Food distribution company Sysco Corp. announced that CEO Tom Bené will be stepping down after two years years as president and CEO. Bené will be replaced by former executive vice president of CVS Health/president of CVS Pharmacy Kevin Hourican starting February 1. The board has also elected independent director Ed Shirley as executive chair to… read more
McDonald’s is creating a team focused on digital customer engagement as the restaurant industry continues to look to technology as a key way to boost sales. The new team is part of the fast-food giant’s strategy to use technology to reach customers and drive sales growth. McDonald’s has been installing digital self-order kiosks in its… read more
Paris Baguette USA Inc. has promoted Darren Tipton to CEO of American operations, replacing former CEO Jack Moran, who has been promoted to global CEO, effective Jan. 1, the bakery-café concept said. In his new position, Tipton, below, who was previously chief operating officer, is responsible for operations as well as overseeing franchise sales and… read more
Columbus, Ohio-based Donatos Pizza signed a franchise agreement with Jacksonville-based Quick Family & Associates Holding Co. Inc. to develop five restaurants in metro Orlando, bringing roughly 150 jobs to the market. No leases have been signed, but the group has identified possible markets as Altamonte Springs, Casselberry, Oviedo and Winter Park, said a news release…. read more
Fiesta Restaurant Group Inc. is closing 19 Taco Cabana restaurants immediately, the company said. Dallas-based Fiesta, which also owns the fast-casual Pollo Tropical brand, said all the closures were of stores that had posted significant losses. As of Sept. 29, Fiesta had 173 Taco Cabana units, with 165 company-owned and eight franchised. The closures represent more… read more
Jack in the Box on announced the promotion of a trio of executives to C-level positions. Adrienne Ingoldt, currently vice president of marketing communications, has been named chief brand and experience officer. Ingoldt has led the marketing communications team and has been with the San Diego-based chain for the past four years. Jennifer Kennedy was… read more
The presence of co-branded food product offerings exploded in 2019 across a wide variety of categories. These items from legacy food brands allow companies to enter new food and beverage categories without the need to establish an entirely new brand or product. The 2019 National Association of Convenience Stores Show previewed upcoming consumer packaged goods releases,… read more
“For us, this year, we’re finishing up a pilot of tests that are showing very encouraging results to relaunch the T.G.I. Fridays bar,” CEO Ray Blanchette said at the ICR Conference in Orlando, Florida. About 30% of Fridays’ $2.1 billion in systemwide sales come from its bar. But like many in the casual dining industry,… read more
Smoothie King doesn’t need a big menu to keep growing. This week’s episode of the Restaurant Business podcast “A Deeper Dive” features Wan Kim, the 1,000-unit smoothie chain’s CEO. Kim discusses the chain’s strong growth—it has more than doubled in size since he took over in 2012—as well as its responses to technology and innovation. Kim… read more
Customers will be able to order the chain’s first fully vegan meal by pairing Veggie Dippers with vegan accredited french fries and any soft drink or sauce. The Veggie Dippers also will be available as a fully vegan Happy Meal. “In the last 12 months we’ve seen an 80% uplift in customers ordering vegetarian options… read more