Food & Beverage News

Focus Brands, parent to Auntie Anne’s, Carvel, Cinnabon, Jamba, Moe’s Southwest Grill, McAlister’s Deli and Schlotzsky’s, announced the appointment of Jim Holthouser as CEO on Thursday, effective immediately. Holthouser succeeds Steve DeSutter. Focus Brands is majority owned by affiliates of private-equity firm Roark Capital Group. “Focus Brands is an outstanding company, recognized globally for its iconic brands,…

The Food and Drug Administration on Feb. 25 issued a warning letter to Jimmy John’s in connection with the Champaign, Ill.-based sandwich shop chain’s role in a string of recent outbreaks of E. coli and salmonella. Citing evidence from five outbreaks, including the most recent outbreak in Iowa during December 2019, the F.D.A. said Jimmy John’s franchised restaurants…

People want to use restaurants. According to new data from the National Restaurant Association, heading into a new decade, pent-up demand for restaurants remains high. It’s also the 11th consecutive year of industry growth, and operators are interested in using all the tools at their disposal to stay top-of-mind with an evolving consumer base. The National…

BBQ Holdings Inc., the parent company of Famous Dave’s, announced Thursday a purchase agreement to acquire the assets of craft beer chain Granite City Food and Brewery. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. The move is BBQ Holdings’ first foray outside of the barbecue sector. Its other two brands are the recently created Clark Crew…

Mark Wolfinger is succeeding John Miller as president of Denny’s in a reshuffle of the family-dining chain’s top management. Miller retains his duties as CEO, with a focus on Denny’s strategic direction. Wolfinger, formerly CFO, EVP and chief administrative officer, will assume more of Miller’s day-to-day responsibilities, the company said. In related changes, Robert Verostek…

Rōti Modern Mediterranean has named Justin Seamonds its CEO, the Chicago-based fast-casual chain said. Seamonds’ background is primarily in retail; he was president of specialty grocer Dean & DeLuca and then CEO of the Snack Street shop in Houston. Most recently he was an advisor for Washlava, which allows users to reserve and pay for…

Whataburger Inc. has hired Janelle Sykes as its new chief financial officer, the company said. The San Antonio-based burger brand also said it has promoted Sylvester “Sly” Johnson to chief data and analytics officer. He most recently served as Whataburger’s chief accounting officer. Sykes, left, succeeds former CFO Ed Nelson, who was promoted to presidentof…

Less than a week after announcing the end of its exclusive agreement with airport foodservice company HMSHost — part of travel foodservice company Autogrill Group — Starbucks is already expanding its airport presence with the announcement of two major partnerships: airport retailer and restaurateur Paradies Lagardère and airport hospitality group OTG Management. Starbucks is entering a licensing agreement…

Eric Wyatt has been promoted to chief executive officer of Boston Market Corp. He succeeds Frances Allen, who is leaving the company for a new opportunity. In his new role, Mr. Wyatt will oversee a newly created “office of the CEO.” that includes Caryn Doyle, chief financial officer, and Randy Miller, chief administrative officer and…