Turn your daily shopping receipts into cash

A fun and rewarding phone app called Receipt Hog can turn your everyday receipts from shopping into cash – no matter where you shop or what you buy.

Shop anywhere. Buy anything. Then take a picture of your receipt with Receipt Hog on your phone.

“Your receipt data along with the answers you provide to optional surveys is made anonymous and summarized in market research reports that brands purchase,” according to the Receipt Hog website. “These companies pay for information such as, 'Families in the Phoenix area are 20 percent more likely than the rest of the United States to shop for laundry detergent at a super center than a traditional grocery store.'" And its not just shopping receipts.

On Tuesday, Receipt Hog announced it now accepts all receipts from restaurants, cafes, and gas-only purchases and rewards users with sweepstakes entries.

Grabbing a pizza for dinner? Filling up the gas tank? Purchasing some new clothes or a new phone? All receipts count and can be converted into cash.

Users can receive their cash by PayPal or in the form of a Amazon gift card once they reach 1,000 coins in the app.

Wendy's to expand in the Middle East

Alghanim Industries and The Wendy's Company announced Saturday the signing of a Master Franchise Agreement aimed at expanding the Wendy's brand in the Middle East.

Alghanim Industries acquired the rights to develop Wendy's restaurants across the Middle East North Africa region from Alamar Foods, a Saudi-based company owned jointly by Al Jammaz Group and the Carlyle Group.

Wendy's joins Alghanim Industries' portfolio of leading global brands, including American Express, British Petroleum, Colgate-Palmolive, General Motors, Honda, Mars, Mondelez, Philips, Toshiba, Hitachi, and Whirlpool.

Alghanim Industries is one of the largest, privately-owned companies in the Gulf region.  Originally founded in 1932 by Yusuf Ahmed Alghanim in Kuwait, the company has since grown into a multi-billion dollar conglomerate, employing over 14,000 people in 30 businesses, and present in 40 countries across the Middle East, Eastern Europe and Asia.

Established in 1969, Wendy's is widely recognized for its great-tasting hamburgers with square beef patties. The Wendy's system includes more than 6,500 franchise and company restaurants in the United States and 28 countries and U.S. territories worldwide.

Middleburg restaurant makes most romantic list

After reviewing five million restaurant reviews submitted by diners from more than 20,000 restaurants in all 50 states, The Goodstone Inn & Estate Restaurant in Middleburg, Va., made the Top 100 Most Romantic Restaurants in America list.

As diners around the world prepare to celebrate love on Valentine's Day, OpenTable, the world's leading provider of online restaurant reservations, honored the 2015 Diners' Choice Award winners on the Top 100 Most Romantic Restaurants in America list.

Set on a 265-acre estate in the heart of Middleburg’s wine and hunt country, Goodstone Inn & Restaurant is a romantic Virginia country inn and award-winning French restaurant only one hour from Washington, D.C.

Other Virginia restaurants appearing on the list include: Cafe Renaissance in Vienna, The Cellars in Virginia Beach and L'Auberge Provencale in Boyce.

Top 100 Most Romantic Restaurants in America

Addison at The Grand Del Mar - San Diego, California
Aerie Restaurant & Lounge - Acme, Michigan
Alize at the Top of the Palms Casino Resort - Las Vegas, Nevada
Altius - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Ambience - Los Altos, California
Bouchard Restaurant and Inn - Newport, Rhode Island
Briarhurst Manor - Manitou Springs, Colorado
Cafe La Cave - Des Plaines, Illinois
Cafe Matisse - Rutherford, New Jersey

