Ms. Nooyi will remain chairman of the board until early 2019 to ensure a smooth transition, according to the company. Mr. Laguarta has been with the company for 22 years. Since September 2017, he has served as president of PepsiCo, overseeing global operations, corporate strategy, public policy and government affairs. Previously, Mr. Laguarta served as… read more

Kona Grill Inc. has promoted Jim Kuhn as president and CEO to succeed Berke Bakay, who was appointed executive chairman of the casual-dining chain’s board, the company said. Kuhn most recently served as chief operating officer of the Scottsdale, Ariz.-based grill and sushi bar brand, a position he assumed in December. Bakay succeeds Jim Jundt, who is… read more

The celebrity chef is teaming up with Planet Hollywood founder and chairman Robert Earl with a new restaurant concept, Chicken Guy!, and the first location is opening up at Walt Disney World’s Disney Springs this summer. According to a press release, Fieri and Earl are teaming up yet again after the successful launch of Fieri’s sandwich… read more

In a move to further “differentiate and perfect the guest experience at Maggiano’s,” Brinker International tapped industry vet Kelly C. Baltes as the next president of the 52-unit Italian chain. Baltes will be responsible for overseeing all aspects of Maggiano’s restaurants, including strategies and future growth of the brand, the parent company of Chili’s said… read more

Grindmaster-Cecilware, a leading manufacturer of commercial beverage and cooking equipment, announced the promotion of Kenny Stratton to the role of Vice President of National Accounts. He will be responsible for managing all sales activities for National Accounts. Kenny is an experienced sales leader in the beverage equipment industry and has been with Grindmaster-Cecilware since 2013…. read more

P.F. Chang’s, the full-service Asian restaurant industry leader known for its Farm to Wok food philosophy where every dish is made from scratch every day in every restaurant, announced the opening of its first restaurant in China at the No1 Mall on the iconic Nanjing Road in Shanghai. P.F. Chang’s currently owns and operates more… read more

Three weeks after the International House of Pancakes (IHOP) launched a teaser campaign to call itself IHOB to draw diners to its burgers, marketing pundits are still debating the wisdom of the rebranding move. However, investors of Glendale, Calif.-based Dine Brands Global, Inc. — IHOP’s parent organization — should be happy to see their stock… read more

The iconic chicken brand continues to rule the category. The latest results from the American Customer Satisfaction Index are in. From an overall perspective, it was a good year for quick service, as satisfaction upped 1.3 percent to an ACSI score of 80. The data, which also measures full-service brands, is based on interviews with… read more

Red Lobster is getting on the delivery boat. The casual-dinning leader announced Tuesday (June 26) an expanded partnership with DoorDash to bring its food to more than 300 locations across the U.S. and Canada by mid-July. Red Lobster said the platform would fully integrate into its current point-of-sale system. The move is another major off-premises investment… read more

Wahlburgers announced that CEO Rick Vanzura would step down at the end of the week. As the company searches for his successor, Patrick Renna, the company’s CFO, has been named interim CEO. The Boston-based burger chain was started by executive chef Paul Wahlberg and his brothers, the actors Mark and Donnie Wahlberg. “On behalf of… read more