Food & Beverage News

Kura Sushi USA bucked recent history when it hit the stock market August 1. The 23-unit revolving sushi-style restaurant raised $41 million in its initial public offering—the first for a restaurant chain since Wingstop and Fogo de Chao went public in 2015. Shares of Kura, a subsidiary of 400-unit Kura Japan, popped 40 percent that…

Jose Cil, CEO of Restaurant Brands International which owns Popeyes, says the company planned for the national roll-out of their chicken sandwich, but didn’t anticipate it “would break the internet” and sell out so quickly. Well, if you didn’t jump on the Popeyes chicken sandwich craze and wait in hour-long lines to sink your teeth…

To feed nearly 10 billion people by the middle of the century without trashing the climate, the food system has to fundamentally change—and one major piece of that involves reducing the massive amount of food that’s never eaten. Around a third of all food produced, or 1.3 billion tons a year, is wasted. Cutting food waste in…

Recession concerns have increasingly worried investors of late. But restaurant executives aren’t concerned about it at the moment, at least based on recent comments from the CEOs of some of the largest U.S. chains. Earlier this week, Starbucks CEO Kevin Johnson told Jim Cramer of CNBC that the company hasn’t seen any signs of looming economic…

Struggling Kona Grill has a new owner, although it’s far from a stranger. The Scottsdale, Arizona-based brand was dealt to Williston Holding Co. Inc., the company founded by Marcus Jundt. He is one of the polished chain’s founders and served on the board from 2000–2009. Jundt also held the CEO post twice—from 2006–2009 and then…

UPS announced that its venture capital arm has made a minority investment in TuSimple. The announcement also revealed that since May TuSimple autonomous trucks have been hauling UPS loads on a 115-mile route between Phoenix and Tucson. UPS confirmed to Gizmodo this is the first time UPS has announced it has been using TuSimple autonomous…

Papa John’s International Inc. has appointed Jim Norberg as the company’s first chief restaurant operations officer, the company said. Norberg, who had served as chief operating officer at McDonald’s USA until 2015, will oversee the operations of corporate and franchise stores for the Louisville, Ky.-based quick-service pizza brand. “Jim has an impressive growth track record,…

Scott and Ally Svenson knew what they were getting into when they created MOD Pizza. The Seattle natives had found their knack for the food business when they started London-based Seattle Coffee Company (eventually acquired by Starbucks) and honed it while helping to build the Italian brand Carluccio’s. Their itch to create MOD Pizza back…

After 41 years in business, Mimi’s kick-started a refresh project Monday it believes will strengthen the chain’s connection to France, and help accentuate differentiating traits amid a growing fast-casual category. The modernization also includes a new name: Mimi’s Café is now Mimi’s Bistro + Bakery. Philippe Jean, chief operating officer for Le Duff America, Inc.,…

A franchisee of 27 Perkins Restaurant & Bakery locations filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection after losing the right to use the parent company’s name. The franchisee, 5171 Campbells Land Co., based in Rankin, Pa., said in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania filing that it had assets of between $1…