News Briefs

Raphael Duvivier, President, International of Krispy Kreme, has been named Chief Financial Officer, and Alison Holder has been promoted to Cheif Brand and Product Officer, effective July 11.

He succeeds Jeremiah Ashukian, who decided to leave to pursue an opportunity with a private company.

Since joining Krispy Kreme in 2019, Duvivier has held multiple leadership roles including segment Chief Financial and Strategy Officer, International, and Chief Development Officer. He previously held various senior leadership positions in global finance, development, and operations at Restaurant Brands International Inc. He has over 20 years of global experience across finance, strategy, and operations.

“Raphael has been a respected leader at Krispy Kreme for over six years, and his deep understanding of the Company coupled with his strong finance background will enable a smooth transition as we focus on achieving sustainable, profitable growth,” said Josh Charlesworth, Krispy Kreme CEO. “I am excited to partner even more closely with Raphael and believe his experience, expertise, and leadership style will be a huge benefit as he assumes the role of Chief Financial Officer.”

Additionally, Chief Product Officer Alison Holder has been promoted to Chief Brand and Product Officer effective July 11, assuming responsibility for the company’s global marketing initiatives. Holder has over 25 years of experience with Krispy Kreme, including as Senior Director of Consumer Insights, and has led brand marketing, innovation, research & development, and manufacturing services. She succeeds Chief Growth Officer David Skena who decided to leave the company to pursue another opportunity.

Olo Inc., a leading open SaaS platform for restaurants, has agreed to be acquired by Thoma Bravo, a software investment firm, in an all-cash $2 billion deal.  

The transaction is expected to help accelerate Olo’s growth and strengthen its platform and offerings for the over 750 restaurant brands it serves globally. Upon completion of the transaction, Olo will become a privately held company.

“Over the last 20  years, we’ve built Olo into the market leader in digital ordering for restaurants, while also expanding into payments and guest engagement to help restaurant brands aggregate and activate guest data to drive profitable traffic,” said Noah Glass, Olo’s Founder and CEO. “By partnering with Thoma Bravo, we believe we can build on our success to date and accelerate our vision of helping our customers create a world where every restaurant guest feels like a regular.”

Olo's Chair of the Board said it has been "amazing to watch the growth and evolution of Olo over the years. Noah’s vision and tenacity have created the leader in digital ordering, empowering restaurants to better and more efficiently serve their customers,” said Brandon Gardner.  

Hudson Smith, a Partner at Thoma Bravo, added, “the incredible platform and deep customer relationships (Olo's team has) built over the last two decades make them an ideal investment for us. We look forward to supporting them as they capitalize on the significant opportunities in the hospitality sector and work to achieve their impressive vision.”

Olo shareholders will receive $10.25 per share in cash. The per-share purchase price represents a premium of 65% over Olo's unaffected share price of $6.20 as of April 30, 2025, the last trading day prior to media reports regarding a potential transaction.

Founded in 2005, Olo is a leading restaurant technology provider of digital ordering, payments, and guest engagement solutions that help brands increase orders, streamline operations, and improve the guest experience. Olo processes millions of transactions per day on its open SaaS platform and aggregates transaction data into a single source to help restaurants better understand and serve their guests. Olo serves over 750 restaurant brands and 88,000 locations and has a network of more than 400 integration partners.

Transaction Details

The transaction is expected to close by the end 2025, subject to customary closing conditions. The Company will continue to operate under the Olo name and brand.

Wilding Hotels, a premier name in wilderness hospitality, has partnered with Volo Solutions to implement in-room concierge tablets across its properties. This collaboration brings a modern, intuitive, and eco-conscious solution to guest engagement while easing operations and enhancing service.

“At Wilding Hotels, we focus on providing a seamless and elevated guest experience while fostering sustainability,” said Amy Hansen, Head of Hotel Operations. “Implementing Volo in-room tablets has enhanced guest experience, streamlined operations, and supported our sustainability goals.”

Wilding Hotels selected Volo for its user-friendly platform, customization capabilities, and excellent customer service. Real-time updates and tailored content for each location were key factors, along with Volo’s deep understanding of luxury hospitality.

The tablets offer convenient access to hotel services, bookings, and local recommendations. Guests can place orders, contact concierge, and view personalized content from an in-room iPad. The technology has improved communication and reduced response times, enabling staff to focus on high-value, personalized service.

Replacing printed directories, menus, and brochures with Volo’s digital solution has significantly reduced paper waste and printing costs, supporting Wilding’s eco-conscious mission while maintaining convenience and luxury.

The tablets also drive revenue by upselling dining, spa services, and experiences. Wilding Hotels anticipates further personalization and smart room integration, with AI-driven recommendations enhancing the concierge experience.

“Volo’s intuitive platform and exceptional support made this transition seamless, and we’ve already seen increased engagement and revenue,” said Hansen. “These tablets are central to delivering a high-touch experience aligned with our brand’s luxury and innovation.”

Gen Xers who grew up with Chuck E. Cheese are getting their own arcade.

the iconic name behind America’s favorite arcade and family entertainment centers, is stepping into a new era with the launch of 

Chuck’s Arcade is a bold new arcade concept from Chuck E. Cheese that combines classic games and the hottest new games alongside iconic animatronic characters.