Cafe Monarch - Scottsdale, Arizona
Cafe Renaissance - Vienna, Virginia
Canlis - Seattle, Washington
Castle Falls - Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
The Cellar - Fullerton, California
The Cellar Restaurant - Daytona Beach, Florida
The Cellars - Virginia Beach, Virginia
The Chateau on the Lake - Bolton Landing, New York
Chez Francois - Vermilion, Ohio
Chez Loma - Coronado, California
Chez Nous French Restaurant - Humble, Texas
Cite - Chicago, Illinois
Different Pointe of View - Phoenix, Arizona
The Dining Room-Biltmore Estate - Asheville, North Carolina
Dominic's on the Hill - St. Louis, Missouri
Eagle's Nest-Hyatt Regency - Indianapolis, Indiana
Eiffel Tower - Las Vegas, Nevada
El Encanto Dining Room - Santa Barbara, California
Erna's Elderberry House - Oakhurst, California
Europa - Palm Springs, California
The Farmhouse at Turkey Hill - Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania
Fearrington House Restaurant - Pittsboro, North Carolina
The Fig Tree Restaurant - Charlotte, North Carolina
Flagstaff House - Boulder, Colorado
Forepaugh's - St. Paul, Minnesota
The French Room - Dallas, Texas
Gamba Ristorante- Merrillville, Indiana
Geja's Cafe - Chicago, Illinois
Gerard's Restaurant Maui - Lahaina, Hawaii
The Goodstone Inn & Estate Restaurant - Middleburg, Virginia
Hugo's Cellar-Four Queens - Las Vegas, Nevada
Il Cielo Gardens Restaurant & Bar - Beverly Hills, California
Iron Gate Tasting Room - Washington, D.C.
Isabela on Grandview - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Joel Robuchon-MGM Grand - Las Vegas, Nevada
L'Auberge Provencale - Boyce, Virginia
L'Auberge Restaurant on Oak Creek - Sedona, Arizona
La Caille Restaurant - Sandy, Utah
La Grenouille - New York, New York
La Mer at Halekulani - Honolulu, Hawaii
La V Restaurant and Wine Bar - Austin, Texas
Latigo - Sisters, Oregon
Latitudes - Key West, Florida
Le Relais - Louisville, Kentucky
Les Nomades - Chicago, Illinois
The Library Restaurant - Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
The Little Door - Los Angeles, California
Log Haven - Salt Lake City, Utah
McNinch House - Charlotte, North Carolina
The Melting Pot - National locations
Michel's at the Colony Surf - Honolulu, Hawaii
Ocean - Kennebunkport, Maine
OHEKA Bar & Restaurant - Huntington, New York
On The Marsh Bistro - Kennebunkport, Maine
One if by Land, Two if by Sea - New York, New York
The Painted Lady - Newberg, Oregon
Pamplemousse Le Restaurant - Las Vegas, Nevada
Pepper Tree Restaurant - Colorado Springs, Colorado
Peter Shields Inn - Cape May, New Jersey
Red Fish Grill - Miami, Florida
The Refectory Restaurant & Bistro - Columbus, Ohio
Republic of Texas Bar & Grill - Corpus Christi, Texas
Restaurant G at the Gideon Ridge Inn - Blowing Rock, North Carolina
Ristorante Massimo - Portsmouth, New Hampshire
River Cafe - Brooklyn, New York
Romeo's Cafe - Miami, Florida
Rouge - Miami Beach, Florida
Rowland's Restaurant at Westglow Resort and Spa - Blowing Rock, North Carolina
Rue Franklin Restaurant - Buffalo, New York
Salvatore's Cucina Italiana - San Diego, California
Scarborough Fair - Sea Girt, New Jersey
Second Empire Restaurant and Tavern - Raleigh, North Carolina
Shadowbrook Restaurant - Capitola, California
Sir Winston's Aboard The Queen Mary - Long Beach, California
Ski Tip Lodge - Keystone, Colorado
The Sky Room - Long Beach, California
The Spiced Pear - Newport, Rhode Island
Spindletop - Houston, Texas
The Standard at the Smith House - Nashville, Tennessee
Stars - St. Michaels, Maryland
Stonehouse at San Ysidro Ranch - Santa Barbara, California
Studio at Montage Laguna Beach - Laguna Beach, California
Top of the Pontch-Crowne Plaza Detroit Downtown - Detroit, Michigan
Truluck's Seafood, Steak and Crab House - Austin, Texas
Tulalip Bay at Tulalip Resort Casino - Marysville, Washington
'Ulu Ocean Grill and Sushi Lounge - Kaupulehu, Hawaii
V.Mertz - Omaha, Nebraska
Vintage House Restaurant at Messina Hof - Bryan, Texas
Water's Edge - Long Island City, New York
White Barn Inn - Kennebunk, Maine
Zenkichi - Brooklyn, New York

Quiznos new CEO hopes to improve restaurant economics

The troubled sandwich chain Quiznos announced Monday the appointment of Doug Pendergast as the company's new President and Chief Executive Officer.

Pendergast joins Quiznos having previously held a variety of leadership roles in the restaurant industry. Most recently, he served as President and CEO of The Krystal Company. Prior to that, he held positions as Chief Development & Franchising Officer for Craftworks, EVP & Chief Franchise Officer for Church's Chicken, and VP of Strategy for AFC Enterprises. He has also held positions with McKinsey & Company and Procter & Gamble. Pendergast has an MBA from Harvard University and a Bachelor's in engineering from Georgia Tech.

Pendergast succeeds Stuart Mathis, who has resigned to pursue other opportunities. Mathis was appointed Quiznos CEO in July 2012, at a “time of change” for the company. The company filed for bankruptcy March 14, 2014, after sales shrank. The sandwich shop emerged from bankruptcy in July 2014 after restructuring its finances.

Pendergast plans to help franchise owners build their profitability, strengthen their businesses and grow the brand for the future. “This is a critical and exciting time for the brand. Quiznos is operating under a new food cost and supply model that should improve restaurant economics and is in an excellent position to build customer loyalty and frequency,” Pendergast said in a company press release.

Cooney appointed senior vice president position at Red Robin

Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc., a casual dining restaurant chain focused on serving gourmet burgers, announced Wednesday the appointment of Cathy Cooney as senior vice president and chief people officer. Cooney will be responsible for leading the development and execution of human resource (HR) strategies that will drive engagement, build strength and capabilities across functions and create a best in class restaurant organization that will consistently advance the company's business goals.

Cooney brings to Red Robin nearly three decades of HR experience, with a career that includes HR leadership roles in a number of industries including consumer brands, food distribution, healthcare and energy.

Before joining Red Robin, Cooney served as executive vice president of Human Resources for Carefusion. Prior to her 14-year career in the healthcare industry, Cooney served in several HR roles of increasing responsibility over an eight-year span for Pepsico, Inc., including senior director of Human Resources for Pepsico Food Systems and benefits leader for Frito-Lay, Inc.

Cooney earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from the University of Missouri, Kansas City, Mo.

There currently are 478 Red Robin locations across the United States and Canada. The restaurant chain was founded in 1969.

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