Food & Beverage News

FoodFirst Global Restaurants, the parent company of Brio Tuscan Grille and Bravo Cucina Italiana, has named Steve Layt as the company’s new chief executive officer. The change is effective immediately, as former CEO and FoodFirst founder Brad Blum has stepped down from his role as chairman and chief executive, the Columbus, Ohio-based company said in a statement released Tuesday morning. The company said Blum will remain an owner-partner as the company…

New York-based ghost kitchen operator Zuul Kitchens on Monday said it has acquired the online restaurant ordering system Ontray. Terms were not disclosed for the deal, but Zuul CEO Corey Manicone said acquisition of the Philadelphia-based startup and its strategic assets will allow the growing ghost kitchen concept to expand its services to restaurant partners to help them drive revenue.  “We have acquired key technical assets and…

American Blue Ribbon Holdings shuttered 33 locations and filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection Monday, the company announced. The filing does not involve or affect the operations of O’Charley’s or 99 Restaurants, which are not part of ABRH (a company separate from American Blue Ribbon). Fidelity Newport Holdings owns ABRH, which owns American Blue Ribbon Holdings. American Blue Ribbon…

Over the past few years, Bar Louie primarily drove sales and profit through new-unit expansion. But a problem emerged along the way. It funded growth partially through new debt, yet also with cash flow from operations. And, eventually,  didn’t have enough cash on hand to fix underperforming units when they started to drag the system. The result, it said Monday,…

The Food and Drug Administration continues to assert that soy leghemoglobin remains safe for use as a color additive in ground beef analogue products, which includes plant-based Impossible Burgers. The F.D.A. on Dec. 17 said it concluded objections raised by the Center for Food Safety did not justify a hearing or provide a basis for revoking the…

Food distribution company Sysco Corp. announced that CEO Tom Bené will be stepping down after two years years as president and CEO. Bené will be replaced by former executive vice president of CVS Health/president of CVS Pharmacy Kevin Hourican starting February 1. The board has also elected independent director Ed Shirley as executive chair to…

McDonald’s is creating a team focused on digital customer engagement as the restaurant industry continues to look to technology as a key way to boost sales. The new team is part of the fast-food giant’s strategy to use technology to reach customers and drive sales growth. McDonald’s has been installing digital self-order kiosks in its…

Paris Baguette USA Inc. has promoted Darren Tipton to CEO of American operations, replacing former CEO Jack Moran, who has been promoted to global CEO, effective Jan. 1, the bakery-café concept said. In his new position, Tipton, below, who was previously chief operating officer, is responsible for operations as well as overseeing franchise sales and…

Columbus, Ohio-based Donatos Pizza signed a franchise agreement with Jacksonville-based Quick Family & Associates Holding Co. Inc. to develop five restaurants in metro Orlando, bringing roughly 150 jobs to the market. No leases have been signed, but the group has identified possible markets as Altamonte Springs, Casselberry, Oviedo and Winter Park, said a news release.…

Fiesta Restaurant Group Inc. is closing 19 Taco Cabana restaurants immediately, the company said. Dallas-based Fiesta, which also owns the fast-casual Pollo Tropical brand, said all the closures were of stores that had posted significant losses. As of Sept. 29, Fiesta had 173 Taco Cabana units, with 165 company-owned and eight franchised. The closures represent more…