Stalking-horse bidder Main Street Capital has made a $27 million credit bid for the casual-dining chain’s assets. Bankrupt Italian chain Buca di Beppo has a potential buyer. The Orlando-based casual-dining brand has selected an existing lender, private-equity firm Main Street Capital, as the stalking-horse bidder in its Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings, meaning Main Street was… read more

The departure of CEO Brian Niccol is speeding previously announced C-suite moves. The planned retirement of CFO Jack Hartung is now on hold indefinitely. With Chipotle’s CEO off to a new job at Starbucks, the fast-casual chain is awarding big retention bonuses to keep top executives at the helm. The company on Wednesday said CFO… read more

Mina Haque steps up from her role as interim CEO at the full-service brand. This week, casual dining concept Tony Roma’s announced the appointment of its first female CEO, Mohaimina “Mina” Haque. Haque has served as interim CEO and under her leadership, the brand says in a release it has embraced a renewed focus and… read more

The Chicago-based fast-casual Mediterranean chain, which has been closing locations in recent years, says it will use the process to find new investors or a buyer. Roti, the Mediterranean fast-casual chain, on Friday said it had declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy, joining a parade of summertime restaurant chain restructurings. The Chicago-based chain said it plans to… read more

The building features a kitchen on the second floor, with a conveyor belt that delivers orders to team members on the ground. Chick-fil-A is taking its drive-thru to new heights with its latest digital-focused concept. The company is set to open its first two-story, four-lane “elevated drive-thru” on Thursday in McDonough, Georgia, near its home… read more

Alimentation Couche-Tard has made an offer to buy Seven & i Holdings, the owner of 7-Eleven, in a deal that would merge the two largest convenience store chains in the country. Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc., (ACT), the parent company of the Circle K convenience-store brand, has submitted a “friendly,” nonbinding proposal to Seven & i Holdings… read more

Laxman Narasimhan is stepping down from the coffee shop chain effective immediately. Niccol, the CEO of Chipotle Mexican Grill, will take over on Sept. 9. Starbucks named Brian Niccol chairman and CEO on Tuesday amid mounting sales concern and growing interest from activist investors. Laxman Narasimhan, who has only been in the job for 16… read more

The brand has already sealed refranchising agreements in excess of $40 million. TGI Fridays and international franchisee Hostmore, which are planning a merger, now want to be fully franchised. The U.K.-based operator, TGI Fridays’ largest franchisee, agreed to purchase the brand for $220 million. If the deal were to close, the combined entity would have… read more

Last week began with news that two more restaurant companies filed for bankruptcy: World of Beer, the once-fast-growing craft beer concept, and Buca di Beppo, the garish Italian chain. It’s been a common story this summer. Sixteen restaurant companies have declared Chapter 11 this year, and several more are close to it, with closed stores… read more

LaCount joins the organization from PepsiCo where he was Vice President of International Beverages Marketing leading hydration and energy portfolios for international markets including Gatorade and Sting. Popeyes announced Bart LaCount will join the brand as the new Chief Marketing Officer of Popeyes US & Canada and Matt Rubin will be named Chief Digital Officer… read more