WKS Restaurant Group, the largest El Pollo Loco franchisee, has acquired Pennant Foods Corp. and its 52 Wendy’s in Southern California, the company said this week. Lakewood, Calif.-based WKS, which now owns more than 180 franchise restaurants that include such other brands as Blaze Pizza, Corner Bakery Café, Denny’s and Krispy Kreme, purchased Pennant from… read more

Fast-growing North Texas franchisee Ampex Brands is continuing its rapid expansion with the acquisition of 77 Pizza Hut units. The company purchased the pizza restaurants, all located in North Texas, from Pizza Hut’s corporate office last month. The deal adds $88 million to Ampex’s top line and makes it Plano-based Pizza Hut’s largest franchisee in North… read more

Walmart, Inc. said it will close 63 Sam’s Club locations nationwide and convert up to 12 of the affected clubs to e-commerce fulfillment centers in a move to speed delivery of online orders. Following the closures, the company will operate 597 Sam’s Club stores. “Transforming our business means managing our real estate portfolio and Walmart… read more

Red Robin Gourmet Burgers Inc. this week laid off a number of field and corporate-level workers, the company confirmed. The Greenwood Village, Colo.-based brand said “the casual-dining marketplace has changed dramatically in recent years and our guests’ needs have evolved,” according to Kevin Caulfield, Red Robin spokesperson, in an email. To remain a strong and… read more

Culinary travel reaches a new zenith now that the James Beard Foundation has launched its Culinary Collection series of eight 2017-2018 cruises onboard Windstar’s small luxury cruise line. On its fleet of bespoke yachts, Windstar has launched its stellar James Beard program with exclusive menus created and prepared by guest chefs, including “Top Chef” judge… read more

Edward Don & Company, a Woodridge, Ill.-based foodservice equipment and supplies dealership, has acquired Smith & Green Company. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Smith & Greene, a Kent, Wash.-based foodservice equipment and supplies dealer, will operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of Edward Don & Company and will remain under the leadership of… read more

The national restaurant chain Red Robin announced it would eliminate busboys at all of its 570 restaurants, as the company expects it will save $8 million in 2018 by doing so. Red Robin’s chief financial officer Guy Constant told attendees at the ICR retail conference, “We need to do that to address the labor increases we’ve… read more

The growth of chain retailers and restaurants in the city continues unabated, which may be a discouraging thought for anyone whose favorite deli has been replaced by a Dunkin’ Donuts.The sweet-treat and coffee giant took the title as New York’s largest retailer for the 10th consecutive year, with 612 stores, according to a report from the… read more

Apollo Global Management, L.L.C. has entered a definitive agreement to acquire Qdoba Restaurant Corp. from Jack in the Box, Inc. for approximately $305 million in cash. The transaction is expected to close by April 2018. Qdoba Mexican Eats is a fast-casual Mexican restaurant chain that operates more than 700 locations in 47 states, the District… read more

Ruth’s Hospitality Group, Inc. announced that it has completed the previously announced acquisition of six restaurants in Hawaii from longtime franchise partner, Desert Island Restaurants, for approximately $35 million in cash. The acquisition includes six restaurants, including a new location opened in early November on the island of Kauai, as well as area development rights… read more