Fast Casual Restaurant

Lakewood, Colo. -- Einstein Noah Restaurant Group announced the appointment of Frank G. Paci as president and CEO, effective Sept. 15. Paci succeeds Michael Arthur who has filled the position on an interim basis since February 2014. Arthur will continue to serve as a board director.

Atlanta - S. Truett Cathy, founder and chairman emeritus of Chick-fil-A Inc., died at the age of 93 on Sept. 8.

Cathy got his start in 1946, when he opened a diner in a suburb of Atlanta. He invented the Chick-fil-A sandwich in 1964 and opened the company's first restaurant in Atlanta in 1967. Under his leadership, the quick-serve eatery grew into one of the nation’s largest family-owned companies, with annual sales of $5 billion in 2013. Currently, there are more than 1,800 Chick-fil-A restaurants operating in 40 states and Washington, D.C.

Starbucks will launch two new store formats in fiscal 2015, include a smaller-format concept aimed at urban commuters and a more premium store concept — Starbucks Reserve Roastery and Tasting Room — dedicated to the chain’s highbrow Reserve brand of coffees.

Peoria, Ill. -- Cullinan Properties announced that Prasino Restaurant at the Streets of St. Charles near St. Louis is in the process of securing new ownership by a group of investors.

Prasino opened at the Streets of St. Charles on April 22, 2013, and has been listed as “The Best New Restaurants in St. Louis” and awarded “A-List Breakfast Winner” for its Paris Benedict, by St. Louis Magazine.

Colonia, N.J. -- Muscle Maker Grill, a fast-casual restaurant franchise that serves freshly prepared health-conscious meals, will be opening 22 new locations throughout the country, which will raise the number to more than 75 units.

Recent store openings include Las Vegas, Dallas, a third location in Connecticut, located in Hamden and a second location in Staten Island, New York. An additional 22 new franchises will result in the development of restaurants across the country, from California to New York.

Miami -- Burger King Worldwide agreed to buy Canadian quick-serve chain Tim Hortons for approximately $11.4 billion, creating the world’s third largest quick-serve restaurant company. Under a tax inversion deal, the corporate headquarters of the new company will be in Canada, where the combined company’s biggest market will be.  

New York -- Burger King Worldwide is in discussions to buy Canadian coffee and doughnut chain Tim Hortons. The two companies said in a joint statement on Monday that the new publicly listed entity would be based in Canada. The move comes as the White House is calling on Congress to take steps to prevent U.S. companies from moving outside the country (“tax inversions”).

The two restaurant companies are currently worth a combined total of about $18 billion, according to media reports.

Oak Brook, Ill. -- McDonald’s Corp. on Friday named one of its former executives, Mike Andres, as president of its U.S. operations, effective Oct. 15. Andres rejoins McDonald's after most recently serving as chairman and CEO of restaurant chain Logan's Roadhouse,

Andres, 56, replaces Jeff Stratton, 58, who is retiring after 41 years with the company. Stratton was named U.S. president in November 2012.

New York -- McDonald's named Julia Vander Ploeg as its first VP of digital in the U.S., as part of its ongoing efforts to strengthen its digital presence, Ad Age reported.

Vander Ploeg will report to company’s chief digital officer, Atif Rafiq, who joined McDonald’s in October.
 

Kansas City, Kansas -- Designer outlet center Legends Outlets Kansas City announced that SweetFrog, a premium frozen yogurt chain based in Richmond, Virginia, has officially opened its first area location. The newest store is part of an expansion plan that adds to an existing 325-plus locations in the United States and abroad.