A group of private-equity investors, including firms from Taiwan and South Korea, has acquired Los Angeles-based The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf. Terms were not disclosed for the transaction, which was completed Sept. 12.The capital investment comes from global buyout firm Advent International, represented by Will Kussell, previously president of Dunkin’ Donuts Worldwide. He’ll serves…

The California-style burger chain that isn’t based in California continues its global expansion. Shanghai-based CaliBurger has signed a franchise deal with shopping mall operator Dashang Group to open 50 CaliBurger and Cali Express units in China over the next three years. The first site will be a flagship CaliBurger at Dashang’s headquarters in Dalain. The…

The Winston-Salem, N.C., chain has partnered with LLC Doughnuts Café to bring its baked goods to Moscow. The Russian operator opened the first of 40 planned Krispy Kreme stores last month in the heavily trafficked area behind Red Square. Krispy Kreme has 790 locations in 22 countries, including recent openings in Edinburgh and Bangalore; a…

Some new titles for four employees at Champion Industries: Anthony Patella has assumed the post of regional sales manager-South and Nathan Marshall now has the title of product manager. Patella previously held the position of regional sales manager for Moyer Diebel. He is based at Champion/Bi-Line headquarters in Winston-Salem, N.C. Marshall, who had played a…

New officers and directors have been installed on the board of the Association of Nutrition & Foodservice Professionals. The 2013-14 board, as elected by the membership, took office during ANFP’s recent National Leadership Conference in Savannah, Ga. All board members have earned their CDM, CFPP designations. Board Chair: Paula Bradley, foodservice director-Protection Valley Manor, Protection,…

Through Nov. 15, the National Restaurant Association is offering discount pricing for the NRA Show 2014, May 17-20 at Chicago’s McCormick Place. Early-bird registrants can save 60% off the regular admission price. Registration is at Restaurant.org/Show. Association members receive free show registration and a member-exclusive registration rate of $50 for the concurrent Int’l. Wine, Spirits…

Del Taco has made four executive appointments. Two company veterans have been promoted: John Druse, named as v.p.-design and construction, and Mike Lucero, appointed v.p.-franchise development and real estate. Eric Grundmeier joins the Lake Forest, Calif., chain as v.p.-supply chain and quality assurance. He held a similar post at Qdoba Restaurant Corp. David Wetzel has…

Johnson-Lancaster and Associates has relocated its corporate headquarters to 13031 U.S. Hwy. 19N, Clearwater, FL 33764. Johnson-Lancaster’s contact information, including phone, fax and email has not changed. The move to the 70,000-sq.-ft. facility in Pinellas County provides the fast-growing dealer with an additional 50,000 sq. ft. of space. “In the new facility, we have been…

While it’s not quite the same as selling ice to the Eskimos, Starbucks Coffee has announced plans to open its first café in a renowned home of the coffee bean: Colombia. After 42 years of buying coffee beans from the country with South America’s second largest economy, Starbucks will finally start selling its Colombian brews…

Ryne Stover has been appointed national accounts sales specialist at floor-mat manufacturer The Andersen Co. Sales veteran Alan Brown will fill the post as regional manager for the Dalton, Ga., firm’s safety/industrial sales division. Anderson, a division of Mountville Mills, manufactures floor mats for foodservice, janitorial/sanitary, safety/industrial, floor covering, and commercial catalog markets. Frontline International,…