Hatco Corp. promoted Lorne Deacon to executive vice president for the company and Casey Reilley to director of its Ovention Ovens line.
Wing Zone tapped Derek Roback to serve as vice president of operations for the fast-casual restaurant chain.
Red Lobster named Kelli Valade the restaurant chain’s next CEO. Valade will take on her new role on August 2, succeeding Kim Lopdrup, who plans to retire after leading the seafood restaurant chain for 14 years.
Thermo-Kool hired Mark Fogarty to serve as national sales manager for the Mt. Laurel, Miss.-based manufacturer.
SEFA, a dealer-based foodservice equipment and supplies buying group, recognized the contributions of some of its member companies and suppliers through a series of annual awards. Specifically, SEFA named Breckenridge Kitchen Equipment & Design its member company of the year and Groen, a Unified Brands company, its supplier of the year.
Casual-dining chain Ruby Tuesday promoted company veteran George Evans to chief operating officer.
Innovative Foodservice Group hired Brad Carr to serve as a senior project manager for the Florida-based foodservice equipment and supplies dealer.
In a deal with an estimated value of $28.7 million, multiconcept operator Luby’s will sell its Luby's Cafeteria restaurant business to a newly formed affiliate of Calvin Gin. This marks the second concept Luby’s has sold in as many weeks. On June 18, Luby’s reached an agreement to sell its Fuddruckers chain to one of its largest franchisees.
In a deal valued at $442.5 million, multiconcept operator FAT Brands will acquire Global Franchise Group, which franchises and operates a portfolio of five quick-service restaurant concepts, including Round Table Pizza, Great American Cookies, Hot Dog on a Stick, Marble Slab Creamery and Pretzelmaker, from Serruya Private Equity and Lion Capital.
Multiconcept operator Bloomin’ Brands promoted Mark Graff to senior vice president of business development and financial planning. Graff will lead the company’s business development team, including asset and franchise development, in addition to his existing financial planning responsibilities.
The National Association of College & University Food Services (NACUFS) presented its 2020 Loyal E. Horton Dining Awards to member institutions across six different categories.
An affiliate of Nicholas Perkins, one of the chain’s largest franchisees, will acquire Fuddruckers for an estimated $18.5 million from multiconcept operator Luby’s. The deal includes master ownership of the Fuddruckers brand worldwide.
Red Lobster is casting its net with the hope of snagging a new CEO. That is because casual dining chain’s current CEO, Kim Lopdrup, has announced his plans to retire. Lopdrup intends to remain in his role until Red Lobster names a successor.
In a move that signifies further integration to come, Chris Duffy was promoted to president of the Middleby Coffee Solutions Group. In this role, he will be responsible for the strategy, product development, sales, and day-to-day operations of the brands Synesso, Concordia and Bloomfield based in Seattle.
Industry veteran Tim Caugh was introduced as vice president of national foodservice sales for Migali, a New Jersey-based manufacturer of commercial cooking and refrigeration equipment.
Capping a career that spanned 41-years with the company, Teri Brewer has retired from her post as vice president and sales/marketing manager for Thermo-Kool, the Laurel, Miss.-based manufacturer of walk-in coolers and freezers, blast chillers and shock freezers.
Multiconcept operator BBQ Holdings reached an agreement to acquire restaurant chains Village Inn and Bakers Square from VIBSQ. The deal is expected to close by the end of July.
Following through on its efforts to build a national network of service technicians, Smart Care Equipment Solutions acquired three companies: TBS Southeast, Jaguar Coffee Company and Facility Maintenance Specialist.
In a move that hints at the chain’s growth plans, Wingers Restaurant & Alehouse promoted Brandon Howard to president from chief operating officer for the 23-unit fast-casual chain.
Rich Entertainment Group, which comprises Rich’s sports operations, dining businesses, theater production, travel and hospitality entities, promoted Joe Segarra to president. He previously served as chief operating officer of Rich Entertainment Group and has been with the company more than 20 years.
