Food & Beverage News

Michael R. Nettles, previously senior vice-president, chief information and digital officer, will take over the new role of executive vice-president, chief operating and growth officer at Papa John’s International, Inc. The personnel move was part of a new organizational structure that is consistent with the company’s strategy to improve customer experience, according to the Louisville-based…

Yum! Brands, Inc. has named executives to two newly created tech-focused positions, hiring Clay Johnson as chief digital and technology officer and Gavin Felder as chief strategy officer. The new positions will partner with the KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell divisions to advance the company’s technological capabilities. Mr. Johnson will lead Yum! Brands’ global…

Noodles & Company’s comeback doesn’t discard the playbook. There are complex components, from a massive menuboard initiative to one of the most successful product launches in recent fast-casual history, but the foundation sparks a familiar tale. And that’s why it’s lasted well beyond the burst stage. Noodles & Company’s turnaround has sustained, chief executive Dave Boennighausen…

Seattle-based health-oriented concept Evergreens has purchased a similar concept, Garden Bar in Portland, Ore., for an undisclosed sum, the two chains announced. Garden Bar is being renamed Garden Bar by Evergreens and its staff will become Evergreens employees. Its founder, Ana Chaud, will be the restaurants’ new vice president of brand development. The price of…

Wendy’s is taking its breakfast menu nationwide in 2020 and will hire 20,000 new employees to support the morning meal, the company announced. The fast-food chain, which has been a holdout in the breakfast area among major national chains, currently has breakfast in 300-plus restaurants. Items on Wendy’s breakfast menu includes the Breakfast Baconator, Frosty-ccino and…

In China, where it operates about 4,000 restaurants and plans to have 6,000 by 2023, the chain is still expanding at breakneck speed with a new location every 15 hours. Globally, the company is opening a store roughly every four hours. While Starbucks has been in China for two decades, more rivals are popping up,…

Guillermo Perales knows he has to be patient with the turnaround that he wants for Taco Bueno. That’s difficult for Perales, who built his 1,000-unit franchisee, Sun Holdings, with a particular aggressiveness. He builds dozens of new restaurants every year under brands such as Burger King, Arby’s, Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen and Krispy Kreme. Since buying the Dallas-based…

Burger King will launch a plant-based burger imitating meat called the “Rebel Whopper” in Brazil in November, the company said, amid an international rush for mass-market chains to cater to vegetarian and vegan diners. Burger King will sell the vegetarian burgers developed by meatpacker Marfrig Global Foods SA for 29.90 reais ($7.26) in Brazil, representatives…

Like many casual-dining icons, Ruby Tuesday has faced some hard times of late. In 2018, its revenue dipped nearly 13 percent. In 2016, it shuttered 95 stores alone and in 2018 it closed an additional 50 locations. Similar to many chains, Ruby Tuesday is shrinking its overall footprint and strengthening its top performers. Today, there are…

Fazoli’s introduced a fresh new restaurant design in its hometown with plans to bring the new look to fans at every location across the country. The new modern design with communal seating is a nod to the family-friendly atmosphere Fazoli’s is known for. The new design also includes artwork that highlights the brand’s “made to…