Food–Beverage

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By Jim Stinson
January 30, 2024

Polk County city seeks to ban food trucks

A coalition of food trucks operators are urging Haines City to cease efforts to pass a "near-total ban" on food trucks and to allow all banned food trucks to resume operations.

Tampa Bay-Lakeland

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By Jim Stinson
January 30, 2024

Prominent Tampa restaurant family honored by vision nonprofit

Longtime restaurateur Richard Gonzmart and daughter Andrea Gonzmart Williams will be honored as "people of vision."

Tampa Bay-Lakeland

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By Mark Gordon
January 29, 2024

Tampa food brokerage hires Publix dairy, frozen meat executive

After a 24-year career with Publix, Nicki Crespo is staying in the food business in a new executive role with Tampa-based Bay Food Brokerage.

Tampa Bay-Lakeland

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By Jim Stinson
January 26, 2024

Cafe and burger franchises plot Tampa Bay, Sarasota debuts

Franchise development executives agree: Florida, specifically the west coast of the state, is hot.

Tampa Bay-Lakeland

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By Mark Gordon
January 25, 2024

Ohio hot dog joint chooses south Sarasota County for Florida debut

Hot Dog Shoppe, a popular Ohio-based eatery founded in 1946, is opening a location in Venice — its first franchise store and first spot outside the Buckeye State.

Manatee-Sarasota

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By Mark Gordon
January 24, 2024

Latin-themed restaurant owners pick Naples for next hot spot

A new restaurant, Unidos: A Latin Kitchen + Bar, has opened in downtown Naples.

Charlotte–Lee–Collier

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By Lesley Dwyer
January 16, 2024

Sarasota restaurateurs open new sushi location after years of delays

"If you set your mind to it, you will find a way," says Tsunami Sushi & Hibachi Grill co-owner Jeffrey Karasawa.

Manatee-Sarasota

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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.