Global Foodservice News
Trays and Baskets may be a Weak Point in Food Safety
When the topics of sanitation and maintenance come up in a commercial bakery, the trays or baskets that deliver finished product to the bakery’s customer usually aren’t top of mind. As pieces that go out into the world and then return to the bakery — bringing back with them anything they encountered along the way…
Read More28 mergers and acquisitions in the restaurant industry in 2020
In addition to so many other things, 2020 brought one of the largest merger-and-acquisition deals in the restaurant space with the marriage of Dunkin’ Brands with multi-concept group Inspire Brands. We also saw a number of companies filing bankruptcy because of COVID, which resulted in a number of changes in ownership, particularly in the latter…
Read MoreSaladworks parent company acquires Garbanzo Mediterranean Fresh and Frutta Bowls to form Woworks
Centre Lane Partners – the parent company of Conshohocken, Penn.-based salad chain Saladworks — has acquired fast-casual Mediterranean brand Garbanzo Mediterranean Fresh and fast-casual smoothie/bowl concept Frutta Bowls, to form new holding company, Woworks, the company announced. The Saladworks team will be taking over both brands’ infrastructure and operations to drive growth. Garbanzo CEO James…
Read MoreDarden CEO Gene Lee Named Chairman of the Board
The Darden Restaurants Board of Directors has elected Chief Executive Officer Eugene (Gene) I. Lee, Jr. as Chairman of the Board, succeeding Charles (Chuck) M. Sonsteby, effective January 4, 2021. Sonsteby will become the Board’s Lead Independent Director. “At a time of unprecedented change in our industry, the Board concluded that it is in the…
Read MoreWalk-On’s to Open First Non-Traditional Location on Purdue’s Campus
Walk-On’s will anchor the all-new “Purdue Marketplace” set to enhance dining offerings for Purdue’s West Lafayette campus and community. Construction of this new, world-class food hall in the Purdue Memorial Union began this fall and is anticipated to be completed in January of 2022. The 4,800-plus square foot Walk-On’s will feature a condensed menu with…
Read MoreApplebee’s, IHOP CFO Thomas Song Resigns
Applebee’s and IHOP parent Dine Brands announced Tuesday that Thomas Song resigned as CFO. The move is effective January 22. The move marks another leadership shakeup for the company, which announced in May that CEO Stephen Joyce’s contract wouldn’t be renewed on February 1. In November, the brand hired John Peyton, CEO, and president of…
Read MoreInspire Brands Chief Information Officer Raghu Sagi on New Technology Innovations at Buffalo Wild Wings, Arby’s
Throughout the pandemic, Inspire Brands began rolling out new technologies to help ease digital customer convenience, from contactless payment which began testing at Buffalo Wild Wings in September, to an order-ahead platform with mobile app capabilities, which will roll out to all Arby’s restaurants in the first quarter of 2021 after a pilot test, which…
Read MoreMiddleby Acquires Wild Goose Filling
Middleby Acquires Wild Goose Filling. The company brands are Wild Goose, Inline Filling Systems, and Meheen which together generate $35 million in annual revenues. “Wild Goose Filling is the domestic market leader in craft beverage filling and canning. The company has industry-leading technology serving the fast-growing craft beverage market which includes beer, seltzer, cold brew,…
Read MoreMiddleby Acquires United Foodservice
Zhuhai Guangdong China-based United Foodservice is a leader in the design, manufacture, and supply of countertop commercial foodservice equipment with recent annual revenues of approximately $10 million. “This strategic acquisition expands our capabilities in a key global location and high-demand market. We expect continued growth in Asia and this acquisition strengthens our capabilities to best…
Read MoreInspire Brands Completes its $11.3B Acquisition of Dunkin
Inspire Brands completed its $11.3 billion acquisition of Dunkin’ Brands on Tuesday, creating one of the largest restaurant operating companies in the country while giving the Roark Capital-owned company a larger, global reach. Dave Hoffmann, who had been Dunkin’ Brands CEO, was named a special advisor to Inspire CEO Paul Brown and will help guide…
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