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McAlister's Deli

Food

Behind the culinary curtain at Focus Brands

Seven restaurant brands, each with its own kitchen and chef, keep the company’s menu pipeline filled. The latest ideas flowing out are from Moe’s and McAlister’s—and Restaurant Business was there for the big reveal.

Leadership

Schlotzsky’s owner Focus Brands makes some key executive changes

Shelley Harris will oversee the Atlanta-based company’s restaurant brands and former Wendy’s executive William Armstrong will be the chief brand officer of Schlotzsky’s.

The chain partnered with Creamalicious to create Sweet Tea Ice Cream, a dessert mashup with notes of sugar cookie and lemon.

Heart-shaped pizzas, doughnuts and trays; Hard Rock's Super Bowl and Valentine’s specials; football themes at BWW, Subway and Moe’s.

Mike Freeman has been with the Focus Brands fast casual for 13 years.

Even with some dining rooms closed during the pandemic, the fast casual said it wanted to boost convenience by letting diners skip the line.

The 35 cent “digital transaction fee” helps pay for tech infrastructure at the company’s restaurants, including Jamba, Auntie Anne’s, McAlister’s Deli and more, the company said.

Taste Tracker: New items bet on pumpkin and spice beyond lattes, accents from around the world, and the bolder the better.

The former Hilton executive, who took the job two weeks before the pandemic hit, leans on his hotel experience, and sees parallels between the two industries.

From date night dinners to family meals and sweets, restaurants innovate to lure customers.

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