Personnel Updates:
ARAMARK named Victor Crawford as COO of its Healthcare Services unit and Brent Franks as COO of its Sports/Leisure/Corrections unit.
Barbeque Integrated (dba Smokey Bones Bar & Fire Grill) hired Roger J. Drake as Senior VP of Marketing; he was most recently with Morton’s Restaurant Group.
BJ’s Restaurants hired Gregory A.. Trojan as President effective 12/3/12. Current Chairman/CEO/President Gerald W. Deitchle will retire as CEO effective 2/1/13 and Trojan will succeed him in that role; Deitchle will continue as Chairman.
Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa announced that Tom Ballance has been named President and COO.
Carvel Ice Cream’s new President is Scott Colwell; he was most recently Chief Marketing Officer at Bruegger’s Enterprises.
Chevys Fresh Mex promoted Paul Martin to VP of Operations and hired Kent Russell as Director of Marketing.
Churchill Downs named James E. Gay as President of Churchill Downs Interactive.
CiCi’s Pizza named Geoff Goodman as VP of National Brand Excellence and Quinn Newhall as Director of Brand Excellence. Tom McCord was hired as VP of Franchise Development.
Corner Bakery Café named Gary Price President; he was most recently with Pilot Flying J.
Dave & Buster’s named Kevin Bachus as Senior VP of Entertainment and Game Strategy.
Delaware North Companies named Rick Abramson as President and Jim Houser as COO of Delaware North Companies Parks & Resorts; John Wentzell will take over Abramson’s role as President of Sportservice.
Dippin’ Dots LLC appointed Mark Liebel VP of Business Development and New Ventures.
Famous Dave’s of America named John Gilbert III CEO and Christopher O’Donnell as President/COO.
First Watch Restaurants hired Richard Renninger as Chief Development Officer; he most recently held a similar position at OSI Restaurant Partners.
FREEBIRDS World Burrito has hired Dmitri Fagel as the new Director of Operations.
Garden Fresh Restaurant Corp. named Tammy L. Bailey as Chief Marketing Officer.
Green Mill Restaurants hired John Hinz as Chief Marketing Officer.
Ker’s WingHouse Bar & Grill named Rick Akam as COO and Jim Humboldt as CFO. Akam was previously at Twin Peaks and Humboldt was with Beef ‘O’ Brady’s.
Logan’s Roadhouse named Todd Townsend as Chief Marketing Officer.
MOD Pizza named Scott Svenson as CEO.
Performance Food Group promoted Kent Berke to Senior VP of Business Development.
Peter Piper promoted Charles Bruce from Chief Marketing Officer to President.
Pollo Tropical promoted Danny Meisenheimer to the position of Interim COO, succeeding Jim Tunnessen who will retire in January 2013. The company also named Vicky Trimmer as VP of Operations.
Qdoba Restaurant Corporation announced that President and CEO Gary J. Beisler plans to retire and a search has been launched for his successor. The company also announced that Jeffrey C. Wood has been hired as Chief Development Officer/VP; he was most recently at Dave & Buster’s.
Quiznos announced the appointments of John Coletta as CFO and James Lyons as COO;  Lyons was most recently at Del Taco. Quiznos also appointed Kenneth Cutshaw as President of International.
Red Lion Hotels hired Steve Krebs as Director of Lodging Development.
Riviera Black Hawk Casino appointed Dan Roy as General Manager and Brandon Moore as Director of Marketing.
Salsarita’s named Yanira Castro as Director of Marketing.
sbe Entertainment Group LLC named Sam Bakhshandehpour as President and Veronica Smiley as Chief Marketing Officer.
Starbucks named Avani Saglani Davda as CEO of Tata Starbucks, its Indian joint venture.
Station Casinos announced that Stephen L. Cavallaro was been appoint President of Station Casinos LLC.
Sysco Corporation hired Wayne Shurts as CTO/Exec VP; he was most recently at SUPERVALU.
Taco Cabana promoted Mark Phillips to VP of Operations and Gerardo Arce to VP of Finance.
The North Carolina Lodging Association named Lynn Minges as CEO.
Whataburger announced the following promotions: Clifton Rutledge to COO/Senior VP, Dino Del Nano to Senior VP of Whataburger Retail, James Turcotte to Senior VP of Real Estate, Edward E. Nelson Jr. to CFO/Senior VP, Michael Gibbs to Senior VP and General Counsel, and Rich Scheffler to VP of Marketing and Innovation.
White Lodging named Giorgi Di Lemis as VP of Food and Beverage and hired Mehdi Spadavecchia as Corporate Executive Chef.
Williams Fresh Café named Rainer Mueller as CEO.

Financial Focus:
LRI Holdings Inc., parent of Logan’s Roadhouse, reported net sales of $629,987,000 for the year ending 7/29/12.
Sonic Corp. reported total revenue of $543,730,000 for the year ending 8/31/12.

