AFC Enterprises, Inc. (dba Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen) named Lynne Zappone as Chief Talent Officer; she was most recently with InterContinental Hotels Group.
Ameristar Casino’s announced the resignation of Chairman Ray Neilsen effective 5/5/11.
Captain D’s LLC named Monte Jump as Exec VP of Marketing; he held the same position at Buffet’s Inc.
Donatos Pizzeria LLC named Alan Hoover as General Manager of its Jane’s Dough Foods operations.
Farmer Bros. Co. announced that Roger M. Laverty III, President and CEO, is stepping down as an executive officer of the company effective 4/19/11, and will retire at the end of the company's fiscal year on 6/30/11. The company's board of directors has appointed Jeffrey Wahba, the company's Greasurer and CFO, and Patrick Criteser, President and CEO of Coffee Bean International (a subsidiary of Farmer Bros. Co.), to share the office of CEO on an interim basis effective 4/19/11, pending the board's search and consideration of a permanent successor to Laverty.
Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine named Maeve O'Gorman Pesquera Director of Wine.
FOCUS Brands announced that it has hired John Reale as COO of FOCUS Brands International; Reale most recently served as President of Global Business for Brinker International.
Gosh Enterprises (dba Charley’s Grill Subs) named Bob Wright as COO.
HOA Restaurant Group, LLC (dba Hooters) announced that it has named Matthew Wickesberg as Executive VP and CFO of the Company.
Huddle House named Ken Keymer as permanent CEO after serving in the interim role since last fall. Huddle House also announced the promotion of its longtime General Counsel, Claudia Levitas, to the role of CAO.
Isle of Capri Casinos, Inc. announced that Virginia McDowell will become CEO of the Company effective 4/25/11. McDowell, the Company's current President and COO, will also continue to serve in the role of President following the transition; James B. Perry, the Company's current chairman and CEO, will remain as Executive Chairman.
Luby's Inc. announced the retirement of COO Harris Pappas; Luby's has promoted Peter Tropoli to the COO post and Benjamin "Todd" Coutee to Senior VP of Operations.
Lucky Strike Lanes named Bill Starbuck as its Corporate Executive Chef.
MTR Gaming Group, Inc.announced that Joseph L. Billhimer, Jr. will serve as the Company’s Senior VP for Operations and Development, and will concurrently serve as President and General Manager for Mountaineer Park, Inc.
Papa John's International, Inc. announced the resignation of J. Jude Thompson as President, Co-CEO and member of the Board of Directors; John Schnatter will assume sole responsibility for the CEO role, while also continuing to serve as Chairman of the Board.
Penn National Gaming, Inc. announced that, subject to customary regulatory approvals, Jay Snowden, 35, has been appointed Senior VP of Regional Operations, effective October 2011.
Rave Cinemas, LLC announced the appointment of Rolando B. Rodriguez as CEO. He succeeds Thomas Stephenson who remains Vice Chairman.
Real Mex Restaurants Inc.named David Goronkin Chairman/CEO/President effective 6/1/11; he comes from Bennigan’s Franchising Co. and succeeds Richard Rivera who has retired.
Smith & Wollensky Restaurant Group named Cheryl Kahn-Brocco as Senior VP of Catering.
Ted’s Montana Grill named Kristi Nyhof as President/COO; she was most recently with LongHorn Steakhouse. Ted’s also named Michelle Zavolta as VP of Human Resources and Training; she comes to Ted’s from CB Holding Corp.
Wendy’s/Arby’s Group, Inc. eliminated the position of CAO held by Sharron L. Barton, effective 6/15/11.
Dave & Buster’s reported total revenues of $521,529,000 for the year ending 1/30/11; F&B sales were $267,514,000.
Dover Motorsports reported total revenues of $62,960,000 for the year ending 12/31/10.
Krispy Kreme Doughnuts reported total revenues of $361,955,000 for the year ending 1/30/11.
Sbarro, Inc. commenced a voluntary, pre-arranged filing under Chapter 11 to reorganize its debts, and ensure its long-term financial health.
Angelo, Gordon & Co., a New York-based money management firm, acquired the Firebirds Wood Fired Grill casual-dining chain.
Hendrix Hotel & Restaurant Equipment & Supplies Ltd. and Longo Food Service Equipment Inc. have merged, according to multiple published reports.
Morgans Hotel Group Co. announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to sell the Mondrian Los Angeles hotel to an affiliate of Pebblebrook Hotel Trust and the Royalton and Morgans hotels to an affiliate of FelCor Lodging Trust.
