Food–Beverage

By Mark Gordon
January 11, 2024

Food service company names Walmart e-commerce exec CFO

Innovative Food Holdings, a Bonita Springs publicly traded company that caters to professional and home chefs, named Gary Schubert CFO.

Charlotte–Lee–Collier

By Mark Gordon
January 8, 2024

First Watch reaches $75M deal to buy back 21 franchise locations

First Watch, a leading national daytime dining concept, has reached a $75 million agreement to acquire 21 of its franchise locations in North Carolina.

Manatee-Sarasota

By Jim Stinson
January 3, 2024

Restaurant giant Bloomin' Brands adds two new board members

Bloomin' Brands appointed two new board members, and both have ties to Starboard Value, the activist fund that owns almost 10% of the Tampa-based restaurant giant.

Tampa Bay-Lakeland

By Louis Llovio
January 2, 2024

Well-known Naples restaurant Aqua to open Cape Coral location

Aqua Seafood & Steaks will open a new location at a high-end apartment development along Cape Coral’s main commercial district.

Charlotte–Lee–Collier

By Mark Gordon
December 20, 2023

Food service firm looks to net $7M in variety of property, business deals

Innovative Food Holdings, which caters to professional and home chefs, has made progress on five deals expected to net the company at least $7 million.

Charlotte–Lee–Collier

By Louis Llovio
December 12, 2023

Craft kitchen chain to replace Naples restaurant closing at Mercato

Tap 42 Craft Kitchen & Bar is moving into the space formerly occupied by AZN Asian Cuisine.

Charlotte–Lee–Collier

By Andrew Warfield
December 11, 2023

Popular Sarasota restaurant moving to new downtown location after 35 years

Caragiulos Italian American will vacate its space in the Mira Mar building on Palm Avenue.

Manatee-Sarasota

By Mark Gordon
December 11, 2023

Prominent French-Vietnamese restaurant sets Naples opening date

Le Colonial, a French-Vietnamese restaurant that debuted in New York City in 1993 and Chicago in 1996, is scheduled to open in Naples on Dec. 14.

Charlotte–Lee–Collier

By Beth Luberecki
December 8, 2023

Food truck-entertainment concept is off to a fast start

Fort Myers restaurateur Mathew Baum invested $5 million into a concept that links eating with entertainment and seeks to expand across the region.

Charlotte–Lee–Collier

By Mark Gordon
December 7, 2023

Restaurant CEO's life, work lessons began in the Boy Scouts

Chuck Wolfe’s leadership foundation can be traced back to his days as a Boy Scout.

Manatee-Sarasota

By Jim Stinson
December 6, 2023

Bloomin' Brands looks to address activist investors and woo customers

Outback’s parent company, Bloomin' Brands, has come out of the pandemic a leaner company, but a decline in customers has some investors and analysts worried.

Tampa Bay-Lakeland

By Louis Llovio
December 5, 2023

After major delays, Port Charlotte resort restaurants take dinner reservations

Sunseeker Resort Charlotte Harbor has begun booking tables at two restaurants ahead of its planned opening Dec. 15.

Charlotte–Lee–Collier

By Mark Gordon
December 5, 2023

First Watch opens two locations in region, with plans for two more

Manatee County-based daytime dining concept First Watch plans to expand in and around its headquarters, with two new locations in each Manatee and Hillsborough counties.