Biography

Heather Lalley

Managing editor

 Contact Heather

Heather Lalley is the managing editor of Restaurant Business, Foodservice Director and CSP Daily news. She previously served as editor in chief of Winsight Grocery Business.

Before joining Winsight and Informa, Heather spent nearly a decade as a reporter for the daily newspaper in Spokane, Washington. She is the author of "The Chicago Homegrown Cookbook." She holds a journalism degree from Northwestern University and is a graduate of the two-year baking and pastry program at Washburne Culinary Institute in Chicago.

She is the mother of two and rarely passes up a chance to eat tater tots.

Articles by
Heather Lalley

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Financing

Greg Flynn expands his Applebee’s empire

Flynn, already the world’s largest franchisee of the casual-dining chain, is acquiring 26 restaurants from an existing franchisee and is making plans to open 25 new locations by 2031.

Operations

Convenience stores pose a growing threat to restaurants

Retail Watch: Technomic’s State of the Industry report sounds a c-store alarm, Grubhub expands grocery delivery and 7-Eleven completes its Laredo Taco Company acquisition.

Marketing Bites: As recreational marijuana is legalized in more states and consumers relax their attitudes around the drug, restaurants large and small are having some fun on 4-20, widely considered a national day of pot celebration.

The legendary businesswoman and multimedia maven discussed her career reinventions and plans for the future in a wide-ranging chat at Restaurant Leadership Conference.

The struggling seafood chain is hoping Chapter 11 protection will help it restructure its debt while keeping its restaurants operating, according to Bloomberg.

The sub shop CEO, in accepting the 2024 Restaurant Leader of the Year award, said he just hasn’t received the right offer yet for the fast-growing chain.

Following a week of outcry, the celebrity chef took to his podcast to apologize after his Momofuku restaurant and packaged goods company sent cease-and-desist letters to fellow makers of the spicy-crunchy condiment.

Marketing Bites: The celebrity chef is getting some less-than-positive press this week. Plus, Chipotle burritos don the green jacket and Wow Bao’s metaverse debut.

Marketing Bites: The burger chain is counting down to warmer weather, restaurants look to soften the Tax Day blow and Cava turns to TikTok for menu inspiration.

The humanitarian organization, founded by the chef and restaurateur in 2010, said it would soon make decisions about its future relief efforts in the region.

Marketing Bites: April Fools’ Day is nigh, and nary a restaurant chain marketer can be trusted.

Attendees of this year’s Women’s Foodservice Forum Leadership Conference heralded the advances (and made the business case) for moving women into leadership roles. But there’s still work to do.

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