Foodservice News In Brief…
Jimmy John’s Sandwiches says that an affiliate of Roark Capital Group, an Atlanta-based private equity firm that focuses on franchise and consumer brands, has signed a definitive agreement to acquire a majority interest in the company. Jimmy John’s has more than 2,500 locations and $2 billion in system-wide sales. Founded in 1983 by Jimmy John Liautaud, the company plans for more than 1,100 locations to be opened over the next several years. There will not be any changes to management, as Liautaud will remain chairman of the board of directors and will remain the single largest individual shareholder. James North will continue to lead the day-to-day operations of the business as president and CEO of the Champaign, Illinois-headquartered restaurant franchise brand…
More than 300 Les Dames d’Escoffier (LDEI) members—women leaders in food, beverage and hospitality—are expected to converge on Washington, D.C., for the group’s annual conference Oct. 27-30. This year’s event, “Global Appetite/Local Impact,” marks the 30th anniversary of the organization created to help level the playing field for women in the culinary arts and hospitality professions…
After a month-long campaign in July, more than 1,000 Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill & Bar restaurants raised a record of more than $1.2 million for Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF), an organization that funds childhood cancer research. This marks the 11th straight year that Applebee’s has supported ALSF and brings its total funds raised to more than $7 million since the partnership’s inception in 2005.
