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KFC president, Wendy’s slides, Dutch Bros scoresKFC president, Wendy’s slides, Dutch Bros scores

Get all the headlines in today’s Restaurant Daily podcast

Leigh Anne Zinsmeister, Managing Editor

February 14, 2025

KFC U.S. has a new president. Catherine Tan-Gillespie has been named to the role, replacing Tarun Lal, who announced his retirement and has served as chain president since 2022.

Wendy’s said same-store sales rose 4.1% in the fourth quarter, primarily driven by the Krabby Patty Collab in October, when same-store sales rose 10%. 

Loyalty members flocked to Dutch Bros last quarter, and investors rejoiced. The drive-thru beverage brand said same-store sales rose 6.9% in the fourth quarter, driven by higher mobile order sales and a lot of loyalty business. 

California Pizza Kitchen is leveraging vending machines to grow its brand and is currently testing two vendors with a broader rollout planned this quarter. 

CosMc’s, the beverage-led spinoff brand from McDonald’s, has opened its newest location this week in Allen, Texas

Get all the headlines in today’s Restaurant Daily podcast.

About the Author

Leigh Anne Zinsmeister

Managing Editor

Leigh Anne Zinsmeister is a managing editor for Informa’s Foodservices Vertical, specifically Nation’s Restaurant News, Restaurant Hospitality, and Foodservice Director.  Leigh Anne works on all of the brands’ special reports, including Nation’s Restaurant News’ annual Top 500 report and Restaurant Hospitality’s Best Cocktails and Best Sandwiches contests. She also manages the group’s digital engagement team, and was the managing editor for Supermarket News until December 2024.

Leigh Anne lives in New York City, but also claims Phoenix, Dallas and Cleveland as hometowns. Leigh Anne holds a bachelor’s degree in print journalism from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University, where she also studied European history. 

Email Leigh Anne at [email protected] 

Leigh Anne Zinsmeister’s experience: 

  • Group Managing Editor, Informa’s Foodservices Vertical (Aug. 2021-present)

  • Group Content Manager, Informa Restaurant and Food Group (Feb. 2020-Aug. 2021)

  • Digital Content Manager, Informa Restaurant and Food Group (April 2018-Feb. 2020)

  • Digital Content Producer, Informa Restaurant and Food Group (June 2016-April 2018)

  • Community Moderator, Mail Online (March 2014-June 2016)

  • Wire Editor, Gannett’s Phoenix Design studio (The Arizona Republic, The Reno Gazette-Journal, The Statesman Journal, The Great Falls Tribune, The Visalia Times-Delta, The Tulare Advance Register, The Salinas Californian, The St. George Spectrum, The Desert Sun, The Coloradoan) (Jan. 2012-March 2014)

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