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Lisa Jennings

Executive Editor

Articles by
Lisa Jennings

Page 4
Operations

Portillo's expands operating hours, explores late night

Systemwide, Portillo's restaurants will open 30 minutes earlier, and some restaurants are staying open as late as 1 a.m. local time.

Food

Picking the food stars among miles of booths at the National Restaurant Show

From schnitzel to soft serve, Nancy Kruse and Lisa Jennings put in the mileage and tasted it all at the biggest restaurant event of the year.

Operations

How Dave's Hot Chicken is harnessing a rabid fan base

Top 500: It was one of the fastest growing fast-casual chains in 2023 and sales nearly doubled. But is the hot chicken chain growing too fast?

Leadership

Sam Bakhshandehpour named global CEO of José Andrés Group

The Washington, D.C.-based multiconcept operator also received an investment to fuel its growth.

Operations

Portillo's ousts COO as it looks for operational efficiencies

After five years with Portillo's, COO Derrick Pratt will depart from the company on June 30. Portillo's said it will search for a new head of operations.

Marketing

For fast-casual chains, TikTok creates both love and headaches

The social media platform demonstrated its power in more ways than one this week, giving unexpected publicity to Cava's "love button" while putting Chipotle on the defensive.

Operations

Cava expects a late-day sales boost with its new grilled steak

The new steak protein will be offered at a premium price, but the chain's guests are showing resilience. They're trading down from casual dining and trading up from fast food.

Operations

3 right-sized restaurant prototypes

Potbelly and Z!Eats are whittling down unit footprints, while Carvel redesigned its "shoppes" for real estate flexibility. Take a look at these three prototypes.

Leadership

CIA names Google foodservice exec Michiel Bakker as president

Bakker will succeed Tim Ryan, who moves to the position of chancellor of the Culinary Institute of America.

Food

At Bonchon, bone-in is still boss, but a crispy chicken sandwich is coming

Americans are increasingly embracing Korean flavors, so it makes sense for the growing Bonchon to step into the crowded crispy chicken sandwich space.

Emerging Brands

5 pre-emerging restaurant brands ready for takeoff

These small concepts are still proving out their ideas, but each shows promise as a potential candidate for the next generation of emerging chains.

Topics

Women restaurant owners get chance to rant about tipping, food costs and how to keep businesses alive

Members of Let's Talk Womxn from across the country got up on a literal soapbox during the National Restaurant Show to make their voices heard.

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