YUM! Brands announced that it has submitted a preliminary proposal to Little Sheep Group Limited under which YUM! Brands would acquire all outstanding shares of Little Sheep, owner and operator of Hot Pot concept restaurants primarily in China and which is headquartered in Baotou, Inner Mongolia, China.
Ben & Jerry's has announced a rollout of franchises around Australia.
Carl’s Jr. opened its first restaurant in Istanbul, Turkey; the restaurant marks the first of at least 25 Carl’s Jr. locations to be opened in Turkey over the next six years.
Cineplex Entertainment and Empire Theatres Limited jointly announce the formation of Canadian Digital Cinema Partnership to plan and implement the deployment of digital projection equipment in the two partner’s theatres. The plan will include procuring equipment, arranging financing and securing digital deployment agreements with studios and other content providers.
CKE Restaurants, Inc. announced the opening of the first Carl’s Jr. restaurant in Panama; CKE now licenses Carl’s Jr.and Hardee’s restaurants in 20 countries.
DineEquity, Inc. , the parent company of Applebee's Neighborhood Grill & Bar and IHOP Restaurants, announced it has entered into an agreement to end its lease with the property owner of the commercial space currently occupied by Applebee's headquarters in Lenexa, KS. Applebee's will relocate its approximately 350 headquarters-based team members to a smaller facility in the Kansas City area. A real estate search is underway and Applebee's expects to complete the move before 9/30/11.
Dunkin’ Donuts unveiled a new loyalty program, the “DD Perks Rewards” program which offers “Dunkin’ Dollar” reward coupons for purchases made with a registered Dunkin’ Donuts Card; Dunkin’ Dollars can be redeemed for any item on the Dunkin’ menu.
Jamba Inc. announced that it has signed a master development agreement to develop 40 Jamba Juice locations in the Philippines over the next 10 years.
Native Foods Café relocated its HQ offices to the Chicago area this spring from Palm Desert, CA; the new address is 500 N Dearborn, Chicago, IL 60654 and the new phone number is 312-527-6944.
P.F. Chang's China Bistro, Inc. announced a long-term licensing agreement with Interaction Asian Restaurants L.P. to develop and operate P.F. Chang's China Bistro in the Canadian provinces of Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland. The first location is scheduled to open in 2012.
Rise & Dine Restaurants (dba Sunny Street Cafe) has signed a 40-store development agreement for Western Canada, marking the chain's first growth initiative outside of the United States.
Seattle's Best Coffee, a subsidiary of Starbucks, is now offered in 10 Wal-Mart Supercenters throughout Canada.
Tasti D-Lite will soon be expanding into Central America; the company has signed an agreement that calls for 30 centers over 10 years across a seven-country Central American region, the first of which is expected to open in Panama City before the end of the year.
Yum! Restaurants International announced the opening of the 400th KFC restaurant in Jakarta Indonesia.
AFC Enterprises (dba Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen) is targeting a number of markets for growth in 2011, including Tampa and Orlando, FL, San Diego and Los Angeles, CA, Phoenix, AZ, and Philadelphia, PA, among others. The goal is to open 120-140 new restaurants, about 60 of which will be located outside the U.S.
Applebee’s plans to renovate 25-30% of its locations each year over the next several years.
Baristas Coffee Company Inc. announced that it has begun to franchise its business model and that its first franchise agreement has been signed for territories in Texas that will result in 10 locations over the next three years with an option for 20 additional units over the next eight years.
Burger King’s "20/20" design has been discontinued and plans to remodel additional restaurants to it are no longer in place.
Café Rio Mexican Grill is planning nine locations in the DC metro area.
Covelli plans to open a new Panera restaurant every two months in its FL market over the next several years.
Del Taco announced a major growth initiative for UT with the signing of a development agreement which will result in the addition of 13 new Del Taco locations in the state.
Dunkin’ Donuts announced the signing of a multi-unit store development agreement for five restaurants in North Kansas City. The first restaurant will open in 2012 and the remaining four units will be developed by 2016 in the suburbs of Liberty and Gladstone. In addition, Dunkin’ Donuts is seeking new and existing franchisees to develop restaurants throughout MO in Columbia, Jefferson City, Springfield, St. Joseph, Joplin and Pittsburgh. Opportunities also exist in Ottumwa and Des Moines, IA.
Firehouse Subs has announced the signing of nine area representative development agreements set to add 429 restaurants within IA, LA, MA, MI, MN, NE, OH, PA and TX; the company has set goals to open 2,000 locations by 2020.
Francesca's Restaurants is targeting Minneapolis, St. Louis and Indianapolis for growth, in addition to new locations under construction in AZ, CA, and NC.
