White Castle has unveiled a quick-service spin on exhibition cooking with what it calls its “kitchen of the future.” The Elizabethtown, Ky., store, a test-drive for future expansion, features a stainless and glass griddle set within a wall-free kitchen that allows patrons to see their burgers being prepped, cooked and wrapped. The design is a…

The rapid growth pace for Dickey’s Barbecue Restaurants continues unabated. The Dallas-based company, one of the nation’s fastest-growing chains, will open nine new sites in central California. Franchise partners and KFC veterans Kevin and Bryan Roche are centering their development plans in Fresno, Clovis and Hanford. The 72-year-old fast-casual chain currently has 32 locations in…

The Middleby Corp. has hired Peter Cooper, formerly of Johnson & Wales University, as its new v.p.-business development, consultant and design services. Cooper is acting as a liaison between all of the Middleby brands and the design and consultant community. Prior to joining Middleby, Cooper spent six years as the executive director of culinary procurement…

Kitchen Brains has appointed company veteran George Koether as chief strategy officer to bring additional focus to its external development agenda, including strategic alliances, partnerships and acquisitions. “In his new position, George will work with me in assessing and executing our external growth opportunities. Evidence of his effectiveness was the important role he played in…

Bill Eggers has been promoted to the position of chief marketing officer for Cooper-Atkins Corp. The company veteran has held various responsibilities at the Middlefield, Conn., maker of time- and temperature-measurement devices, including developing marketing strategy; managing the marketing team; overseeing the domestic sales teams for the foodservice and industrial divisions; and most recently assisting…

Los Angeles residents will be waking up to Dunkin’ Donuts by the end of the year. The Canton, Mass., chain signed its first Southern California multi-unit development agreements late in July with four franchise groups committing to a total of 45 new restaurants. The first standalone units are expected to open in 2015 in Orange…

Tossed, the fast-casual soup and salad chain, has signed its first international expansion deal. The 30-unit master development agreement with Al Sayegh Brothers Trading Co., a multi-national conglomerate based in the United Arab Emirates, includes future stores in the Middle East and North Africa. The Al Sayegh team, which plans to feature the company’s new…

Miller’s Ale House, a 65-unit casual-dining chain, has been acquired by Atlanta-based private-equity firm Roark Capital Group. The Jupiter, Fla., chain had been owned by KarpReilly LLC. Financial details of the deal were not disclosed. As part of the acquisition, National Restaurant Association chairman Phil Hickey was named chairman of Miller’s Ale House. Miller’s is…

KFC is putting its 11 herbs and spices in the forefront—and in its name—at a prototype fast-casual store opening August 5. The white-bearded, bespectacled image of chain founder Colonel Harland Sanders has no presence in the concept. The chain will open a “KFC eleven” store near its headquarters in Louisville, Ky., which will serve flatbread…

Yes, there are still a few countries where you can’t order a Big Mac or a Happy Meal. McDonald’s Corp. will check off Vietnam from that list sometime next year, adding it as the 38th Asian country in the company’s portfolio. The Oak Brook, Ill., chain has named Henry Nguyen, a Vietnamese businessman and the…