Huey Magoo’s Andy Howard, Cheba Hut, Wahoo’s Fish Taco, Big Al’s Smokehouse BBQ, and Savory Fund lead RestaurantNews.com’s top stories for the week ending April 7, 2024.
1) Q&A with Huey Magoo’s President & CEO Andy Howard
Following the major grand opening of Huey Magoo’s new corporate drive-thru training restaurant in Orlando, Florida last month – Huey Magoo’s 60th store company-wide with over 265 in the pipeline – President & CEO Andy Howard chats with RestaurantNews.com on the exciting momentum of the popular, fast-growing brand known as the “Filet Mignon Of Chicken”.
2) Cheba Hut Passes ‘Blunt’ to Cypress Hill
Homies all over the country will go “Insane in the Brain” when they hear about the partnership between Cheba Hut and legendary rap group Cypress Hill to kick off the summer and celebrate their favorite holiday – 4/20.
3) Wahoo’s Fish Taco Reenergizes Iconic Brand With Elevated Refresh and New Store Design Following 35th Anniversary
Wahoo’s Fish Taco, the Southern California-based legacy chain best known for its original fish taco and freshly made, Pacific-inspired menu, is proud to unveil an elevated and more refined brand image, complete with a new tagline, revamped store design and refreshed logo.
4) Big Al’s Smokehouse BBQ Celebrates 50 Years of Authentic Dallas BBQ with National BBQ Month Kick Off Happy Hour
Big Al’s Smokehouse BBQ, a fixture of BBQ in the heart of Dallas, proudly announces its 50th-anniversary celebration. The yearlong festivities commence with a 50th Anniversary Happy Hour Celebration on April 26, 2024, from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM.
5) Savory Fund To Host 6th Annual Restaurantology Summit for 700 Operators – Plus a Monthly Companion Podcast
For the sixth year in a row, Savory Fund, an innovative private equity firm that invests in emerging restaurant concepts, will host Restaurantoloy, the only conference in the industry that is run by operators, for operators.
6) Bar Louie Names New Executives to Strengthen Franchising Activities and Continue Rapid Growth
With a focus on advancing and enhancing its franchise development efforts, Bar Louie – America’s #1 Happy Hour spot – has announced a pair of top-shelf hires poised to drive and elevate the brand’s franchising efforts. Brian DeHart will assume the role of Vice President of Franchise Operations, and Steve Culbert has joined as Vice President of Franchise Sales and Administration.
7) 2024: The Year for Menu Overhauls
In the dynamic landscape of the restaurant industry, one of the most critical challenges is striking a balance between offering innovative menu items and maintaining a simplified, navigable menu. This balance is not just about meeting consumer expectations but also about driving profitability and operational efficiency. This is what menu engineering is about.
8) Jaws Jumbo Burgers Solves It’s Labor Problem by Becoming an Employee/Membership Owned Co-Op Corporation
Darryl Gaddis, owner of Jaws Jumbo Burgers in Ocala, Florida, states that, “Some states want to make the minimum wage $15- $20.00 an hour. The government is paying people to stay home with Universal Basic Income Programs and Lifetime Unemployment Benefits. Restaurant jobs are starter jobs for high school and college students.”
9) Mountain Mike’s Pizza Opens Fourth Texas Location in Melissa
Mountain Mike’s Pizza, a leading family-style pizza chain for over 45 years, known for its legendary crispy, curly pepperonis, Mountain-sized pizzas, and dough made fresh daily, has officially opened in Melissa, Texas, marking the brand’s fourth location in the state.
10) Krystal Launches Krystal Flavored Protein Powder Line
Krystal, the original quick-service restaurant chain of the South, is sharing the scoop on the upcoming extension to its product line: Krystal-flavored premium whey protein powder!
The post Huey Magoo’s Andy Howard and 19 More Restaurant News Headliners of the Past Week first appeared on RestaurantNews.com.