Tropical Smoothie Cafe Names New COO As Chain Hits Its 1,000-Location Milestone

By FER Edit

The fast-casual smoothie chain promoted its former senior vice president of operations, Richard Key, to COO.

Noodles & Co. Tests Second Ghost Kitchen

By FER Edit

After debuting its first ghost kitchen in Chicago in May, Noodles & Co. now is testing its second one in San Jose, Calif.

Polar Leasing Adds to Its Sales Team

By FER Edit

The company that offers short-term walk-in cooler rentals has added to its team with the appointment of David Kelty to the position of inside sales representative.

Chicago Sticks a Fork in Plasticware Usage, While New Low-Touch Concessions Take Off at Airport

By FER Edit

Chicago restaurants will have to cut back on single-use foodware after a new law was passed that makes products like plastic utensils, napkins and condiment packets available by request only.

Antoinette Watkins Wins IFMA’s Gold Plate Award

By FER Edit

The International Foodservice Manufacturers Association named Antoinette Watkins the 2021 Gold Plate Award recipient during the 67th Annual Gold & Silver Plate Awards Celebration on Sept. 14.

Black Box’s Weekly Performance Pulse Says Restaurant Sales Had Strongest Results Since July

By FER Edit

Black Box Financial Intelligence’s latest Restaurant Industry Performance Pulse shows the week ending Sept. 5 was the strongest week for restaurant sales since July, but growth remains negative.

National Restaurant Association Puts Focus on ‘Know Safe & Show Safe’ for Food Safety Education Month

By FER Edit

September is Food Safety Education Month, and the National Restaurant Association has kicked off a month-long awareness campaign themed “Know Safe & Show Safe.”

Derbyshire Group Mixes Cupcakery Into Its Portfolio

By FER Edit

The Derbyshire Group has mixed a cupcakery into its portfolio with the acquisition of Smallcakes Cupcakery and Creamery.

Henny Penny Gains Distributor in Egypt

By FER Edit

Henny Penny has gained a new distributor in the Cairo, Egypt-based Smart Cooking Systems.

Dave & Buster’s Has Record Quarter

By FER Edit

Sales from the second quarter of the year at Dave & Buster’s show that diners are in fact eating, drinking and playing.

Topgolf Swings into China

By FER Edit

Topgolf is swinging into China as it opens its first location in Shanghai, with another to follow in Chengdu that will be the biggest Topgolf location in the world.

Expansion Roundup: Teriyaki Concept, Parisian-Inspired Creperie and More Grow Footprints

By FER Edit

This week in FER’s weekly Expansion Roundup, a teriyaki concept will have opened upwards of 50 new units throughout North America by the end of this year, while a Texan creperie and cafe is heading into new territory—all this and more.