Quick Service Restaurant

Washington, D.C. – Despite economic challenges, the restaurant industry should experience its fifth consecutive year of sales growth in 2014. According to the National Restaurant Association (NRA) 2014 Restaurant Industry Forecast, industry sales are projected to exceed $683 billion in 2014, up 3.6% from 2013’s sales volume of $659.3 billion.

Los Angeles — PizzaRev has signed agreements with four franchisee groups covering territory in five states. The deals will lead to the opening of new units in San Diego and Orange counties in California plus Utah, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota. Here are brief profiles of each group:

Aliso Viejo, Calif. — John Rockets has opened its first restaurant in Guarulhos, Brazil, a suburb of Sao Paulo. It is the brand’s 100th location outside of the United States.

Franchise partners Antonio Augusto Ribeiro de Souza and Nicolli Ciappina de Souza operate the restaurant at Shopping Internacional, a large retail center with 2.4 million visitors per month. The partners have committed to opening 29 additional restaurants in Brazil over the next 10 years.

Charlotte, N.C. -- Bojangles' Restaurants Inc. has appointed Clifton Rutledge as CEO effective Jan. 24. Rutledge joins Bojangles' from Texas-based hamburger chain Whataburger, succeeding current CEO Randy Kibler, who announced his plans to retire from this role in September 2013 but will remain active as chairman of the company's board of directors. Additionally, Bojangles' has promoted its senior VP of company operations Kenny Avery to COO.

Ann Arbor, Mich. -- Beginning in mid-2014, Domino's customers who have a Pizza Profile on their Domino's mobile app, as well as the Ford SYNC in-car connectivity system, will be able to use Ford SYNC to place their saved 'Easy Order' in just a few simple, voice-activated steps.

Plano, Texas -- Pizza Hut will offer 50% off any medium or large pizza ordered online from Jan. 1-10. The online promotion marks the 20th anniversary of Pizza Hut offering online ordering via its “PizzaNet” digital ordering hub.

Participants will also join the brand's "Hut Lovers" program, which provides members with other exclusive deals. Pizza Hut is launching a YouTube ad featuring 1990s pop artists Ace of Base as part of the promotion.

Atlanta -- An affiliate of Roark Capital Group has acquired a majority stake in CKE Restaurants Inc., owner of Carl's Jr., Hardee's and various other quick-serve restaurant chains.

Dublin, Ohio — The Wendy's Company has sold 30 locations Austin, Texas and another 19 in the Sacramento, Calif.-area in separate transactions. With the completion of the transactions, the company has now either sold or announced sales agreements for a total of 282 restaurants in 2013 as part of its System Optimization initiative.

Tucson, Ariz. — Dickey’s BBQ Pit has signed a 2,700-sq.-ft. lease at the Plaza Escondida Shopping Center in Tucson, Ariz. Keller Williams Southern Arizona represented the tenant in the transaction. CBRE (www.cbre.com) represented the landlord, Roseville Tucson LLC.

New York -- Chipotle Mexican Grill announced that it has partnered with restaurateurs Bobby Stuckey and Lachlan Mackinnon-Patterson to launch a fast-casual pizza concept called Pizzeria Locale.

The format debuted in Denver, and is based on a full-service pizzeria by the same name located in Boulder, Colo. The company is exploring options for second and third locations in Denver, according to the Denver Post.