Restaurant

Orlando, Fla. -- Darden Restaurants reduced restaurant water usage by 17% on an aggregate basis between fiscal years 2008 and 2011, exceeding its 2015 goal of reducing water consumption in each of its restaurants by 15% on aggregate and is more than half way toward meeting the same goal for reducing energy consumption in its restaurants, according to the company’s second annual sustainability report.

LAS VEGAS — Epson America Inc., a supplier of value-added Point of Sale (POS) solutions, has received the Gold Award of Excellence in the hardware technology category during the Retail Solutions Providers Association's RetailNOW 2012 show.
 

BENTON HARBOR, Mich. — Luxury appliance maker Jenn-Air has signed on as the exclusive major appliance sponsor of the second annual Los Angeles Food & Wine Festival.

This 2012 Los Angeles Food & Wine Festival will feature more than 50 events including wine seminars, unique dining experiences, and cooking demonstrations. The event will host more than 130 celebrated chefs and 200 acclaimed wineries, with proceeds raised benefiting St. Vincent Meals on Wheels.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Sam's Club announced that Dale Talde, celebrity chef and owner of Talde and the soon-to-be opened Pork Slope Restaurant, both in New York, joins the Sam's Club Simply Delicious Chef Brigade to help families serve up healthy, restaurant-quality meals in their own backyard.

Canton, Mass. -- Dunkin' Brands Group, the parent company of Dunkin' Donuts and Baskin-Robbins, announced the appointment of Jack Clare to the position of CIO. He previously served as VP, IT and CIO, Yum! Restaurants International, the largest division of Yum! Brands.

In his role at Dunkin' Brands, Clare will be responsible for directing all information technology resources, with a focus on supporting the company's franchisee community to drive restaurant profitability through technology.

Chestnut Hill, Mass. -- WS Development announced that Lululemon Athletica has signed a lease to join the Chestnut Hill Shopping Center, in Chestnut Hill, Mass.

The 3,100-sq.-ft. lululemon joins other new signings at the 406,000-sq.-ft. center, including Pottery Barn, The Sports Club/LA, Cinema de Lux, Polarn O. Pyret, Shake Shack, Pinkberry, Treat Cupcake Bar, and gourmet Asian restaurant Bernard’s.
 

Moorestown, N.J. -- Philadelphia-based Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust said that Kids Foot Locker has opened at Moorestown Mall, located in Moorestown, N.J.

The 2,800-sq.-ft. store is joined by such tenants as anchors Macy’s, Lord & Taylor, Sears and Boscov’s as well as specialty retailers Zumiez, Victoria’s Secret and American Eagle Outfitters and restaurants such as Pei Wei Asian Diner and Elevation Burger. The Regal Moorestown Mall Stadium 12 & Regal Premium Experience is opening in spring 2013.
 

By Jason Hamilton, [email protected]

On the job hunt, experience matters.

Or, does it? Maybe not as much as many job seekers and hourly employers might think.