development at Twin Peaks.
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    Courtesy of Twin Peaks
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    Twin Peaks hires VP to support franchise development

    Ray Bodnar, formerly of Captain D’s and Dickey’s Barbecue Pit, will oversee franchising efforts as Twin Peaks looks to boost U.S. and international growth.

    By • Feb. 27, 2023
  • Corner Bakery storefront
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    Thai Phi Le/Restaurant Dive
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    Corner Bakery files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy

    The cafe chain’s Wednesday filing brings an end to a two-year period with few major restaurant bankruptcy announcements. 

    By • Feb. 24, 2023
  • A photo of Starbucks workers participating in a strike in Nottingham, Maryland, Nov. 17, 2022
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    Permission granted by Aleah Bacetti
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    Starbucks unionization efforts

    Starbucks board opposes labor review backed by NYC pension funds

    A group of Starbucks investors is calling for an independent workers’ rights assessment of the chain’s conduct in the Starbucks Workers United Campaign, fearing risks to “long-term value.”

    By • Feb. 24, 2023
  • An image of a countertop at Little Caesars
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    Permission granted by Little Caesars
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    Little Caesars signs 10-unit NYC franchise deal

    The pizza chain is seeking multi-unit operators as it targets growth in the New York City area over the next few years. 

    By • Feb. 24, 2023
  • The image shows a row of drinks, including coffee and soda, available through Panera's Unlimited Sip Club
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    Courtesy of Panera
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    Panera adds annual membership, $0 delivery to drinks subscription

    The plan offers customers a roughly 17% discount on the Unlimited Sip Club, whose members account for about 25% of the chain’s traffic. 

    By • Feb. 23, 2023
  • A photo of Madeline Chadwick, Papa Johns chief corporate affairs officer
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    Courtesy of Papa Johns
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    Papa Johns names chief corporate affairs officer

    Madeline Chadwick brings over two decades of communications experience into her new role at Papa Johns, where she has worked since 2018. 

    By • Feb. 21, 2023
  • An image of a customer entering a Cava restaurant.
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    Mario Tama via Getty Images
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    Why 2023 isn’t the best time for restaurants to go public

    Cava filed a confidential IPO earlier this month and other restaurants are rumored to go public this year, but analysts are worried about chains’ compressed margins and profitability struggles.

    By • Feb. 21, 2023
  • An image of Eric Wyatt, CEO and president, of Norms Restaurant
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    Permission granted by Norms Restaurant
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    Norms appoints CKE vet as CEO, president

    Eric Wyatt, who has worked for Starbucks, Yum Brands and Panera, plans to expand the 24/7 diner beyond Southern California next year. 

    By • Feb. 17, 2023