Food & Beverage News

Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. has filled out its leadership team with the addition of two executives. Roger E. Theodoredis joins the company as chief legal officer, and Tabassum Zalotrawala has been named chief development officer. Both will report to Brian R. Niccol, chief executive officer of Chipotle Mexican Grill. Mr. Theodoredis most recently was general…

Members receive VIP access to: The CIA’s library of hundreds of technique videos, filled with tips and instructions to help hone your skills or learn new ones. Achieve professional results in the comfort of your own home. Archived interviews and cooking demonstrations with world-famous chefs of yesterday and today as they showcase their craft in…

The Cheesecake Factory, known for its extensive menu, generous portions and legendary desserts, today announced the opening of its newest restaurants in Chattanooga, Tennessee and Lubbock, Texas. With more than 250 menu selections including Skinny Licious dishes with 590 calories or less and Saturday and Sunday Brunch—handmade, in-house with fresh ingredients—and more than 50 signature cheesecakes and desserts, The Cheesecake…

After taking big stakes in Smashburger over the course of three years, Asia’s largest restaurant operator, Jollibee Foods Corp., said it has acquired the remaining 15 percent stake in the Denver-based better burger chain. Jollibee, based in the Philippines, operates more than 4,300 restaurants around the world under various banners including its namesake fried chicken…

Applebee’s has taken a step back into restaurant ownership with the purchase of 69 locations from a North Carolina franchisee, marking the first company-owned restaurants in the Applebee’s system in three years. The company said Friday it had closed on a deal to buy 69 Applebee’s from Raleigh, N.C., franchisee Apple Gold Group. The restaurants,…

Bloomin’ Brands reinvigoration of Outback has, rightfully so, grabbed headlines in recent months. If you look back to the first quarter of fiscal 2017, the company shuttered 14 restaurants and followed by refranchising 54 corporate stores to longtime franchisee partners. In Q3 of this year—the most recent report for the legacy steakhouse—same-store sales rose 4.6…

Cava Group Inc. completed its acquisition Wednesday of Zoes Kitchen, creating a privately held Mediterranean fast-casual company with some 340 units and more than 8,000 employees. The $300 million deal, first announced in August, was financed by a “significant equity investment” from Act III Holdings, the emerging brand-accelerator financing group created by former Panera Bread CEO…

Forty per cent of consumers say their definition of health has changed over the past two years — and that definition is driving their choices of food and beverage, according to Technomic Inc.’s 2018 Healthy Eating Consumer Trend Report. Consumers are increasingly ordering menu items that meet that personal definition of health, such as food…

El Pollo Loco has named Hector A. Muñoz, a former executive at rival chicken brands Church’s Chicken and Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen, as its new chief marketing officer. Muñoz replaces Ed Valle who stepped down earlier this year after seven years with the chain. Muñoz will start Dec. 3. Muñoz joins the company from Atlanta-based Church’s Chicken, where…

Bob Platzer, founder of PJW Restaurant Group, the largest and most successful family-owned restaurant group in the Delaware Valley, has named hospitality veteran Jim Fris Chief Executive Officer as Platzer assumes the Executive Chairman role. The announcement comes as the restaurant group celebrates its 35th year of success. Bob Platzer and his wife Donna began in…