Personnel Updates:

Carmike Cinemas announced that Daniel E. Ellis has been named to Senior VP, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary effective 8/1/11.
Centerplate promoted Bob Pascal to Chief Marketing Officer.
Church’s Chicken named Joel Bulger as Senior VP of Brand Marketing.
Cracker Barrel Old Country Store Inc. has named Sandra B. Cochran, the company’s current President and COO, as its new CEO, replacing Michael Woodhouse, who will become Executive Chairman.
Del Taco named Michael Vogel as VP of Franchise Sales.
Fiesta Restaurant Group has hired Timothy Taft as the CEO.
Interstate Hotels & Resorts is hiring Julie A. Pangelinan as CFO.
IHOP has named Natalia Franco as Senior Vice President of Marketing.
Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, Inc. announced that Cindy Bay has been promoted to Senior VP of US Franchises and Company Stores, succeeding Steve Lineberger.
Kona Grill has promoted Larry Ryback to COO.
MGM MIRAGE‘s long-time former Chairman/CEO Terry Lanni passed away in mid-July.
O’Charley’s named R. Jeffrey Williams as the Company’s CFO, Treasurer and
Assistant Secretary effective immediately.
Panchero’s Mexican Grill hired Barry Nelson as the VP of Operations and Jenni Knock as Controller. The company also promoted Reid Travis to Director of Marketing.
Penn National Gaming, Inc. announced that former Chief Counsel and Acting Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, Frank T. Donaghue, has been named VP Regulatory Affairs and Chief Compliance Officer.
Performance Food Group announced the transition of Tom Hoffman from President and CEO of Customized Distribution to Chairman and CEO of Customized Distribution. Hoffman will serve as Chairman and CEO of Customized Distribution through the end of the 2011 calendar year and will continue to serve as Chairman of Customized Distribution through fiscal year 2013. PFG also announced the promotion of Craig Hoskins to the position of President and COO of Customized Distribution.
Red Robin announced  the appointment of Denny Marie Post as Chief Marketing Officer and Stuart B. Brown as Chief CFO.
Ruth’s Hospitality Group announced that Robert M. Vincent resigned as Exec VP and CFO. Mr. Vincent will become the Company’s Senior VP of Corporate Strategy, a newly created position. The Company announced that Arne G. Haak will succeed Mr. Vincent as the Company’s Exec VP and CFO.
Red Mango hired Barry M. Barron, Sr. as its CEO. He will assume the helm of Red Mango from Founder Dan Kim. Mr. Kim will continue as Chief Concept Officer, heading up social media, marketing and product innovation.
Starbucks Coffee Company announced a new corporate structure that will take effect at the end of September: John Culver was named President Starbucks China and Asia Pacific, Cliff Burrows will become President Starbucks Americas, and Michelle Gass has been named President Starbucks EMEA. Jeff Hansberry will serve as President of Seattle’s Best Coffee in addition to President of Global Consumer Products and Foodservice, and Annie Young-Scrivner has been appointed President of the Tazo Tea brand in addition to her current role as Global Chief Marketing Officer.
Texas Roadhouse reported that Sheila Brown, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary plans to retire on January 7, 2012 and Jill Marchant take over as General Counsel effective August 15, 2011.
Vail Resorts Inc. named Kirsten A. Lynch its new Chief Marketing Officer, effective July 5.
Walmart named Karen Roberts as Exec VP and President of Walmart Realty, succeeding Eric Zorn who retired.
Whataburger announced that President/COO Preston Atkinson will assume the role of CEO effective 1/1/12; Tom Dobson will continue as Chairman.
Financial Focus:

