In partnership with former Quiznos Chief Executive Greg MacDonald, private-equity firm Gridiron Capital LLC has acquired a majority stake in the Asian fast-casual chain Tokyo Joe’s. MacDonald was named CEO of the 17-year-old chain, which has 25 locations in the greater Denver area. Tokyo Joe founder Larry Leith will become chief innovation officer, leading menu…

Made-to-order sandwiches bearing the Togo’s label will soon be found across Arizona. The San Jose, Calif., sandwich chain aims to develop 25 new units in Flagstaff, Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tempe and Tucson. New and existing franchisees can benefit from $10 million in funding for remodels and transfers, as well as $5 million to build new restaurants…

Call it a light bulb of an idea. The National Restaurant Association has allied itself with North American LED to offer light emitting diode (LED) lighting solutions, to its members at discounted prices. Through the partnership, members will be able to purchase highly energy-efficient lighting at a reduced price, said David Matthews, exec. v.p. of…

The Legacy Companies announced May 14 that it had completed the acquisition of controlling interest in Kold-Draft, the Erie, Pa., manufacturer of ice machines. “The acquisition of Kold-Draft is an important day at our company,” said Neal Asbury, CEO of the Fort Lauderdale, Fla., conglomerate. “Kold-Draft is a legacy brand name in ice machinery and…

Kitchen Brains has expanded into Singapore. Kitchen Brains Pte. Ltd. will be headed by River Zhang, who has been promoted to v.p. of business development-Asia Pacific. Rathna Kumar joins Zhang in Singapore as director of SaaS business development. “We have recognized explosive growth in the region since opening our customer support center in Shanghai in…

John Galardi, who got his start working with Taco Bell founder Glen Bell at his Taco Tia store and went on to found the Der Wienerschnitzel hot dog chain, died earlier this month at age 75. Galardi opened his first unit in 1961 and expanded it into a chain with more than 300 outlets in…

Come Oct. 1, the Society for Foodservice Management will have a new name and acronym: the Society for Hospitality and Foodservice Management. The new moniker and logo for SHFM, which the organization calls a “strategic brand enhancement,” will be unveiled at the group’s national conference, Sept. 30-Oct. 1 in Bonita Springs, Fla. Although the new…

Indianapolis-based Steak ‘n Shake is continuing to focus on westward expansion. The full-service and drive-through chain, already prepping for its first international opening in Dubai this year, will enter the California market. A flagship store in Santa Monica will spearhead what the chain announced two years ago as an anticipated 25 units. Steak `n Shake…

Fiesta Restaurant Group has hired Ed Carnevale as v.p.-construction services to support growth of its Taco Cabana and Pollo Tropical brands. Fiesta has 255 company-owned and operated restaurants and 44 franchised restaurants in the U.S., Puerto Rico, the Bahamas, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Honduras, Panama, Trinidad and Tobago and Venezuela. Carnevale will report to Chief Development…

Baskin-Robbins plans to develop up to 50 locations across the Philippines during the next five years. The chain has signed a master licensing agreement with IceDream Inc. to develop Baskin-Robbins shops in urban areas; the initial focus is on the greater Manila area. The ice-cream chain currently has nearly 7,000 restaurants in nearly 50 countries…