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Heather Lalley

Managing editor

Articles by
Heather Lalley

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Financing

Revamped loyalty program drives sales at Potbelly

The sandwich chain said its fast-growing digital business is shifting customers away from third-party channels, with loyalty membership growing nearly 90% during the fourth quarter.

Marketing

Restaurants circle Pi Day on their marketing calendars

Marketing Bites: Operators gear up for 3.14 with deals. Plus, how one daytime dining chain is marking International Women’s Day.

Workforce

Taco Bell franchisee Charter Foods sued for sexual harassment

Two women allege the company knowingly hired a registered sex offender, who harassed them when they were 17-year-old high school students.

Leadership

First Watch CEO Chris Tomasso among IFMA Silver Plate Award winners

The 70th annual awards from the International Foodservice Manufacturers Association recognize leaders who have made lasting contributions to advance the foodservice industry.

Marketing

Wendy’s and the terrible, horrible, no good, very bad public-relations week

Marketing Bites: After its now-walked back comments about dynamic pricing, the burger chain is catching the flame-grilled indignation of some restaurant competitors.

Financing

Portillo’s sees opportunity in catering, pickup-only stores

The Chicago-style fast casual opened 12 new restaurants in 2023, a record number, and said same-store sales rose 5.7% during the year.

Marketing

McDonald’s flips its ‘M’ for manga fans

Marketing Bites: The burger giant becomes WcDonald’s on Monday, with a limited-time spicy WcNugget sauce. Plus, Zoup! has a new name but the exclamation point isn’t going away.

Emerging Brands

How Sean Brock is spreading joy via Joyland

The famed Southern chef is ready to grow his fast-casual concept, saying it’s “a great privilege for somebody to make something as simple as a burger and fries and see how happy it makes people.”

Financing

Fast-growing 7 Brew Coffee gets growth investment from Blackstone

With the transaction, early investor Jimmy John Liautaud of sandwich chain fame sold his stake in the drive-thru coffee-stand concept.

Marketing

Restaurants spring for leap day deals

Marketing Bites: It only comes around every four years, after all. Plus, lots of developments in restaurant loyalty programs.

Leadership

El Pollo Loco hires Yum Brands vet Liz Williams as CEO

Williams, previously president of Taco Bell International, will assume her new role at the fast-casual grilled chicken chain on March 11.

Marketing

Restaurants embrace the darker side of Valentine’s Day

Marketing Bites: Chains are consoling those who’ve recently been dumped, as well as offering to do the breaking up on behalf of their customers.

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