Corporate Operations: Page 8

  • Dutch Bros Coffee's president, Christine Barone will replace Joth Ricci as CEO. Pictured is a Dutch Bros unit.
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    Permission granted by Dutch Bros
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    Dutch Bros promotes Christine Barone to CEO amid growth push

    Barone, who joined Dutch Bros as president in Q1, will take the helm of the coffee chain as it aims to reach 4,000 units within 15 years.

    By • Updated Aug. 8, 2023
  • Wing Zone delivery
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    Permission granted by WIng Zone
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    Wing Zone unveils spinoff Hot Chicken concept in Las Vegas

    Wing Zone Hot Chicken and Wings Restaurant, which has one unit so far, is designed to capture consumer interest in the Nashville-inspired food.

    By • Aug. 8, 2023
  • A photograph of chefs in a kitchen. Explore the Trendline➔
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    sam edwards via Getty Images
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    Trendline

    Menu development

    Restaurants big and small are experimenting with their menus to align with the preferences of on-the-go diners and mitigate the impact of rising food costs, supply chain disruption and shrinking consumer discretionary funds. 

    By Restaurant Dive staff
  • Two hands locked in a shake
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    SunnyVMD via Getty Images
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    PDQ promotes Kep Sweeney to CEO

    Sweeney takes the reins from co-founder Nick Reader as the chicken chain invests in off-premise improvements, including geofencing to trim service times for pickup orders. 

    By • Aug. 4, 2023
  • Yo Egg's sunny side up egg on a burger
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    Courtesy of Yo Egg
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    Yo Egg announces nationwide partnership with Veggie Grill

    The launch of the plant-based egg at the national restaurant group comes as other egg substitutes are available only as a scramble — not a whole egg.

    By Elizabeth Flood • July 26, 2023
  • Chipotle's "Get in the Pit" campaign image, shown as a poster on a busy sidewalk, timed to National Avocado Day.
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    Courtesy of Chipotle
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    Chipotle experiments with Threads for National Avocado Day

    The QSR chain is one of the first to center its marketing around the platform, using it to drop text-to-win codes that will give away concert and festival tickets.

    By Sara Karlovitch • July 26, 2023
  • An image of a Beto Guajardo, who is wearing a suit and tie.
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    Permission granted by Blaze Pizza
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    Q&A // Meet the exec

    Blaze Pizza CEO: We want an experience that can’t ‘be replicated by machines’

    Beto Guajardo, now six months into his tenure at the build-your-own pizza chain, is focused on growing its footprint, making offerings more affordable and improving the diner experience.

    By • July 25, 2023
  • A Zaxby's logo used for the chicken chain.
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    Glenn, Miles. (2022). "Zaxby's" [Photograph]. Retrieved from Flickr.
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    Zaxby’s snaps up Dollar General, Yum Brands alum for CFO

    Donny Lau was named finance chief of the Athens, Georgia-based chicken chain, which aims to grow well beyond its Southern roots. 

    By Maura Webber Sadovi • July 24, 2023
  • A portrait photo of Arthur Valdez, Starbucks' incoming EVP of global supply and customer solutions.
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    Courtesy of Starbucks
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    Starbucks hires former Target exec to lead supply operations

    With Arthur Valdez joining Starbucks as EVP of global supply, the company is looking to achieve efficiencies in its supply chain, which is threatened by climate change. 

    By • July 20, 2023
  • An image of a building with Cracker Barrel branding
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    Courtesy of Cracker Barrel
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    Cracker Barrel appoints Taco Bell vet as CEO

    Julie Felss Masino, Taco Bell’s international president, succeeds Sandra Cochran, who served as CEO and president of Cracker Barrel since 2011.

    By • July 18, 2023
  • Header image for "89% of Executives Want Change On Their Board: Weekly Stat"
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    Getty Images via Getty Images
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    10 major restaurant CEO changes from H1 2023

    The first half of the year was marked by major turnover among chief executives, as some leaders departed amid federal scrutiny and others were hired to support brand turnarounds. 

    By • July 17, 2023
  • Donatos pizza
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    Courtesy of PR Newswire
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    Donatos Pizza to deploy pizza vending machine

    The chain will deploy its first automated pizza kiosk in partnership with Appetronix in Columbus, Ohio, at an unspecified time in the future.

