Food & Beverage News

Amazon announced that it will now work with brands to help them make custom text-to-speech voices for their Alexa skills. Imagine, for example, that you’re ordering KFC using KFC’s Alexa skill, but instead of the default Alexa voice replying to you, it’s Colonel Sanders himself. That’s what Amazon’s going for here, and it’s something that Amazon…

The hospitality industry has one of the most diverse workforces. It offers a huge spectrum of different career opportunities, and each has its own role to play within this vast and still expanding field. These roles, though, may or may not require a specific level of educational attainment. The only criterion that we believe is…

Yum Brands, under new CEO David Gibbs, on Thursday announced major leadership changes at the company’s three quick-service brands including naming KFC leader Kevin Hochman as interim president of the struggling Pizza Hut division. Hochman’s turnaround experience and ability to improve distinctive brands through innovation “make him ideally suited for this opportunity,” Gibbs said during…

A “healthy balance” of comparable sales growth, new store development and continued expansion of its global coffee alliance with Nestle S.A. helped fuel an “exceptional” quarter for Starbucks Corp., said Kevin R. Johnson, president and chief executive officer. “The positive business momentum we’ve created over the past fiscal year continues with a strong start to…

Who are the most influential people in foodservice? Find out in this gallery of Nation’s Restaurant News’ annual Power List. This year’s list features 50 leaders in technology and innovation. These men and women show that real power comes not from adapting to change – but from creating it on your own terms. Selected by…

Nick Varano has sold several of his restaurants, including Strega Prime in Woburn, to the Dublin-based investment group Danu, which operates the Smith & Wollensky Restaurant Group. According to the Boston Globe, Danu is looking to grow its restaurant operations, and purchased Strega Waterfront in the Seaport, Strip by Strega in the Park Plaza Hotel,…

The Women’s Foodservice Forum has named Therese Gearhart as CEO and president, the organization said Friday. Gearhart (left) succeeds Hattie Hill, who in May announced her retirement as CEO and president of the Dallas-based organization. Denny Marie Post, the immediate past chair of the group and former head of Red Robin Gourmet Burgers Inc., had assumed…

McLane Foodservice, part of the McLane Company, announced that Susan Adzick had been promoted to executive vice president and chief operating officer. In July of this year, Adzick will transition to president of McLane Foodservice, according to a company news release. Adzick has been with McLane since 2000 and most recently served as senior vice president…

On the heels of announcing a new CEO, Paris Baguette USA Inc. has named Pete Bell chief marketing officer. Earlier this month, Darren Tipton was promoted to CEO of American operations, replacing former CEO Jack Moran, who had been promoted to global CEO. Bell will oversee all company marketing efforts for the bakery-café as it…