Gosh Enterprises (dba Charley’s Grilled Subs) introduced a new brand, Charley’s Philly Steaks in a company-operated location in OH. More re-models are expected but not all existing restaurants will be converted.
Jamba Inc. has signed a development agreement with tennis superstar Venus Williams to open five stores over the next two years in the Washington, DC, market.
Mama Fu’s Asian House launched a new prototype that shrinks Mama Fu’s footprint from 3,000 to 2,500 square feet. Mama Fu’s also recently signed a franchise deal for six new restaurants in NM and El Paso, TX.
Native Foods Café plans to open three restaurants in Chicago this summer.
Newk's Express Café will add five new restaurant in northeast FL in the coming years; they are among the 24 new units expected to open throughout the South.
OSI Restaurant Partners LLC said it planned to remodel as many as 150 Outback Steakhouse units and focus new unit development on the Bonefish Grill brand.
Panchero's Mexican Grill plans to open about 20 new locations each year for the next several years, expanding to NY, NJ, Boston, the Phoenix area and Sioux City.
Pei Wei Asian Diner opened its first IN location.
Sizzler will soon be opening its first new restaurant in more than three years, in addition to remodeling and reopening two closed locations. The new restaurant will open in Salt Lake City in July, and two newly reopened units are in CA. Sizzler also plans to open 12 to 15 stores in the San Diego area in the next two to three years.
Wingstop plans to add 20 additional locations in Atlanta over the next several years.
Ansara Restaurant Group Inc., a Red Robin franchisee, installed 3,500 LED lamps in its 22 restaurants and now expects to save more than $117,000 a year.
KFC opened a restaurant in Indianapolis that is designed to use 25% less energy and water than a conventional KFC restaurant; it features energy-efficient cooking equipment, low-power, long-life LED lighting, locally sourced building materials, parking preference for hybrid vehicles, fixtures designed for lower water use, waste recycling (including cooking oil and plastics), and many other green innovations.
Starbucks was named to Forbes list of the Top 10 Greenest Companies in America.
Subway announced a number of additional policy and procedural changes that will continue to make a positive green impact: Approximately 75%t of U.S. Subway restaurants will shift to menu panels printed on paper substrate, greatly reducing the chain's paper usage and allowing obsolete menu panels to be recycled or composted; in partnership with National Geographic Kids, Subway has implemented a collectable, reusable meal bag program for its Fresh Fit for Kids meals; and restaurants are now being equipped with mops made of 100% recycled materials – threads from 40 percent post industrial recycled cotton from socks and T-shirts with the remaining 60 percent from post consumer polyester from recycled plastic soda bottles. In addition, the mop header is made from 100 percent post consumer polypropylene from recycled plastic bottle caps. Other initiatives taken by Subway include:
• Eco-Stores: Today there are currently 10 Eco-stores open and operating, with many others in various stages of development, across the country that are built and certified through a process that follows U.S. Green Building Council guidelines.
• Packaging: Subway has been transitioning to more sustainable packaging solutions that are functional, efficient and cost effective. Examples include napkins, towels and tissue products made from 100 percent recycled material; sandwich wrap containing 30 to 40 percent post consumer fiber; cutlery and plastic drinking cups that were formerly polystyrene are now made from the more sustainable polypropylene; and redesigned meal-to-go boxes resulted in a reduced footprint and produced from 10 percent recycled content.
• Equipment: Since 2006, all new and remodeled restaurants have low-flow faucets which save more than 182 million gallons of water annually; high efficiency lighting packages are part of all new and remodeled restaurants; energy efficient digital ovens, HVAC systems and Energy Star rated ice machines; furniture products not manufactured with ozone depleting substances; and wood moldings sourced from certified renewable forests.
• Logistics: To reduce truck miles traveled, fuel consumption, emissions and improve supply chain efficiencies, Subway worked with its network of vendors to continually optimize routes, begin an equipment consolidation shipment practice for new and remodeled restaurants, and move several redistribution facilities closer to key manufacturing locations.
US Foodservice is getting into the biofuels business with the purchase of a company specializing in recycling used cooking oil into biodiesel. US Foodservice acquired Bluffton, S.C.-based WVO Industries with plans to convert the waste vegetable oil used in its customers' deep fryers into biodiesel to fuel its fleet.
U.S. Foodservice-San Francisco activated a 1.18 megawatt (MW), 4,354 photovoltaic solar panel installation. The largest rooftop and carport solar power system in Northern California, it is expected to provide 40 percent of U.S. Foodservice-San Francisco's power needs during daylight hours.