Nick Varano has sold several of his restaurants, including Strega Prime in Woburn, to the Dublin-based investment group Danu, which operates the Smith & Wollensky Restaurant Group. According to the Boston Globe, Danu is looking to grow its restaurant operations, and purchased Strega Waterfront in the Seaport, Strip by Strega in the Park Plaza Hotel,… read more

The Women’s Foodservice Forum has named Therese Gearhart as CEO and president, the organization said Friday. Gearhart (left) succeeds Hattie Hill, who in May announced her retirement as CEO and president of the Dallas-based organization. Denny Marie Post, the immediate past chair of the group and former head of Red Robin Gourmet Burgers Inc., had assumed… read more

McLane Foodservice, part of the McLane Company, announced that Susan Adzick had been promoted to executive vice president and chief operating officer. In July of this year, Adzick will transition to president of McLane Foodservice, according to a company news release. Adzick has been with McLane since 2000 and most recently served as senior vice president… read more

On the heels of announcing a new CEO, Paris Baguette USA Inc. has named Pete Bell chief marketing officer. Earlier this month, Darren Tipton was promoted to CEO of American operations, replacing former CEO Jack Moran, who had been promoted to global CEO. Bell will oversee all company marketing efforts for the bakery-café as it… read more

Dividend Restaurant Group—the owner of Macaroni Grill and Sullivan’s Steakhouse—could add another brand to its ranks before the end of 2020’s first quarter. If the deal comes to pass, the new acquisition would become the largest brand in the group’s portfolio. “This is a meaningful brand, it will be the largest part of our portfolio if we get it… read more

Hmm, maybe this is why they’re looking for new drivers. A Waukesha County, Wis., sheriff’s officer pulled over the Oscar Mayer Wienemobile on Sunday for violating the state’s Move Over law. The rule requires drivers to either change lanes or slow down while passing a stopped vehicle with its emergency lights on. Technically, it wasn’t THE Oscar Meyer Wienermobile, as the company has a fleet of… read more

Starbucks had a good 2019 and so did its CEO. Kevin Johnson’s pay package totaled $19.2 million in the Seattle-based coffee giant’s 2019 fiscal year, according to federal securities filings. That’s up 36% over the prior year. The higher pay follows a strong year for Starbucks, which regained momentum in both the U.S. and China. Global same-store sales rose 5%, including… read more

McDonald’s has closed restaurants in five Chinese cities and is implementing new health protocols in the region as the deadly coronavirus continues to spread. On Friday, the company shuttered locations in Wuhan, Ezhou, Huanggang, Qianjiang and Xiantao — all cities that have been impacted by the Chinese government’s travel restrictions, company spokesperson Barry Sum told CNN Business in an email. At least 10 cities in central Hubei… read more

FoodFirst Global Restaurants, the parent company of Brio Tuscan Grille and Bravo Cucina Italiana, has named Steve Layt as the company’s new chief executive officer. The change is effective immediately, as former CEO and FoodFirst founder Brad Blum has stepped down from his role as chairman and chief executive, the Columbus, Ohio-based company said in a statement released Tuesday morning. The company said Blum will remain an owner-partner as the company… read more

New York-based ghost kitchen operator Zuul Kitchens on Monday said it has acquired the online restaurant ordering system Ontray. Terms were not disclosed for the deal, but Zuul CEO Corey Manicone said acquisition of the Philadelphia-based startup and its strategic assets will allow the growing ghost kitchen concept to expand its services to restaurant partners to help them drive revenue.  “We have acquired key technical assets and… read more