Mergers & Acquisitions:
AFC Enterprises (dba Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen) signed a definitive agreement to acquire 28 KFC restaurants in MN and northern CA; following the acquisition, the restaurants will be converted to the Popeyes brand and lease them to Popeyes franchisees. KFC Corp. later contested the transaction but it was approved by the bankruptcy judge overseeing the deal.
Apple American Group acquired an additional 99 Applebee’s restaurants, bringing its total to 436 in 23 states.
Centerplate announced the completion of a management-led buyout from former owner Kohlberg & Company LLC; no changes will be made to the executive team.
Charlie Brown’s Steakhouse acquired 19 Texas Steakhouse & Saloon restaurants in NC, VA, and WV from Boddie-Noell Enterprises.
Churchill Downs completed its acquisition of Riverwalk Casino Hotel in Vicksburg, MS.
First Watch Restaurants purchased two J. Christopher’s restaurants as well as the rights to purchase the brand, concept, and intellectual property.
J. Alexander’s Corp. was acquired by Fidelity National Financial Inc.; the transaction privatized the company.
Marriott International completed its acquisition of the Gaylord brand and hotel management company from Gaylord Entertainment Company (now Ryman Hospitality Properties).
Peet’s Coffee & Tea Inc. was acquired by Joh. A. Benckiser; the transaction privatized the company.

Industry Insight:
Burger King announced an expansion plan to open more than 100 locations in Colombia in the next five years.
Domino’s Pizza opened its first location in Macedonia.
First Watch Restaurants has relocated its HQ office to 8027 Cooper Creek Parkway in University Park, FL 34201-3002.
Freshii signed a master development agreement for the entire country of Colombia.
Hilton Worldwide expects to open up to 300 new restaurants over the next three years.
Isle of Capri Casinos opened Isle Casino Cape Girardeau in MO.
Johnny Rockets has signed a franchise agreement to open eight restaurants in Honduras, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, El Salvador and Guatemala over the next five years. The company is also targeting Pakistan for growth with an agreement for 10 restaurant in the next 10 years.
Krispy Kreme Doughnuts signed an agreement for 15 locations in Singapore over the next five years.
Locke-Ober, founded in 1875, recently closed.
Moe’s Southwest Grill opened its first location in Russia.
Quiznos reported new development deals for Brazil, Paraguay, India, Dominican Republic, and Philippines; its first location in Paraguay opened recently.
Starbucks Coffee Co. entered its 61st country with the opening of its first store in India.
Steak ‘n Shake announced its first international development agreement which will bring 40 locations throughout the UAE.
Subway plans to open 150 new restaurants in India by the end of 2013.
The Krystal Company is relocating its corporate office to north Atlanta in early 2013.
The Melting Pot Restaurants will open locations in the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, Jordan, Lebanon and Egypt over eight years.
Villa Enterprises opened its first location in Colombia.

Real Estate:
Another Broken Egg of America announced the signing of a franchise agreement to open 16 of its restaurants in IN, KY, and LA.
Breakfast People of America International (dba Cora’s) is opening in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan and is seeking locations in Regina.
CBC Restaurant Corp. (dba Corner Bakery Café) is expanding into Portland OR, Minneapolis-St. Paul MN, and Orlando FL.
Darden Restaurants expects to open up to 500 new restaurants over the next five years.
Dunkin’ Donuts signed a multi-unit agreement for 16 new restaurants in Salt Lake City, UT; the first will open in 2013 and the remainder by 2018. Dunkin’s Donuts also signed a store development agreement for three restaurant in St. Louis, MO; the first will open in 2013 and the remainder by 2015.
East Coast Wings & Grill is planning to open four new locations in Lexington, KY, over the next few years and will open 10 new restaurants in the Orlando, FL, area in the next seven years.
Family Sports Concepts (dba Beef ‘O’ Brady’s) has identified Santa Maria as a key component to the company’s growth strategy in CA.
Firehouse Subs is expanding into WI, with an agreement for 42 locations across the state over the next nine years.
First Watch Restaurants opened location #100.
FREEBIRDS World Burrito opened its first location in MO.
Mama Fu’s Asian House has expanded into TX and will open 11 restaurants across northwest TX and San Antonio. Mama Fu’s also has a development agreement for 14 locations in Dallas and Collin counties in TX.
Muscle Maker Grill opened its first locations in AR and MO. The company also signed a development agreement for 15 restaurants in CT; the first will open in early 2013 in Fairfield County.
Noodles & Company announced an area development agreement with Mascott Corporation for the greater New York City region.
Papa John’s Pizza announced that Peyton Manning will become a franchisee and open 21 restaurants in the Denver area.
Penn Station opened location #250.
Rita’s Italian Ice signed an area franchise development agreement for Orange County, CA, for 40 outlets over the next six years.
Robeks Corp. is seeking franchisees in AZ.
Schlotzsky’s Deli signed a development agreement for six locations in northern FL and 30-35 locations in AZ.
Smashburger will open two new restaurants in Orange County, CA, before the end of the year.
Sonic Corp. projects that franchisees will open more than 36 new drive-ins in fiscal 2013.
SPoT Coffee’s five-year plan calls for 90-100 new corporate cafes, with expansion planned for CT, MA, NH, PA, and VT, in addition to existing markets. SPoT Coffee also expects 60-75 new licensed cafes outside the corporation’s geographic markets.
The Krystal Company plans to open 150 new restaurant over the next five years.
The New Miami Subs Grill will open three locations in south FL in 2012-2013.
Togo’s plans to open 25-30 new restaurants in OR in the next several years.
Twin Peaks Restaurant announced an agreement for three locations in Kansas City.
Wok Box opened its first restaurant in the U.S. with a location in OR.