Food & Beverage News

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…

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…