Ford's Garage Appoints Kathleen Bush As Chief Marketing Officer, Promotes David Ragosa to Chief Development Officer
Ford's Garage has appointed Kathleen Bush as chief marketing officer and promoted David Ragosa to chief development officer. Bush, a veteran marketer from Red Robin and other restaurant brands, will steer brand strategy, digital engagement and guest experience. Ragosa, formerly director of franchising at Inspire Brands, will lead franchise development as the chain eyes six new locations in 2026. The company currently operates 34 sites across eight states.
Stoner's Pizza Joint Signs 10&Unit Development Agreement in Dallas&Fort Worth
Stoner's Pizza Joint has signed a development agreement to open 10 new units in the Dallas‑Fort Worth metro area with an existing multi‑unit franchisee. The locations will be distributed across key trade areas over the next several years. The chain...
Wendy's Opens 100th Restaurant in the Philippines
Wendy's Company opened its 100th restaurant in the Philippines, a new outlet on Friendship Highway in Angeles City operated by franchise partner Wenphil Corp. The brand, present for over four decades, is riding a QSR sector that has expanded roughly...
Mr. Gatti's Pizza Reopens Five Walmart Locations in Texas and Oklahoma
Mr. Gatti's Pizza has finished renovations at five Walmart locations in Texas and Oklahoma, reopening each store with larger buffet sections and new interactive gaming areas. Grand opening events were staged between April 9 and May 8, all starting at 11 a.m. The...
Paris Baguette to Open New Location at Metro Centre Owings Mills, MD
Paris Baguette is opening a new bakery‑café at Metro Centre in Owings Mills, Maryland. The Friends & Family event is set for April 19, 2026, with a soft opening on April 20. The 2,500‑square‑foot location will serve dine‑in, takeout and catering, targeting residents, office...
Chicken Salad Chick Awards 52 New Franchise Restaurants in Q1
Chicken Salad Chick awarded 52 new franchise restaurants in Q1 2026, the highest quarterly development in its history. This marks a roughly 48% jump from the 35 deals awarded in Q1 2025. Growth was driven by seven new franchise groups...
National Restaurant Association Research Insight: Workforce Hiring and Staffing
The National Restaurant Association released a research insight on workforce hiring and staffing, emphasizing that staffing decisions are strategic investments rather than short‑term costs. The report quantifies ROI, break‑even timelines, and the financial drag of understaffing, noting that each vacant...
RBC Hospitality Group Acquires Woody's Ocean Grille in Sea Bright, NJ
RBC Hospitality Group has purchased Woody's Ocean Grille in Sea Bright, New Jersey, taking over the "Woody's" brand from Bielat Santore & Company. The acquisition follows a similar sale earlier in 2025 of the Tinton Falls Woody's location, which was...
Food Delivery Makes Up 22% of Global Foodservice Spending in 2025
In 2025 delivery services comprised 22% of global consumer foodservice spending, up from 9% in 2019, according to Euromonitor International. The overall foodservice market reached $3.36 trillion, growing 4% year‑on‑year despite cost‑of‑living pressures. Delivery fees rose to 14% of spend, reflecting...
Sigri Indian BBQ Signs Franchise Agreement for Gainesville, Florida Location
Sigri Indian BBQ, a Craveworthy Brands concept, has signed a franchise agreement to launch its first Florida restaurant in Gainesville. The outlet will be owned and operated by husband‑and‑wife team Ravin and Heali Mehta, who bring fast‑casual franchising experience. The...
Freddy's Launches Location Inside Fort Lee Commissary
Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers is opening its first restaurant on a U.S. military base inside the Fort Lee Army commissary, with doors slated for April 15, 2026. The site features a streamlined kitchen and a pared‑down menu to fit the smaller...
Broken Yolk Cafe Signs Multi&Unit Agreement for Indiana Locations
Broken Yolk Cafe has signed a multi‑unit development agreement with franchisee Marc Clapper to open two restaurants in Lafayette, Indiana, with the first slated for fall 2026. The deal marks the chain’s entry into its sixth state and its first foothold...
New National Restaurant Association Report Provides a Demographic Profile of Restaurant Owners
The National Restaurant Association’s latest data brief reveals that 49% of U.S. restaurant firms are minority‑owned, outpacing the 38% share in the broader private sector. Women hold at least 50% ownership in half of all restaurant businesses, with 41% majority‑owned...
Noble 33 Appoints Lee Bennett As Vice President of Culinary
Noble 33 has appointed Chef Lee Bennett as Vice President of Culinary, tasking him with overseeing menu strategy and operations across its global restaurant portfolio. Bennett, a former Michelin‑starred chef and executive at Gordon Ramsay Restaurants, Caesars Entertainment, and MGM...
The Industry Group and Kiosk Association to Highlight Restaurant Automation at NRA Show 2026
The Industry Group, together with the Kiosk Association, will showcase an integrated restaurant‑automation exhibit at the National Restaurant Show (May 16‑19, Chicago) in Booth #5829. The display emphasizes AI‑driven ordering, edge‑computing infrastructure and Intel Core Ultra processors that run real‑time workloads without...