Restaurant

Orlando, Fla. - Olive Garden has entered into an agreement with Ziosk to begin the introduction of tabletop tablets in all of its restaurants nationwide. Olive Garden has been testing Ziosk in a select number of its restaurants since 2014, and the feedback from guests and servers has been positive.

Dallas -- The Woodmont Co. represented Firehouse Subs in the food chain’s continued expansion in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. The fast-casual restaurant chain retained Woodmont to identify four strategic locations which have now been secured. The spaces range in size from 1,800 sq. ft. to 2,025 sq. ft., and the first of the four new restaurants opened in late January 2015, with the remainder opening as early as April 2015.

Grant Gary and Joseph Williams of The Woodmont Co. represented Firehouse Subs in all four transactions.

Deerfield, Ill. – Walgreens Boots Alliance has named U.S. Foods president and CEO John Lederer to the board of directors. Lederer was appointed president and CEO of US Foods in September 2010, and previously was chairman and CEO of Duane Reade.

Lederer also held a variety of senior leadership positions during a 30-year career at Loblaw Companies Ltd.

Chicago - Potbelly Corp. has named Michael Coyne as its new CFO, effective May 1. Coyne will oversee all financial functions and will also be charged with positively impacting Potbelly's analytical, productivity, and risk assessment capabilities.

Louisville, Ky. -- Papa John’s is launching PayShare, a first-of-its-kind digital solution in the pizza industry that lets customers immediately split their pizza bill. The solution, PayShare, powered by Venmo, provides customers a safe and secure option to simply and easily split the check on any mobile or online order.

Canton, Mass. - Dunkin' Donuts has unveiled a new mobile payment option allowing U.S. customers with Android devices to purchase and reload virtual Dunkin' Donuts cards using Google Wallet.

People can securely store any credit and debit cards and speed through checkout in apps or online stores with the "Buy with Google" button, which is now available as a mobile and online payment option for Dunkin' Donuts guests with Android devices.

Food has always been an important part of the shopping experience at Ikea, and the retailer is doubling down on that strategy by unveiling a new menu.  

Ikea announced it will be adding more nutritious and sustainable food options to its restaurants, bistros near the checkout, Swedish food markets and co-worker restaurants. The new food strategy highlights how important food is to the chain.

Jackson, Miss. – Newk’s Eatery is planning franchise growth in new markets stretching across the South. Expansion will occur in markets including Savannah, Georgia and Orlando, Florida, to Lubbock and Midland-Odessa, Texas, with Washington, D.C, Richmond and Norfolk/Virginia Beach, Virginia, Indianapolis, St. Louis and Oklahoma City in between.