For Adults

The arcade was created "for adults and lifelong fans who grew up surrounded by the electric glow of arcade screens, the symphony of digital soundtracks and the thrill of chasing high scores with friends long into the night." Chuck’s Arcade, according to a statement,  is a" modern-day love letter to the games and people who made Chuck E. Cheese great."

While celebrating its legacy, Chuck’s Arcade  is a new destination where nostalgia meets the future.

“Chuck E. Cheese has spent decades mastering the arcade experience — it’s in our DNA,” said David McKillips, CEO of Chuck E. Cheese. “Thanks to the expertise of our talented technicians and the successful transformation of almost 500 fun centers worldwide, we’ve built the operational and creative foundation to take our brand beyond our traditional four walls. Chuck’s Arcade™ is a natural evolution — an opportunity to extend our arcade legacy into new formats that engage both lifelong fans and a new generation through a curated mix of retro classics and cutting-edge experiences.”

Chuck’s Arcade locations are now open in St. Petersburg, Florida; Trumbull, Connecticut; Oklahoma City and Tulsa, Oklahoma; Victor, New York; Buford, Georgia; El Paso, Texas; Nashua and Salem, New Hampshire; and St. Louis/

While the focus is on cutting-edge play, Chuck’s Arcade also features a curated collection of retro legends— think Ms. Pac-Man, Galaga, Mortal Kombat, Donkey Kong and Centipede —offering a nod to the games that shaped generations. 

As Chuck E. Cheese approaches its 50th anniversary, the brand is expanding with 10 Chuck’s Arcade  locations across eight states—including the one-of-a-kind Chuck’s Arcade and Pizzeria in Kansas City, Missouri, featuring original artwork spanning the history of Chuck E. Cheese and a full menu. Every Chuck’s Arcade  offers a unique environment, with a distinct lineup of today’s hottest games and a rotating mix of retro classics. No two locations are exactly alike.

Adding to the experience, each arcade is overseen by an animatronic character such as Chuck E. Cheese or one of the other characters from Munch’s Make Believe Band —historic figures from the brand’s past, now standing watch as a nostalgic nod rather than performing. Select locations also feature exclusive retro-themed merchandise: classic logo apparel, collectible toys, novelty candy and prize redemption items, all celebrating the magic of winning that fans have always loved. 

Lunchbox and 1Huddle are teaming up to roll out new technology, strategies, and campaigns faster to turn team training into a mobile-first, gamified experience.

Lunchbox equips restaurants with the tools to drive off-premise growth. but it says the biggest barrier to capturing that value isn't access, it's training. "Operators can't afford to spend weeks getting teams up to speed on new rollouts," said James Walker, CEO of Lunchbox. "With 1Huddle, we're helping our partners train faster, drive adoption, and ultimately boost revenue."

By pairing Lunchbox's flexible platform with 1Huddle's fast, competitive learning model, restaurant teams can execute more confidently and consistently. Restaurants using 1Huddle's gamified platform report a 45% reduction in training time, along with improvements in speed, accuracy, and frontline performance.

Through the partnership, Lunchbox brands will gain access to customizable 1Huddle games built to teach frontline employees how to use Lunchbox tools and solutions, turning education into action in minutes, not days. New hires can onboard quickly. Corporations can roll out updates and new tech to franchisees without retraining from scratch. And teams stay aligned on the strategies that move the needle.

"We've seen what happens when training keeps pace with innovation — sales go up, performance gets sharper, and execution gets faster," says Sam Caucci, CEO and Founder of 1Huddle. "This partnership is about helping teams win on day one."

1Huddle's platform is already used across hospitality, retail, and even the U.S. Air Force. Its model is simple: take critical knowledge, deliver it in short bursts, and gamify it for better retention and real-world results.

The partnership reflects a shared mission: to make restaurant operations faster, smarter, and more scalable, without slowing down the people who keep them running.

Bite, a provider of digital kiosk solutions, has a new partnership with Attentive, a platform specializing in AI-driven SMS and email marketing. The collaboration aims to help quick-service and fast-casual restaurants improve customer engagement and loyalty program participation by linking ordering technology with marketing automation.

The integration connects Bite’s self-service ordering kiosks with Attentive’s marketing tools, allowing restaurants to collect customer data at the POS and use it to deliver personalized messages and promotions. The setup enables guests to sign up for loyalty programs, redeem rewards, and receive targeted offers directly through the kiosk.

Key features of the integration include:

• Subscriber Growth: Customers can opt into SMS marketing during the ordering process, helping restaurants expand their communication reach.
• Loyalty and Rewards: Guests can access and redeem loyalty rewards during checkout.
• Automated Personalization: AI-driven campaigns are tailored to customer preferences and ordering history.
• Customer Retention: The solution supports efforts to encourage repeat visits through targeted engagement.
• Operational Support: Automation aims to reduce the burden on staff while maintaining guest service quality.

Starbird, a restaurant chain using the integrated system, reports improved customer communication. . “It's allowed us to build a stronger connection with our customers, delivering timely, personalized messages that enhance their experience and keep them engaged with the Starbird brand.” said Casey Hilder, the company's Director of Marketing.

The integration is designed to help restaurants address a common challenge—turning first-time visitors into returning customers—by offering a cohesive customer journey that starts at the kiosk and continues through follow-up engagement.

Brandon Barton, CEO of Bite, said the goal is to support restaurants in building stronger guest relationships using integrated tools. "By combining ordering and marketing technologies, we’re helping restaurants deliver more relevant service and communication."

The joint solution is now available to restaurant partners.