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Heather Lalley

Managing editor

Articles by
Heather Lalley

Page 26
Leadership

Mooyah hires Doug Willmarth as its new president

Willmarth, who most recently worked for Mongolian Concepts Restaurant Group, will oversee day-to-day operations at the nearly 90-unit better burger brand.

Food

Wingstop adds a spicy-sweet flavor to its menu

The fast casual, which rarely rolls out new menu additions, is debuting Orange Szechuan for a limited time for its wings and thighs.

Marketing

Restaurant gift cards, especially fine dining ones, were popular Black Friday buys

But quick-service gift cards may not be as popular in Christmas stockings this year, according to new data from Paytronix.

Financing

Velvet Taco gets a new private equity owner

Leonard Green & Partners, an early investor in Shake Shack, has purchased the majority stake in the fast-growing fast casual from L Catterton, the company announced Tuesday.

Workforce

Worker shortages hit some Boston Market stores on Thanksgiving

Some customers who came to pick up prepaid dinners at the fast casual left empty handed due to “isolated instances of being extremely short-staffed,” the chain said.

Financing

MOD looks to carve a slice of Wall Street for fast-casual pizza

The 500-unit pizza chain started the initial public offering process this week, hoping to be a success story in a segment that has struggled during the pandemic.

Operations

For Portillo’s, shrinking dining rooms are the way of the future

Known for its big, bustling on-premise seating, the newly public Italian beef brand said changing consumer demand is forcing it to consider new store designs.

Financing

Sweetgreen shares soar in Wall Street debut

The fast-casual salad chain, which has yet to turn a profit, saw its stock close at more than 76% above its starting price.

Workforce

Restaurants try ever-bigger lures to recruit and keep general managers

Double bonuses, airplane tickets, six-figure salaries and even their very own restaurant are just some of the perks the industry is offering to slow down turnover in the all-important GM post.

Financing

Newly public Portillo’s feels the margin squeeze

The fast-casual chain’s margins dropped more than four percentage points over last year due to higher labor and commodity costs. But the company said its new restaurants are far exceeding expectations.

Financing

Sweetgreen raises $364M in its IPO

The 140-unit salad chain priced its shares at $28 —$3 above its previously stated range—as it begins trading on the New York Stock Exchange Thursday.

Operations

Shake Shack CEO: We need to be an ‘omnichannel’ brand

The fast casual, which opens its first-ever drive-thru next month, continues to build out its digital channels and other ordering options after the pandemic upended its dine-in-focused operating model.

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