The “Billion Dollar Buyer,” who built Landry’s in part by acquiring chains such as Morton’s The Steakhouse, Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. and Claim Jumper when their valuations were cheap or the companies were in bankruptcy, is on the prowl again, with a $37 million bid for Restaurants Unlimited. Landry’s is the “stalking horse,” or lead… read more
A new Atlanta-based franchising company is looking to grow small, emerging restaurant brands. Empire Franchise Group is the new entity from the merger of holding companies operated by Dennis McKinley of Detroit Equities and Greg George of Rising Phoenix Group. The deal will pull seven restaurant brands under the Empire umbrella, including Buzzed Bull Creamery,… read more
Fazoli’s introduced a fresh new restaurant design in its hometown with plans to bring the new look to fans at every location across the country. The new modern design with communal seating is a nod to the family-friendly atmosphere Fazoli’s is known for. The new design also includes artwork that highlights the brand’s “made to… read more
As the digital revolution sweeps across the globe, impacting employees, organizations, and industries in its wake, restaurants have a unique opportunity to measure technology’s impact on not just the way work gets done, but the way people work. On one hand, the benefits of automation are endless, particularly in the restaurant and hospitality industry, where… read more
On Monday, Kentucky Fried Chicken announced that they have partnered with Beyond Meat, a Los Angeles-based producer of plant-based meat substitutes, to create a plant-based menu option for KFC customers — KFC Beyond Fried Chicken. The vegan KFC menu option will be sold as chicken nuggets with a customer’s choice of dipping sauces, or boneless… read more
Whether you love or hate its coffee, there is no denying that the Starbucks brand is a juggernaut. The green siren logo—with her ingeniously asymmetrical face—is a universal beacon for a caffeine fix. And there is no mistaking one of the company’s hyperbolic beverages like the Tie-Dye Frappucino, which you can spot on the street… read more
Energy drink introduced along with the new tiny-store format. Caribou Coffee is launching a new type of store that only has drive-through and walk-up windows. The tiny-store format, called Caribou Cabins, is aimed at on-the-go customers, or those who don’t mind sitting outside. The move is an attempt to stay relevant in the steep —… read more
Kura Sushi USA bucked recent history when it hit the stock market August 1. The 23-unit revolving sushi-style restaurant raised $41 million in its initial public offering—the first for a restaurant chain since Wingstop and Fogo de Chao went public in 2015. Shares of Kura, a subsidiary of 400-unit Kura Japan, popped 40 percent that… read more
Aramark announced that chairman, president, and CEO Eric Foss is retiring and lead independent director Stephen Sadove has been named non-executive chairman of the Board of Directors. Foss will remain in an advisory capacity until October 2. The company’s Board has established an Office of the Chairman, whose members will oversee the company’s day-to-day operations… read more
Jim Mizes has retired as the CEO of Blaze Pizza, which named Amanda Shaw interim CEO as it looks for a permanent replacement. Mizes retired effective on Friday, the company said. Shaw has been the chief financial officer of the Pasadena, Calif.-based chain since 2018, and the company said she has worked with Mizes “to… read more