    By • July 14, 2023
  • An exterior shot of a Red Robin restaurant, which is lit from inside, at night
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    The image by Cbraccialini is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
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    Red Robin pulls the plug on MrBeast Burger and its own virtual brands

    In a blow to Virtual Dining Concepts, Red Robin will stop serving the YouTube personality’s menu as the chain focuses on its core offerings and operations. 

    By • July 14, 2023
  • 7-Eleven
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    Courtesy of 7-Eleven
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    7-Eleven rolling out refreshed coffee program, more private label goods to stores

    The company has upgraded to bean-to-cup machines and iced coffee options in more than 4,800 stores, with more coming throughout the year.

    By Jessica Loder • July 14, 2023
  • Uber IPO
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    Spencer Platt via Getty Images
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    Uber CFO to depart: report

    The departure of CFO Nelson Chai would mark the most significant executive switch at Uber since the company went public in May 2019.

    By Grace Noto • July 12, 2023
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    Brandon Bell via Getty Images
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    Domino’s strikes deal with Uber Eats through 2024

    The companies will pilot an ordering partnership in four U.S. markets this fall before expanding nationwide. Domino’s will still deliver orders placed through Uber Eats.

    By • July 12, 2023
  • A person whose job has been cut collects their belongings
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    pcess609 via Getty Images
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    H1 2023 marked by 4 layoffs in restaurant tech

    Companies in the delivery, virtual brand and POS platform subsectors grappled with growing losses and corporate restructuring.

    By • July 10, 2023
  • A portrait of Sean Tresvant, Taco Bell's incoming CEO.
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    Courtesy of Taco Bell
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    Yum names Taco Bell CEO

    Sean Tresvant, who joined the brand as chief global brand officer in 2022, will replace Mark King at the start of the year. 

    By • June 30, 2023
  • Hal Lawlor, Smokey Bones COO and president
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    Permission granted by Smokey Bones
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    Smokey Bones names Hal Lawlor to joint role of president, COO

    Lawlor, who has served as the chain’s COO since 2019, takes on the added role following CEO James O’Reilly’s departure earlier this month.

    By • June 29, 2023
  • Noodles & Company cauliflower gnocchi
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    Permission granted by Noodles & Company
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    Noodles & Company hires Ruth’s Chris exec as CFO

    Michael Hynes, will start with the company on July 24 following the departure of CFO Carl Lukach earlier this month.

    By • June 27, 2023
  • A portrait photo of Ravi Thanawala, Papa Johns incoming CFO.
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    Courtesy of Papa Johns
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    Papa Johns hires Nike exec as CFO

    Ravi Thanawala joins the company from Nike’s largest division, North America, which saw $18 billion in revenue last year.

    By • June 26, 2023
  • A picture of an Olive Garden restaurant.
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Darden board chairman Eugene Lee to retire

    Lee’s departure was announced the same day as Darden’s results for FY2023, which include modest increases in same-store sales and its restaurant count.

    By • June 22, 2023
  • Blaze Pizza execs Kevin Moran and Johnny Tellez
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    Courtesy of Blaze Pizza
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    Blaze Pizza hires Focus Brands execs as chief development, operations officers

    Kevin Moran and Johnny Tellez join Blaze Pizza six months after the restaurant chain hired Focus Brands alum Beto Guajardo as president and CEO.

    By • June 21, 2023
  • Burger King gets a fresh look
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    Courtesy of Burger King
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    Burger King wants to force Meridian to sell off its restaurants

    Burger King, like Meridian Restaurant’s creditors, is asking a court to allow creditors to arrange the sale of the franchisee’s restaurants.

    By • Updated Jan. 2, 2024
  • An exterior image of a BurgerFi restaurant
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    Permission granted by BurgerFi
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    BurgerFi appoints former Wall Street analyst as CFO

    Christopher Jones starts as BurgerFi’s top financial executive on July 10, the same day as its incoming CEO. 

    By • June 13, 2023
  • Potbelly Sandwich Shop in National Harbor, Maryland, taken by Julie Littman of Restaurant Dive
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    Julie Littman/Restaurant Dive
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    Potbelly hires HR, franchising executives

    Lynette McKee will support Potbelly’s transition to a majority franchise system as SVP of franchising, and Patrick Walsh will work as chief people officer. 

    By • June 12, 2023