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leadership

Food

Luminaries we lost in 2025

 By Patricia Cobe on Dec. 18, 2025

This year brought the deaths of industry icons including Anne Burrell, Charles Phan and Shelly Fireman.

Leadership

Sweetgreen co-founder Nathaniel Ru to step down

 By Lisa Jennings on Dec. 17, 2025

After a challenging year, one of the three leaders who founded the fast-casual chain in 2007 will retire on Jan. 1, though he remains on the board.

Leadership

New leadership at Little Caesars, Riko's Pizza, Maria Empanada and more

By Restaurant Business Staff on Dec. 12, 2025

Executive Summary: Here are the latest executive moves across the restaurant industry.

Leadership

Velvet Taco taps Voodoo Doughnuts chief as CEO

By Lisa Jennings on Dec. 03, 2025

Chris Schultz moves from wacky doughnuts to inventive tacos, replacing Clay Dover. The fast-casual taco chain has plans for the next phase of growth, including nontraditional locations.

Leadership

Cinnabon, Auntie Anne's-parent GoTo Foods names Omer Gajial CEO

By Lisa Jennings on Dec. 02, 2025

The retail veteran replaces Jim Holthouser, who is retiring after six years. The platform company also operates and franchises Carvel, Jamba, Schlotzsky's, McAlister's Deli and Moe's Southwest Grill.

Leadership

GoTo Foods CEO Jim Holthouser to step down after six years

By Lisa Jennings on Dec. 01, 2025

Holthouser led the multi-brand parent of Cinnabon, Auntie Anne's, Carvel and others through a name change and an ongoing initiative to unify under shared systems and technologies. He believed in the "power of the portfolio."

Leadership

Shake Shack CFO Katie Fogertey is stepping down

By Lisa Jennings on Nov. 25, 2025

The fast-casual burger chain will search for a replacement as Fogertey moves to an advisory role, working with a newly created Office of the CFO.

Operations

P.F. Chang's new CEO wants to make the chain an everyday option

By Joe Guszkowski on Nov. 25, 2025

Jim Mazany is leading a turnaround effort at the Asian casual-dining chain focused on making the brand more approachable. But he also wants to enhance the experience. "I’m really looking to move the needle."

Financing

Cracker Barrel board member ousted following activist pressure

By Joe Guszkowski on Nov. 20, 2025

Gilbert Dávila stepped down after losing a shareholder vote Thursday. It was a win for investor Sardar Biglari’s latest fight against the family-dining chain, but shareholders rebuffed him on other issues, including re-electing CEO Julie Masino.

Beverage

How Swig and HTeaO are powering the beverage boom

By Patricia Cobe on Nov. 18, 2025

One concept is a destination for dirty sodas, the other for iced teas, but both share similar strategies that are driving growth in the competitive beverage segment.

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