Starbird Appoints Greg Levin as CEO
Starbird announced former BJ's Restaurants chief Greg Levin as its new CEO and board member. Levin, who grew BJ's from 45 to over 200 locations and boosted revenue from $140 million to $1.4 billion, will lead the “super‑premium” chicken brand’s national rollout. Founder Aaron Noveshen will shift to chairman, retaining oversight of the brand’s vision. The move comes as Starbird, with 19 California locations, seeks to capture a larger share of the $34 billion U.S. chicken market, backed by Dollarhyde Investment Group and KarpReilly.
Wonder Acquires NYC's Blue Ribbon Fried Chicken
Wonder, the mealtime platform, announced the acquisition of Blue Ribbon Fried Chicken, taking full ownership of the iconic NYC brand and its East Village location. Financial terms were undisclosed, but the deal aligns with Wonder’s strategy to absorb beloved restaurant...
Ovation Secures $3M in Funding Led by Customers
Ovation, a guest‑experience platform for multi‑unit restaurants, closed a $3 million funding round funded entirely by its own customers, bringing its total capital to $12 million. Nearly a dozen restaurant owners and operators, including leaders from Dave's Hot Chicken and Cheba Hut...