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Biography

Heather Lalley

Editor, Foodservice Group

 Contact Heather

Heather Lalley is an editor with Winsight's Foodservice Group, covering emerging restaurant concepts for Restaurant Business magazine and RB Online. She also works with Winsight's sister company Technomic to produce research-based reports on emerging restaurants and chains.

Heather spent nearly a decade as a reporter for the daily newspaper in Spokane, Wash. She is the author of "The Chicago Homegrown Cookbook," about chefs who work with area farmers. 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 children and rarely passes up a chance to eat tater tots.

Articles by
Heather Lalley

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Leadership

Winsight launches an educational and networking program to diversify the C-suite

The Restaurant Leadership Development program, which will take place next April at the Restaurant Leadership Conference, aims to build a new class of industry leaders.

Financing

Vaccine mandates, fewer private parties bring slowing sales for Dave & Buster’s

The food-and-games chain said it saw same-store sales dip in Q3 in markets that required patrons to be vaccinated and that its special events business remains far from 2019 levels.

Leadership

Shipley Do-Nuts rounds out its C-suite with a new CFO

Bob McGahan has experience in private equity, risk management and other areas to help the 330-unit franchisor, the chain said.

Operations

East Coast Wings tinkers with a fast-casual model

The 34-unit casual dining concept is finding solid sales with a smaller restaurant and new service model, giving franchisees another option, according to the founder and CEO.

Emerging Brands

Rice-focused Fieldtrip gets a minority investment to fuel its growth

Founders Table Restaurant Group, the parent of Chopt and Dos Toros, said the money will help the three-unit chain grow in New York City and elsewhere.

Operations

Why Raising Cane’s says it will never go public

Despite the recent flurry of restaurant activity on Wall Street, AJ Kumaran, co-CEO of the fast-growing chicken finger chain, said his fast casual plans to remain steadfastly private to keep its company culture intact.

Marketing

Chipotle wins the white elephant gift exchange with Cilantro Soap

The herbally inspired item, designed to poke fun at the small percentage of people for whom cilantro tastes like soap, started as a social media joke for the fast-casual chain.

Food

Shake Shack tries a new strategy: Premium menu add-ons

Black truffles, cherry peppers, avocado and more are helping the fast casual drive check averages even as margins get hit by soaring labor, food and supply costs.

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.

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