John Maguire has joined MOD Super Fast Pizza Holdings, L.L.C. as chief operating officer, effective Oct. 22. In this role, he will lead the company’s store operations across more than 380 MOD Pizza locations and will be tasked with expansion and growth. Mr. Maguire was previously president and chief executive officer of FIC Restaurants Inc.,… read more

Elite Restaurant Group, the owner of Slater’s 50/50 and Daphne’s, is adding deep-dish pizza to its fast-growing portfolio. Mike Nakhleh, president of the Los Angeles-based company, said he has purchased the 17-unit Patxi’s Pizza from private-equity firm KarpReilly LLC. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. The acquisition, expected to close in 60 to 90… read more

To prevent foodborne illnesses from occurring, maintain a high standard of personal hygiene and cleanliness. Even healthy people carry bacteria. By touching parts of their bodies, such as the nose, mouth, hair, and even clothes, bacteria can spread from the hands to the food. Here are six hygienic best practices for food handlers to follow:… read more

Dear Loyal Readers: Here it is the middle of September, College and Professional Football are in full swing, (you can put Alabama in either category) my Cubs are holding onto first place in their division by a thread, and hockey is starting their pre-season training. Is this a great time or what!! In my last… read more

Margins in this industry are tight, and, to help boost the bottom line, restaurants need to get creative. Events—participating in and putting them on—are a great way to give guests reason to walk in the door, whether it be for a grandparent’s birthday party, a blind wine tasting, or to support a local charity. On… read more

To Our Valued Subscribers: Here it is the middle of August and I hope you and your organization is as warm as the weather. This is a favorite time for me as a sports fan. The baseball races are in full swing, (my Cubs still have the best record in the National League), the NFL… read more

Steak ‘n’ Shake isn’t fooling around with its refranchising plans. The company announced August 13 it’s looking to deal its 400-plus company units (there were 401 in 2017), to “would-be entrepreneurs who want to be hands-on, single-unit owner-operators” for a paltry initial investment of $10,000. For comparison, the initial franchise fee for a Taco Bell… read more

Service Management Group, a global customer experience, employee engagement and brand research partner to more than 500 brands, announced a new partnership with upscale casual restaurant brand Kona Grill. Looking to empower district operators with real-time information and actionable insights, Kona Grill selected SMG for its robust technology platform and industry-leading research capabilities. Established in… read more

McDonald’s Corp. announced plans to invest approximately $6 billion to modernize more than 8,700 restaurants in the United States and the District of Columbia by 2020. The new features in these McDonald’s restaurants will include: Modern dining areas with globally and locally inspired decor, new furniture and refreshed exterior designs; Self-order kiosks; Remodeled counters to… read more