Corporate Operations: Page 27


  • KFC employee
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    Courtesy of PR Newswire
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    KFC launches program to help employees build financial savings

    The fried chicken chain's partnership with SaverLife offers workers the ability to earn points toward cash prizes for improving their financial health.  

    By Alicia Kelso • July 27, 2021
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    Dan Kitwood via Getty Images
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    McDonald's asks court to dismiss Black franchisee's amended lawsuit

    The second amended complaint by James and Darrell Byrd still does not meet the minimum requirements to satisfy discrimination claims, McDonald's said in a memorandum filed last week.

    By Updated Aug. 9, 2021
  • By Chloe was renamed Beatnic in July 2021.
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    Retrieved from Beatnic on July 27, 2021
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    By Chloe becomes Beatnic as part of rebrand

    With a new name and owners, the vegan chain, which emerged from bankruptcy earlier this year, plans to expand its concept further into New York City and beyond. 

    By July 27, 2021
  • McDonald's creates team to elevate diner experiences

    Golden Arches veteran Manu Steijaert will lead the customer experience division in the new position of EVP and global chief customer officer effective Aug. 1. 

    By July 26, 2021
  • An image of a California Pizza Kitchen restaurant.
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    Courtesy of California Pizza Kitchen
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    California Pizza Kitchen mulling sale or IPO, Bloomberg reports

    The casual chain's annualized earnings for June are expected to be more than $10 million higher than they were before the pandemic, per Bloomberg.

    By Alicia Kelso • July 26, 2021
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    Thai Phi Le/Restaurant Dive
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    McDonald's to allocate 25% of supply chain spend toward diverse businesses by 2025

    The fast food chain is broadening its diversity goals beyond its corporate offices and restaurants, but accusations of inequity and prejudice within the company persist.

    By July 23, 2021
  • P.F. Chang's To Go
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    Courtesy of Business Wire
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    P.F. Chang's considering IPO, Bloomberg reports

    The full-service chain could file to go public as early as this year and potentially have a valuation of at least $1 billion, the outlet said.

    By July 23, 2021
  • Shake Shack employees
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    Courtesy of Shake Shack
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    Shake Shack to invest over $10M in employees

    The money will go toward raises, sign-on and retention bonuses and leadership development programs over the next 12 months as restaurant chains battle the labor crisis. 

    By July 22, 2021
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    Courtesy of Chipotle
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    Chipotle CFO: higher wages preventing staff shortages

    The company maintains pricing power, finance chief Jack Hartung says, giving it flexibility to decide when to use that power to either protect margins or make an additional investment in its people. 

    By Jane Thier • July 22, 2021
  • Choco team photo
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    Courtesy of Choco
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    Restaurant supply chain startup Choco secures $100M in funding

    The company, which reported transaction volume quadrupling in the past year, will use the cash infusion to deploy new payment tools and expand in its existing markets.

    By Alicia Kelso • July 20, 2021
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    Courtesy of Jollibee/PR Newswire
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    Jollibee plans to reach 500 stores in North America in 5-7 years

    The popular Filipino fast food chain, which has 1,400 units in the Philippines, is already on its way to opening 28 stores in Canada and the U.S. this year.

    By July 20, 2021
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    Cindy Ord via Getty Images
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    Grubhub to absorb Seamless brand following Just Eat transaction

    In addition to the single-brand strategy, Grubhub will focus heavily on growing in its strongest metro areas, like Chicago and New York City.

    By July 19, 2021
  • Portillo's targets $100M IPO

    The chain boasted strong restaurant-level sales, reaching $7.9 million average unit volumes in the 12 months ending June 27 compared to $7.7 million in 2020, according to its S-1 document filed Monday. 

    By Updated Sept. 27, 2021
  • Dickey's Wing Boss
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    Retrieved from Dickey's Restaurant Brands on July 13, 2021
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    Dickey's to debut a brick-and-mortar store for its virtual wings brand

    Wing Boss will open a restaurant in the Dallas market following strong results just four months after its launch as a delivery-only brand.

    By Alicia Kelso • July 14, 2021
  • McDonald's franchisees boosting pay, rolling out child and elder care benefits

    Operators surveyed more than 5,000 employees to determine what new offerings, such as tuition coverage and child care, would be most attractive.

    By Updated July 13, 2021
  • Image of Panera swimwear line
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    Courtesy of Panera Bread
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    Panera tailors swimwear collection to those who eat soup in hot weather

    The Swim Soup line's focus on e-commerce aligns with how Dunkin' and McDonald's are attempting to grow loyalty and build out a lifestyle positioning with devoted followers.

    By Peter Adams • July 12, 2021
  • Bonchon fast casual model
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    Courtesy of PR Newswire
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    Bonchon says 72% of stores planned for 2021 will be fast casual

    The chain experienced 15.3% same-store sales growth as of the end of June, and the company said the fast casual format has been well received by franchisees. 

    By Alicia Kelso • July 12, 2021
  • Burger King gets a fresh look
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    Courtesy of Burger King
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    Burger King promotes COO Tom Curtis to president of US and Canada

    Curtis enters his new role as the company attempts to reinvent itself in the QSR space, launching a digitally focused rebrand and loyalty program.

    By Updated Aug. 24, 2021
  • Subway's reimagined interiors put in place in 2021 as part of its Eat Fresh Refresh.
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    Permission granted by Subway
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    Subway to launch massive menu revamp

    On July 13, the sandwich chain will roll out 20-plus menu updates, including 11 new ingredients and six all-new or returning sandwiches as part of its Eat Fresh Refresh campaign. 

    By July 6, 2021
  • J. Alexander's Holdings sold to SPB Hospitality for $220M

    The deal between the upscale dining chain and the parent company of Logan's Roadhouse and Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant is expected to close in Q4 2021.

    By July 2, 2021
  • An image of McDonald's logo
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    Dan Kitwood via Getty Images
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    McDonald's plans to cut franchisees' tech fees by 62% following uproar

    According to an internal memo obtained by Bloomberg, the change was made to "reset" the relationship between corporate and franchisees.

    By Alicia Kelso • July 1, 2021
  • Pollo Tropical
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    Courtesy of Fiesta Restaurant Group
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    Jack in the Box franchisee to buy Taco Cabana for $85M

    Fiesta Restaurant Group sold the brand to YTC Enterprises, an affiliate of Yadav Enterprises. The sale leaves Fiesta with just Pollo Tropical in its portfolio. 

    By Alicia Kelso • July 1, 2021
  • Red Lobster taps head of Black Box as CEO

    Effective Aug. 2, Kelli Valade will succeed Kim Lopdrup, who is retiring. She inherits the company after it refinanced the remainder of a $380 million loan in January.

    By July 1, 2021
  • Krispy Kreme's Times Square location in NYC
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    Courtesy of Krispy Kreme
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    Krispy Kreme prices IPO at $17, far below original plans

    The doughnut chain had planned for a range of $21 to $24 per share, but the depressed price could hint at lukewarm investor interest.

    By July 1, 2021
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    Darren McCollester via Getty Images
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    Au Bon Pain sold to Yum Brands franchisee

    The café chain's parent company had planned to sunset the brand, Ampex Brands' CEO said, but Ampex is now looking to expand it beyond the 171 locations it acquires in this deal.

    By June 30, 2021