Frisch’s Restaurants
reported sales of $303,540,552 for the year ending 5/31/11.
Ruby Tuesday reported total revenue of $1,265,162,000 for the year ending 5/31/11.
Mergers and Acquisitions:
Bugaboo Creek Steak House announced that it is now under new ownership by Capitol BC Restaurants LLC.
California Pizza Kitchen was acquired by an affiliate of Golden Gate Capital; the transaction privatized the company.
Falfurrias Capital Partners announced it has signed a definitive agreement to sell its ownership interest in Bojangles’ Restaurants Inc. to Advent International, a global private equity firm based in Boston. The transaction is expected to close later this summer.
Gateway Casinos & Entertainment Limited (“Gateway”) announced that it has completed the acquisition of Boardwalk Gaming & Entertainment Inc.’s BC assets, which include Community Gaming Centers located in Mission, Squamish and Surrey, BC; and additional operational rights related to the former operations of Burnaby Bingo Country.
U.S. Foodservice acquired Vesuvio Foods Company.
Industry Insight:

AFC Enterprises opened restaurant #2,000.
Burger King is testing a variety of new menu offerings including fruit smoothies specialty coffees, low-fat parfaits, oatmeal with dried fruit, and salads.
Carl’s Jr. opened its first unit in south Auckland, New Zealand, the first of up to 50 stores planned in the country.
Darden Restaurants has entered into a formal area development agreement with CMR, a Mexican casual dining company, to develop and operate Orlando, Fla.-based Darden’s Red Lobster, Olive Garden and The Capital Grille brands in Mexico. CMR will initially develop a minimum of 37 restaurants in Mexico over the next five years.
Dave & Buster’s has filed to raise up to $150 million in an initial public offering.
DineEquity, Inc. announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, Applebee’s Services, Inc., has signed a multi-restaurant franchise agreement with AMECO Foods for the development of ten new Applebee’s restaurants in Egypt.
Dunkin’ Brands sold 22.25 million shares for $19 each in its initial public offering, garnering about $423 million.
Ignite Restaurant Group filed with securities regulators its intent to hold an initial public offering of stock, hoping to raise $100 million.

McDonald’s Corp. announced plans to build the largest restaurant in its system as part of its role as official restaurant of the 2012 Olympic Games in London. The 9,843-square-foot (3,000-square-meter), two-story unit will have a kitchen four times standard size to accommodate the crowds. The chain says it expects to serve 1.75 million meals during the games, which run from July 27 to August 12, 2012.

Ruth’s Hospitality Group plans to move its corporate headquarters from Lake Mary to Winter Park, FL; the company is expected to move into the 20,000-sq. ft. space sometime during the next two or three months.
Seattle’s Best Coffee closed its 248 cafes inside Borders Superstores as the book retailer began liquidation sales.
Real Estate:
American Blue Ribbon Holdings announced plans to add three Max & Erma’s restaurants this year and five to 10 restaurants a year for the next several years, mostly in the current markets of Columbus, Pittsburgh and Detroit.
Baristas Coffee Co. Inc. completed a development franchise agreement to open Baristas-branded locations in Hillsborough, Pinellas, Polk and Pasco counties in FL; the agreement calls for five locations over the next three years with an option for five additional locations over the next eight years.
Beef ‘O’ Brady’s has announced plan to expand in Ennis, TX. Beef ‘O’ Brady’s is focused on expanding in the western United States; plans call for new locations in AZ, CA, ID, AR, TX and TN by year’s end.
Dickey’s Barbecue Pit will add 23 new locations in CA over the next year; the company is targeting San Jose, San Luis Obispo, Paso Robles and Arroyo Grande.
Dunkin’ Donuts announced the signing of a multi-unit store development agreement for 12 restaurants in Cedar Rapids, IA. The first restaurant is slated to open in 2012 and the remainder by 2018.  Dunkin’ Donuts also announced it has signed agreements with two franchisees to develop 11 new restaurants throughout AR over the next several years.
Schlotzsky’s said that it has signed 75 franchise agreements for a total of 25 restaurants that will each house the Schlotzsky’s, Cinnabon and Carvel concepts under one roof. The restaurants will begin to open throughout NJ and TX during the next six to 12 months.
Wingstop has signed 36 development agreements since January 2011 that will result in 101 new store openings over the next several years.
Green Initiatives:
U.S. Foodservice-Los Angeles activated a 1.15 megawatt, 4,998 photovoltaic solar panel system, one of the largest solar projects in Southern California. It is expected to provide 16 percent of U.S. Foodservice-Los Angeles‘ power needs annually.